Eagerly Desire Prophecy

In our fast-paced, noisy world, it's easy to overlook the gentle whisper of God speaking into our lives. Yet, throughout scripture and continuing today, God has always been a communicator, desiring to connect with His people in profound and personal ways. One often misunderstood avenue of this divine communication is prophecy.

When we hear the word "prophecy," images of robed figures predicting future events might come to mind. However, the biblical understanding of prophecy is far richer and more applicable to our daily lives than we might imagine. At its core, prophecy is about hearing and speaking God's voice on behalf of others. It's a gift meant for building up, encouraging, and comforting God's people.

The story of prophecy weaves through the entire biblical narrative. In Genesis, we see God breathing life into creation and into humanity. This divine breath, or "ruach" in Hebrew, is intimately connected with God's spirit and voice. Throughout the Old Testament, we encounter prophets who spoke on God's behalf, often to specific individuals or to the nation of Israel as a whole.

But the story doesn't end there. In the New Testament, we see Jesus himself referred to as the living Word of God – the ultimate prophecy in human form. After His resurrection, Jesus breathed on His disciples, saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit." This act symbolized the restoration of that intimate connection between God and humanity that had been broken in the fall.

The day of Pentecost marked a pivotal moment when the Holy Spirit was poured out on all believers. Suddenly, the gift of prophecy was no longer limited to a select few but became available to all who received Jesus. The Apostle Peter, quoting the prophet Joel, declared, "I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy..."

This brings us to a crucial question: If prophecy is for all believers, how do we engage with this gift today? The Apostle Paul provides guidance in 1 Corinthians 14, urging believers to "eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy." He emphasizes that prophecy is for "strengthening, encouraging, and comfort."

Here are four practical steps to grow in the gift of prophecy:

1. Hunger for His Voice: Cultivate a deep desire to hear from God, not just for yourself, but for others. Like eagerly anticipating the first signs of spring, lean into every whisper from heaven.
2. Pray Boldly and Ask: Approach God as a good Father who desires to give good gifts to His children. Ask specifically for the gift of prophecy, examining your motives and how you intend to use it for His glory and others' benefit.
3. Start with Encouragement: Look for opportunities to speak words of life and courage into others. What positive qualities has God shown you about someone else that they might need to hear?
4. Steward the Gift Well: Remember that the same mouth used for prophecy shouldn't be used for tearing others down. Cultivate purity in your speech and heart.

It's important to note that while prophecy is a powerful gift, it should always be weighed carefully. Three filters can help discern prophetic words:

• Does it align with Scripture?
• Does it sound like Jesus?
• Do you trust the character of the person speaking?

A beautiful illustration of modern prophecy comes from a story of a pastor who felt led to share a very specific word during a church service. He mentioned that someone in the congregation was deeply self-conscious about their teeth, to the point where it was affecting their ability to smile and engage with others. The pastor took a risk in sharing this, acknowledging he could be wrong.

After the service, a man approached the pastor in tears. He had been at an earlier service where the pastor shared the same word, but was too ashamed to respond. He went home, prayed, and decided if he heard the word again, he would know it was truly from God. This man experienced the profound love of a God who sees and cares about our deepest insecurities.

Interestingly, another woman at the service had been on the verge of walking away from her faith. She had asked God for one last sign, and witnessing this prophetic moment rekindled her belief in a personal, caring God.

These stories remind us of the power of prophecy to eradicate shame, bring encouragement, and reveal God's intimate knowledge of our lives. It's not about dramatic proclamations, but about humbly and lovingly speaking truth into one another's lives in community.

As we consider the gift of prophecy, we're invited to close the gap between what Scripture promises and what we experience in our daily walk with God. It requires taking risks, stepping out in faith, and being willing to look a little foolish at times. But the potential for experiencing God's love and seeing lives transformed is worth the risk.

In a world starved for genuine connection and meaning, the gift of prophecy offers a powerful reminder that we serve a God who is always speaking, always loving, and always desiring to draw near to His people. As we open our hearts to hear His voice and courageously share His words with others, we become channels of His life-giving spirit in a world desperately in need of hope and encouragement.

May we be a people who eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. May we cultivate hearts that are sensitive to His whisper and bold enough to speak life into others. And may we always remember that the God who breathed the stars into existence is the same God who whispers words of love and truth into our everyday lives.