W W W. T H E F A M I L Y. O R G

The Gift of Prophecy
When the Lord speaks and gives a message through one of His followers, such inspired utterances are referred to as prophecy. Throughout the Bible the Lord spoke to His people this way, inspiring His prophets to give His words and messages to those for whom they were intended. However, it's important to understand how the biblical usage of the word ``prophecy'' (and its derivatives) differs from its most commonly associated modern meaning. In its article on the role played by the biblical prophets, The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia says,
``The prophets were .rst of all forthtellers and spokesmen for God. All who act in the capacity of proclaiming the Word of God are His spokesmen. It is in this sense that the New Testament believer may prophesy when directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit.''

The Expository Dictionary of Bible Words

The basic word for ``prophet'' in the Old Testament is nabi, which means ``spokesman'' or ``speaker.'' Essentially a prophet is a person authorized to speak for another, as Moses and the Old Testament prophets were authorized to speak for God. God called individuals from every walk of life to bring His message to His people. Nor was the message of the prophets primarily predictive. God's messengers spoke whatever word was needed by the Lord's people at their moment in history.

``To prophesy'' did not necessarily mean to predict the future, although this was not ruled out. But ``to prophesy'' meant simply to receive and then deliver a message from Heaven. It could come directly from the Lord and be Jesus Himself speaking, or it could be given indirectly through a spiritual messenger.

The literal word [for ``prophesy''] in the Greek means ``to forthtell,'' not always foretell. Prophets do a lot of foretelling, a lot of forecasting, a lot of predicting, that's true under the inspiration of God's Spirit. But the literal meaning means ``to forthtell the Words of God,'' to simply give God's Word, whatever it may be, whenever it may be, at any time, at any place, to any people, whenever it is God's will. (``Crucifixion,'' par. 17)

In both the Old and New Testaments, God tells us that in the days prior to Jesus' Second Coming, a period known in Scripture as the ``Time of the End,'' or the ``Last Days,'' that He is going to pour out His Spirit in a special way, anointing many of His servants to prophesy. He says:

And it shall come to pass in the Last Days, saith God, I will pour out of My
Spirit upon all .esh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy. (Acts 2:1718, as referring to Joel 2:2829)

When we ask the Lord to fill us with His Holy Spirit, we can then receive what the Bible calls the ``gifts of the Spirit.'' These are special spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit to strengthen and assist us in many different ways. The gift of prophecy is included among the nine categories of gifts listed in the New Testament's First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians:

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word
of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:810)

The Bible also tells us that the gift of prophecy in particular should be desired and sought after by God's people. We are encouraged to desire this spiritual gift, and to let God speak to us and through us via prophecy.

Follow after charity [love], and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. I would that ye all spake with tongues [another spiritual gift, usually manifested during prayer, when someone speaks in a language he or she does not know], but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the Church may receive edifying. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. (1 Corinthians 14:1, 5, 39)

Despise not prophesyings. (1 Thessalonians 5:20)

David embraced this scriptural advice and frequently stressed to the Family the importance of hearing from the Lord via prophecy and direct revelation
Prophecy, of course, is a very important gift. In fact, Paul practically puts it at the top of the list in the 14th chapter [of 1 Corinthians]. He said, ``I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied.'' (``Chinese,'' par. 33)

His Word tells us, ``Covet earnestly the best gifts'' (1 Corinthians 12:31). The most common gifts are listed in 1 Corinthians chapter 12: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, other tongues, and interpretation. These are all gifts from a loving heavenly Father to His simple little children to help communicate understanding of Himself and His will, a mere sample of glorious realities to come! (``New Life,'' par. 29)

Prophecy is a special gift of the Spirit, one of the nine gifts of the Spirit. (``New Year's,'' par. 128) Many of David's inspirational Letters dwelt on the subject of the gift of prophecy, as he encouraged Family members to make personal contact with God in order to receive messages of instruction, guidance, or encouragement directly from Him fresh every day:

The Lord wants you to draw on the Wordnot only the recorded Word, but the living Word [prophecy]. Hearing from the Lord is our spiritual nourishmentand you've got to be able to hear from the Lord! The power is always on, the message is always there. God's Spirit is like a broadcasting station, broadcasting all the time. All you have to do is throw the switch and tune in. You have to have the vacuum and sincerely open your mouth and He'll fill it! (``Faith,'' pars. 9, 1, 14)

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