Prophecy: What Is It? Why Is It? What Do I Do With It?

Reflecting on what took place at 19north this past Saturday, I’m realizing that there are many different people from many different beliefs and backgrounds, I’d like to take a moment to put Bible to what took place. Saturday could have been the most revolutionary night in some of our lives, and for others, it could have caused questions. Hopefully, this post will answer a lot of your questions!

What is prophecy?

The Bible describes prophecy as a person speaking “to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation” (1 Corinthians 14:3). Very simply, if someone says something to you that doesn’t build you up, encourage you, or console you in a time of difficulty (or before the difficulty comes), then it’s not New Testament prophecy.

It is also important to note that there are two types of prophecy described in the New Testament–foretelling and forth-telling (as described in 1 Corinthians 14). An example of foretelling can be seen in Acts 11:28-29, Agabus (not an apostle), “stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world… so the disciples determined, everone according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.”

Examples of “forth-telling” can be seen throughout the Old Testament (read any of the minor prophets, and you’ll see a specific message, given by God to a specific person, to a specific people). Forth-telling is what is primarily described in reading 1Corinthians 14. If you’ve ever witnessed to someone and the words seemed to roll off of your tongue, and you think, “I don’t know where that came from!” then you’ve been used in the simple form of prophecy.

Why does prophecy come?

Prophecy does not come to lead you in a specific way. The primary way that the Holy Spirit leads us is by the inward witness (if you need help with this, download Pastor Craig DeBower’s podcast of several weeks ago at 19north). If 1Corinthians 14:3 says that prophecy is to build, encourage, and console, I ask, “When are times that I need built up, encouraged, and consoled?” The most glaring answer to that is “When the road is going to be tough ahead.” We can see that the two times that God spoke to Jesus audibly (before people) in the Gospels were the two times that he would have had the most difficult time (before he fasted for 40 days in the wilderness, entering his public ministry, and before he went to the cross, when he was transfigured).

What should I do with the prophecy I’ve received?

Knowing this, if you have received a prophecy this past Saturday, write it down–it’s something that you’re going to need to look back upon in the days coming. You can read it and be encouraged, built up, and consoled in the most difficult times of your life, knowing, “This is what God called me to do–He spoke to my heart through the inward witness, and He confirmed it through a gift of the Holy Spirit.” If what you heard did not bear witness with your heart, sit what you’ve heard “on the shelf.” 1 Corinthians 14:9 says, “…We know in part and we prophesy in part…” What you were given is only a small picture, and yes, Scott could have missed it, you could have brought a wrong interpretation to what he was praying, or the prophecy could be for a later time in life.

Don’t forget it. Let God lead you by the inward voice, and be encouraged, built up, and consoled.