Your Sons & Daughters Shall Prophesy - Prophetic Gifts Today In The New Testament Church

The Use of Prophecy in Church Today

2. Am I experiencing the peaceful assurance of the Holy Spirit? When an inspired prophecy, prophetic song, exhortation or prophetic vision is given in a congregational worship service, there is a deeply satisfying assur ance that God is with us and deeply concerned about each person's par ticular needs. We get the same feeling when we have just been fed a ser mon or teaching that is deeply meaningful. Faith is renewed. Peace floods in as we realize everything is in God's hands and that He will care for us. 3. Do I now feel inspired, highly motivated to follow through with the challenge of the message? People who heard Jesus teach were uplifted and inspired to follow in His ways. Prophecy is the continuing voice of Jesus speaking through His Spirit to His people. 4. Am I seeing an upgrading of character and conduct? If prophecy has no positive effect on us, its value is questionable. Every ministry in the Body of Christ, including prophecy, is for the betterment of the people of God. Now, what do we do with all these test questions? How should the Church respond to both good and bad prophecies? Can we judge utter ances without destroying the flow and inspiration of the services? Who does the judging? These are the subjects of our next chapter. If we are desiring to prophesy, we must be equally as willing to have the prophecy judged....If we are not willing to be corrected, to be instructed, to be disciplined in the function of the Spirit, we should not min ister.We must have a teachable spirit.God will always vindicate what is scriptural and right! 45 David E.Schoch The final answer to erroneous prophetical movements wherever they arise in the Church is not only to expose the false but to provide a proper place for the true.The inspirational element must be allowed legitimate expression and honour. 4 6 Donald Gee ...To ask questions of those who prophesy, and to evaluate their lives and words, is not sin.Words given by inspiration of the Spirit can stand up under such scrutiny.It is those which only seem to be from God that will be revealed as false.If a prophetic word needs explanation or appli cation, it is often the act of testing which can make the explanation or appli 328 REFLECTIONS