Prophecy is one gift that has been a blessing to the lives of
many and for some it represents terrible situations in their lives that would
want to forget in a hurry. Those who have fallen into the hands of “strange
prophets” are not quick to embrace it in manifestation and for good reasons
that they are entitled to.
Prophecy is a seeing and speaking gift because it involves seeing
things or events in the supernatural realm. The problem we have today as it
relates to this gift is based on what many claim to have seen. One thing for
sure is that prophecy is an insight into the mind and heart of God for a given
person or situation. The Greek word translated “prophesying” or “prophecy” means
to “speak forth” or declare God’s divine will, to interpret the purposes of
God, or to make known in any way the truth of God which is designed to
influence people.
Prophecy is not all about future prediction. It is more
about forth-telling or a gift of proclamation. This proclamation is based on
the eyes of the heart. If one’s heart is not based on the grace of God, there
will be a veil over the spiritual eyes to see the truth as it relates to the
fulfillment of God’s purposes in the new covenant. As we can see many prophets
who practice a mixture of grace and law lead people into condemnation and
guilt.
Prophecy can be seen also in the use of other giftings and
demonstration of the supernatural power of the Spirit. An example of this
can be seen when a certain man paralyzed for 38 years lay helpless at the pool
of Bethesda, Jesus said, “Rise, take up your bed and walk,” and immediately,
the man was healed, took up his bed and walked. (John 5:8–9)
Jesus proclaimed what he saw. This is faith in action. This gift
of prophecy can work alongside the gifts of healings or working or miracles. But
perhaps one of the most notable I can relate to comes from the Old Testament,
from a man who was hired to place a curse on the children of Israel in their
journey to Canaan.
The prophet Balaam saw the vision of the Almighty when the
Spirit of God fell on him. As he looked down from a mountain at the camp of the
Israelites, he found himself saying, “How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your
dwellings, O Israel! Like valleys that stretch out, like gardens by the
riverside, like aloes planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters.”
(Numbers 24:5–6)
Balaam would not have said this unless he saw Israel not in
the natural, but as God saw it. At that time, the Israelites were a
discontented lot, always murmuring and complaining in the wilderness. But when
God looked at them, He saw them like flourishing gardens planted by the
rivers—fruitful and prosperous.
This is exactly how prophecy works in the New testament. It is
seeing and proclaiming things as God sees them. The cross brought about a new
dawn not only on earth but also in heaven. When God sees his children, he doesn’t
see them as struggling with sin and ones destined to fail. He sees them through
His son. God sees us one with the son, seated in him in heavenly places,
enthroned with authority and covered in glory.
The place of prophecy is to cast the light on this truth. To
say to the sick, that they are healed because of the stripes that was once on
Jesus. Prophecy is not bringing out the bad in people but to get people
acknowledge every good thing in them so that the communication of their faith
would be effectual. Prophecy reveals the son in us and not the sin in us. As John
stated in Revelation that “the spirit of prophecy is the revelation of Jesus”
