“Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.” (1 Sam 10:6, NKJ)
One of the most important reasons for being filled with the Holy Spirit is that the believer gives shape to God’s agenda on earth. Through you He gives wisdom and knowledge to others, He offers healing, and He performs miracles that go against natural laws and circumstances. The gift of prophecy allows God to speak through your mouth (Luke 1:70). As it was said of Jesus in John 3:34: “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure”, so too is it true of His Spirit-filled sons. Thus 1 Pet 4:11 says: “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God”.
The Hebrew root meaning of the word ‘prophet’ is nabi, derived from a verb that means “to bubble forth”, like a fountain. Thus it is someone who, from the stream within him, proclaims what God says. The Greek meaning of the word is: “one who speaks for God” and thus interprets God’s will to people.
The fact that God uses people by giving them the gift of prophecy does not necessarily make them prophets (we’ll explain this later in detail). God can speak through anything – Balaam heard his donkey speak with God’s voice (Num 22:28)!
Paul makes an important statement in 1 Cor 14:1: “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” In verse 5 he says: “I wish you all … prophesied …” In Acts 2:17 Luke confirms that the prophecy of Joel has become true at the end of time, that He will pour out His Spirit “on all flesh; your sons and daughters shall prophesy”. Thus Amos 3:8 confronts you today: “A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy?” And as you are open to be used by God as a spokesman, you are changed (2 Cor 3:18) to contain Christ (1 Sam 10:6; 2 Pet 1:4).
- Sela: Try and discern when last did you had a clear word from the Lord.
- Read: Ex 2; Ps 52; Matt 22
- Memorise: Matt 22:29
