As a young woman with a non-Pentecostal background, the gift of prophecy changed my life.
I had been attending my home church for a short time when we had a one-day women’s and worship conference with David and Rita Baroni. At the end of the service, we were all called to the altar. Our senior pastor was laying hands on each person one by one and praying for them. I remember him speaking words that seemed like divine revelation. He was not speaking in his own wisdom; God was speaking through him about the person he was praying for!
As active Pentecostals, we often take this gift for granted. But here I was, a newly converted Pentecostal, seeing my God speaking to my pastor about his flock. The tangibility of this relationship between the Holy Spirit and the people of God hit me as I sat at the altar.
Then our pastor came to me. He did not have much to say. He just started laughing. He said, “I’m not getting much. I just hear God saying that he is delighted in you.” He walked off continuing to chuckle, and then I began to laugh . . . almost uncontrollably. A peaceful joy hit my spirit with the revelation that the God of creation delighted in me. I then had what was probably my first Pentecostal encounter as I was “slain in the Spirit.” I had never experienced this before—being “knocked down” by the Spirit—but it was certainly something to remember.
Seven years later, here I am learning how to grow in this prophetic gift—the receiving of the prophetic word along with its interpretation, discernment, and deliverance of the word. Somehow, the King of Glory gave me this gift to encourage and edify those with whom I come in contact. He has put people in my life who have helped grow and nurture the gift. As a minister new to the call of God, I relate to the “wrestling” with the prophetic gift. Maybe you are like me and sometimes think, “Was that really God?” Maybe your thoughts even sounds like, “Did God really say that?” The phrase could never be truer: “The devil does not have new tricks.” The enemy has tried to steal the Word of God from the beginning of time, and he is still at it today. From the first page of the written Word of God to the last page, we see the importance of prophecy and why it is still vital for the growth of the church today.
Apostle Paul encouraged his spiritual son and co-laborer, Timothy, to be confident in teaching the truth of the gospel despite his age and experience. Paul said to Timothy, “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership” (1 Timothy 4:14 NKJV, emphasis added).
Later, as Paul sat in a cold jail cell awaiting an imminent death, he wrote his last recorded letter to Timothy. Here, he said, “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit of God does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:6–7 NIV, emphasis added). In comparison, the NKJV says, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (v. 6).
Early in Timothy’s ministry, Paul encouraged him to not neglect the gift he had received through prophecy. Maybe this prophetic word came to Timothy during a special service to ordain him into ministry. Maybe it was a word he could cling to when times got hard. It could have been a word of hope and encouragement to help him endure even when false prophets were in the midst of his congregation. It could have been a word from God encouraging him to stay the course despite his age or experience. That prophetic word from the Lord may have carried Timothy through, even after his spiritual father was put to death for sharing the same “good news” he was sharing. In some of Paul’s final written words to Timothy, he reminded him to stir up the gift of God in his life so as not to let the fire burn out. The gift of prophecy brought life to the ministry of the early church.
In writing to the church in Corinth, a new and zealous but spiritually immature congregation, we read Paul’s teaching on prophecy and biblical order. He exhorts the church to “pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy” (1 Corinthians 14:1, emphasis added).
The words of Paul are very applicable to the church today. Maybe like me, you can relate to Timothy. Maybe you have a fire shut in your bones and feel the need to release what God is speaking. I promise you, there is a remnant ready to hear and receive it. I do not pretend to know it all, but perhaps my experience will give you courage to release what the Lord is speaking to you and your community.
If I could have given myself a few pointers several years ago in regard to stirring up the gift of prophecy, I would say something like this:
- Remind yourself of God’s promise that you are his sheep, and you hear his voice (John 10:27).
- Spend time in God’s presence. You cannot hear from him without making room for him.
- When you receive a prophetic word, ask him to confirm it.
- Then ask him when to release it.
- God does not always speak through the wind, earthquake, or fire. Always be available with an attentive ear so you do not miss the whispers.
As we grow in the ministry, we will eventually “get it wrong” at some point. God knows that and has allowed grace for that. Do not let the fear of “not getting it right” prevent you from encouraging and edifying the body. As Paul told Timothy, God does not give us a spirit of fear or timidity, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Just one word can change everything when that word comes from God. I am living proof of this. It was prophecy that awakened the army of dry bones in Ezekiel 37. It was prophecy and the gifts of the Spirit that brought me from surface level religion to a true relationship with the Father.
Yes, prophecy is still for today and every day. One word from the Lord can revive an army and wake a nation. Do not neglect the gift that is in you.
– Allyson Lehman / Clinton, North Carolina