Practice the Gift of Prophecy

Step three is very simple. What’s step three? Prophesy, isn’t it? Let’s look at a few scriptures again that encourage us to prophesy. We’ll start in First Corinthians 14, verse 1.

“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”

If all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? If everybody comes to a meeting and all they do is speak in tongues, which happens in some churches, people who are not believers just walk in and say, “Those people are mad!”

But Paul says, “If all prophesy…” Notice that. He assumes that all *can* prophesy. “If all prophesy,” that is, speak in a language that’s understood, “and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is judged by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed, and falling down on his face he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.”

Understand, the problem with a lot of Pentecostals is they never went far enough. They spoke in tongues and didn’t go any further. And many, many people have walked into Pentecostal meetings and said, “These people are crazy! I’m not coming near them!” The problem was not with God’s provision, it was with God’s people who didn’t avail themselves of the provision.

What we need to do is go on from speaking in tongues to prophesying, to giving people words about themselves that *they* know *we* couldn’t know naturally. You understand? The secrets of their heart are made manifest.

Okay, one more scripture, two more scriptures. Verse 31.

“For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.”

How many can prophesy? All. Are you sure? Say it again. All. That’s right. Paul says you can have a learning session. It’s not a full-scale meeting of the church, it’s a learning session. This is precisely where we’re at. “You can all prophesy that all of you may learn.” And trustfully, you’ll all be encouraged.

And one more scripture, which is verse 39.

“Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.”

“Desire earnestly to prophesy.” I pray God that may, that He may put that in the heart of everybody here, an earnest desire to prophesy. You’re not being presumptuous. You’re not trespassing on God’s grace. You’re doing what God tells you to do. And you can all prophesy, one by one, individually. That’s not to each other. We’ll come to that maybe later, but what we’re doing right now is we’re practicing. How many of you would recognize it’s nice to practice in a private situation before you launch out in front of the assembly? See? Okay.

All right, now, just because you’re religiously disposed, I’ll say a nice prayer for you before you do this. It will work without the prayer, but you feel better if I pray, see?

Then, you know what you’re going to do? You’re not going to speak in tongues. You’re going to… I didn’t hear you. Prophesy. That’s right. How many of you believe you can do it? Amen. Amen. Okay. All right. So, Father, we just thank You for Your blessed presence with us here through the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, we welcome You. We acknowledge You as the personal, resident representative of the Godhead now on earth. We give You the honor that is Your due. You are Lord, and You are Lord here this morning. And Lord, You’ve brought us to this point where Your people earnestly desire to prophesy. And so now, Lord, in the name of Jesus, I ask You to release in them and through them the gift of prophesying, for Your glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Okay. It’s legitimate to speak out loud enough to hear yourself. There’s something about breaking the sound barrier. God prompts me to tell you there’s no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. You’re under condemnation? Don’t accept it. You know, there’s so much variety. Don’t be tied down. How many of you got a prophecy? Just raise your hand. Right up, don’t let me… Well, that’s beautiful. Amen. Now, those of you that didn’t, we’ll give you one more run at the jump, okay? Don’t feel discouraged. Just turn to the Lord and say, “Lord, help me. If I’m bound, release me.” Some are bound by fear, some are bound by embarrassment, but don’t let that hold you back, okay?

Father, thank You for what You’ve done for Your people here this morning. We pray now that You will release those who are bound by fear or embarrassment or any other force, Lord, and You’ll give them this beautiful gift of prophesying, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

I have looked upon your doubts and your fears, but I have also looked upon your love for me. And I want now to take away your doubt and your fear, and to reassure you that I will be with you in every situation. I will never leave you. I will never forsake you. Indeed, I will send my angels before you, and they will prepare the way. When you come in, you need only come in and gather the fruit. There is a rich harvest waiting. And I am equipping you to be laborers, to be gatherers in of the harvest. So lay aside your doubts and fears, lay them at my feet, says the Lord, and I will give you my joy and my peace and my power.