About Prophesy
For those new to the Christian faith the thought that God could speak to humans through a dream, vision, thoughts, or a voice is a foreign concept. But Jesus said that His sheep (all believers) know His voice. God wants a relationship with every believer and wants to help and direct them through life. Some people think it sounds weird that God would speak to people. We know God as a loving father and think it would be weird if He did not speak to us. The Bible is actually a whole book of God speaking to His people and is one of the most important ways He speaks to us. The Bible gives us countless examples of God speaking to His people.
For some practical examples of what hearing from God looks like we suggest you watch week 1 of the
Grow Discipleship Series.Prophecy involves divinely inspired spoken words that edify, encourage, and comfort. It can declare what will happen in the future but does not necessarily have to. The priority in Prophecy is to communicate God’s words and God’s heart, as He reveals them to us.
Prophecy is a gift of the Holy Spirit. The Bible encourages all believers to earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially that they may prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:1). The Apostle Paul says be eager to prophecy and the one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.
In 1 Corinthians 14 the Apostle Paul instructs the church on how to operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In verse 24 and 25 he states,
“But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who do not understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say. As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”