Gift of Prophecy: What is it and how to develop it?

  • The gift of prophecy is given by the Holy Spirit to believers in Christ.
  • The prophetic voice must be discerned and confirmed according to the Bible.
  • This gift edifies, corrects, and comforts the church community.
  • The use of the gift of prophecy is a service to God and the church.

gift of prophecy

The gift of prophecy is one of the capacities that the Holy Spirit of God grants by grace to those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. For only those who believe that Jesus Christ is Lord can be guided by the Holy Spirit.

By acknowledging Jesus as our Lord we become part of the body of Christ that is his church. And as members of Christ's church, God empowers us with spiritual gifts that proceed from his Holy Spirit. So that we serve the Lord Jesus Christ in various ways and according to the will of God.

God then graciously grants each member of the Church the special spiritual ability or talent to serve the Lord by seeking the well-being of others. These spiritual abilities or gifts, including the gift of prophecy, are based on the Word:

1 Corinthians 12:7-10: 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for profit. 8 To one the Spirit gives Word of wisdom; to another, the same Spirit gives science word; 9 to another, the same Spirit gives fe; and to another, gifts of healings; 10 to another one, the gift of working miracles; to another, the gift of prophecy; to another, the gift of discernment the spirits; to another, the gift of various kinds of tongues; and another, the gift of interpreting tongues.

Development gift of prophecy It is essential for the building of the community of believers.

The prophetic word is the voice of God

God from the old testament established men with divine anointing to deliver his message to the people of Israel. These men were the prophets of the Bible, the messengers of God, meet them here, The prophets: Who were they? Minors, majors and more.

Today, God delivers his message to the Church through the gift of prophecy, so that the prophetic voice is God speaking through humankind. God speaks clearly and simply so that his will for his Church can be understood.

In this sense, the Church must ensure that the message being delivered truly comes from God. God, in His Word, tells us to beware of false prophets.

False prophets are those who, before delivering a message that edifies or corrects the church, speak what man in his human nature wants to hear. In this regard, we recommend that you read about the False prophets: How to take care of them?

These impostors are seeking to exercise a ministry within the church, carrying a message extracted from their own thoughts. Manifesting therefore a false gift of prophecy, in order to obtain some benefit.

The prophetic voice is discerned

The voice of God through a prophetic word given to the church is discerned. This word must be understood as well as verified and conform to the word of God in the Bible.

When the minister or servant of the Lord with the gift of prophecy proclaims the word in the congregation, the members of the church must receive it with an attitude of attentive listening. So that you can discern the message in your spirit, as it is written:

I Corinthians 14:29: Likewise, if there are prophets, let them speak two or three, y that the others examine what has been said.

Church members must have the disposition to understand the prophetic message and its impact on the community.

For if anyone proclaims a message from God, through the gift of prophecy placed within them, they will be able to do so. Meanwhile, other members of the church must pay attention to see if the message truly comes from God.

Every prophetic word discerned and confirmed is to glorify the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, because everything is in Him, through Him and for Him. The faithful in the congregations of Christ must give thanks for every word proclaimed by God in the voice of his ministers .

The Messianic Prophecies are another example of how divine will is determined throughout history.

The gift of prophecy edifies

Every word that is proclaimed through the gift of prophecy is for the edification and strengthening of the faithful in Christ. Many times we may feel admonished before a proclaimed word, but if we are in Christ we will know how to discern that everything is for our well-being:

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1 Corinthians 14:3: Instead, he who communicates prophetic messages does so for the edification of the community, and encourages and comforts it.

Through the gift of prophecy, the Lord edifies, corrects, comforts, exhorts, and revives hope and faith in his people. Therefore, the Church must adopt an attitude of fear and obedience before the prophetic word given by God.

Furthermore, it is important to note that the gift of prophecy It should encourage believers to have a greater knowledge of the Scriptures, so that they can discern God's will in their lives.

The Book of Daniel It is a powerful example of prophecies and their fulfillment throughout history.

The gift of prophecy is service to the Church

Finally, the gift of prophecy must be used to service to God in church works. Because the Holy Spirit empowers with his spiritual gifts so that we put them at the service of the community.

No one can use the gift of prophecy without being authorized by God through His Holy Spirit:

1 Corinthians 12:4-10: 4 Now, there are various gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ways to serve, but the same Lord. 6 There are various functions, but it is the same God who makes all things in all.

In the context of the church, this gift of prophecy brings unity and spiritual growth to the entire congregation.

the gift of tongues It is another of the spiritual gifts that complements the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers.

The gift of prophecy is intended to contribute to the growth of the church by bringing God's message to its members.

The 12 tribes of Israel They are an important part of biblical history that helps us understand the context of many prophecies.

In short, the gift of prophecy is a priceless gift that must be cared for and used responsibly, always following the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

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Book Gift of Languages ​​A series by the writer Ana Martí!

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