Prophesying

Today, as I attended the Lord's Table Meeting in the church in Hyderabad, the brothers fellowshipped with me to give the concluding words in the prophesying meeting. The message the saints have been enjoying is also on prophesying. I enjoyed this message so much during the live training last summer at Anaheim, California, and then during the Video Training at Gurugram, and two weeks ago, it was our morning revival pursuit. Now, with this fellowship, I received fresh supply from the Lord.

Even before I began to speak on prophesying, the saints have prophesied one by one during the prophesying meeting. Yet again I have been so much supplied with the riches of the ministry of the word. Even as I received from the saints' prophesying, the Lord further gave me new lights on this truth. Therefore, when my turn came to minister, I ministered the following points.

Two Comparisons

Comparison of prophesying in the old testament and new testament: In the old testament, the Spirit of God came upon the prophets and spoke the words of prophesy. Irrespective of the spiritual condition of the "prophet", the Spirit just spoke through as a medium. For instance, even Saul prophesied after God rejected him in his sin of disobedience. This old testament prophesying is extrinsic in nature. Whereas, the prophesying in the new testament is through the anointing Spirit who indwells the believers. The true Prophet, Christ the God incarnated, in His incarnation, human living, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and descension as the life-giving Spirit is in our spirit, and even we are joined to Him as one Spirit. This anointing Spirit in us as recorded in 1 John 2:20,27, is the Prophet in us. This is intrinsic and subjective in experience.

Comparison of the gifts: In 1 Corinthians 12:28-31, God placed different gifts in the Body, and encourages us to pursue the greater gifts. Then chapter 13 mentions the excelling gift of love, but Chapter 14:1 charges us to desire earnestly the gift of prophesying. Finally, in vv. 3,4,5,12 describes that this gift of prophesying builds up the church, and in vv. 31,39 this gift of prophesying must be desired, and that all can prophesy. Therefore, this gift of prophesying is the best of all gifts and must be desired.

The Meaning of Prophesying

Prophesying is the excellent gift for the building up of the Body of Christ acquired by the growth in life through the enjoyment of Christ. It is to speak God and Christ, and speak forth God and Christ into people.

The Way to Prophesy

A preparation is needed in the matter of paying the price to acquire the knowledge of the word of God. The Holy Bible and the supplementary books that helps us understand the word of God must be daily studied and pursued. These knowledge of the word of God must also be experienced gradually, and with the instant inspiration of the Holy Spirit, one can prophesy. All can prophesying if all exercise diligently in all these points.

The Goal of Prophesying

The goal of prophesying is to encourage and console the saints so that the saints would grow in life for the building up of the Body of Christ.

Finally, for the reality of prophesying, there is an urgent need to be revived every morning and live an overcoming life everyday. Such revived living is the living of a prophesying life. This living is the model of a God-man living needed for all Christians to fulfill God’s eternal purpose.

What a blessed gift! What a blessing that all can prophesy! And this builds up the Body of Christ!

Lord, grace me to be Your diligent pursuer for the sake of Your building.