The Ability to Prophesy

"All flesh is grass,
And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field...
Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever."
Isaiah 40:6-8 (NKJV)

Love never comes to an end. There is the gift of speaking what God has revealed [prophecies], but it will no longer be used. There is the gift of speaking in other languages [tongues], but it will stop by itself. There is the gift of knowledge, but it will no longer be used.
1 Corinthians 13:8 (GW, amplified)

Keep on pursuing love, and keep on desiring spiritual gifts, especially the ability to prophesy... the person who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding [edification], encouragement, and comfort. The person who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the person who prophesies builds the church up. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:1-4 (ISV, amplified)

The ability to prophesy is a gift of God. One example of its most basic use is to humbly pray, "Lord, please show me what to say to this person," to understand from the Holy Spirit the words needed, and to then speak in agreement with the Word of God. If there is a gift we "especially" need, it is the ability to communicate from the Word and Spirit of God and not from ourselves.

When all is fulfilled—in the day that we see face to face and know as we are known—prophecies and knowledge will no longer be used. In the meantime, neither has ceased, and both should be used with careful dependence on God—not to build up ourselves but to build up others in Christ.

Our Father, thank You for putting in us Your own Spirit. Thank You for enabling us for all You ask of us. Please give us the desire to increase in the knowledge of Your Word, and give us the ability to share Your mind and will with others as glorifies You and builds up Your church.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy