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

The Use of Prophecy in Church Today

Listen. A theme or keynote usually emerges out of worship. Listen care fully to the previous prophecies in the service. What was the subject mat ter? Will your word augment, just repeat or completely change the prophetic theme of the service? Avoid crosscurrents-strange words con trary to what the Spirit is speaking. Be sensitive. Timing and sensitivity are critical. Be mature enough to decide if your word corresponds with the flow or theme of the service. Evaluate. Ask yourself, Is this impression really the Lord or is it just me? Prophecy sometimes comes through listening for a key word that will ignite in your spirit. Sometimes it can be a single word, a phrase, or occa sionally an entire message, but it must be more than just your own idea. A good thought may still not be prophecy. We must perceive that the thought is not of our own making and that its clarity and persistence in our mind persuade us of its divine origin. As Howells has said: "No one can speak for the Lord if the Lord has not first spoken to him." 1 3 Bickle adds, "Remain silent when God is silent." 1 4 Determine. Is it scriptural? It may not quote Scripture, but it must not violate the tenor of the Bible. Is it biblical? Consider. Is this for the entire congregation or just for you personally? Public prophecy should be of general interest to the whole church. Distinguish. Distinguish between what is a true or good statement and what is "prophetic." Example: "I love you, My children" is a true and good statement but it might not necessarily be prophetic. Graham Cooke suggests that "if we move out solely on the basis of something we feel, or because we have a few phrases or a picture, we may end up in front of a microphone with precious little to say. To cover our embarrassment, we may turn to volume or repetition to pad out our 'word' and make it more acceptable." 15 Wait. Remember, the monitor has a very responsible job. While wait ing to be called on, spend your time worshiping with the congregation, and do nothing to distract from what others might say or from the wor ship taking place.

Microphone Procedure

The following suggestions are given to enhance the worship experience and make microphone delivery more effective: Combination. Remember, the most successful and helpful prophecies combine revelation, anointing and wise, appropriate delivery. Stance. Stand normally (1 Corinthians 14:30) and avoid any distract ing, nervous movements or disruptive mannerisms. Be animated, excited • 370