Are there any benefits to seeking and gaining the gift of prophecy? What are the dangers if any, of having this gift of the Spirit? And even more important, what is the cost to the body of Christ, if there are none who prophecy? Should all Christians prophecy?
First, we should understand just what prophecy is, and is not. There are some similarities with prophecy in the days of the prophets who were sent to the nation of Israel, but there are many differences also. So called new testament prophecy is unique in many ways, all which make it highly desirable for all Christians. Bit not all will become prophets, although all may prophecy.
Prophecy is the gift where the Holy Spirit speaks His words into the heart of the one hearing, with the purpose of sharing His thoughts with others. Many times these thoughts are for the comforting of another. Sometimes they are to bring conviction on one trapped in sin. And then there is the words which convict an unbeliever that Jesus is alive and that He died for them. There are many other things the Spirit can and does speak to, bit these are the most common, along with expounding on scripture. All of these things are profitable to the body.
It is written that the testimony of the children of God is the spirit of prophecy. This is another exams of a profitable use of prophecy. When we testify of how we were saved by Jesus, how we experienced His grace, the Spirit empowers our words for those hearing. He opens their ears to hear, and makes our words carry weight and convi film which is not from ourselves. In this all Christians should prophecy.
But the main benefit I have gained from prophecy is the growing ability to be led by the Holy Spirit. From the above, it is not hard to figure out why this is so.
I pray that more of His children are called to receive this gift to walk in it. If enough do, it will change the world, and add to the body of Christ abundantly.
First, we should understand just what prophecy is, and is not. There are some similarities with prophecy in the days of the prophets who were sent to the nation of Israel, but there are many differences also. So called new testament prophecy is unique in many ways, all which make it highly desirable for all Christians. Bit not all will become prophets, although all may prophecy.
Prophecy is the gift where the Holy Spirit speaks His words into the heart of the one hearing, with the purpose of sharing His thoughts with others. Many times these thoughts are for the comforting of another. Sometimes they are to bring conviction on one trapped in sin. And then there is the words which convict an unbeliever that Jesus is alive and that He died for them. There are many other things the Spirit can and does speak to, bit these are the most common, along with expounding on scripture. All of these things are profitable to the body.
It is written that the testimony of the children of God is the spirit of prophecy. This is another exams of a profitable use of prophecy. When we testify of how we were saved by Jesus, how we experienced His grace, the Spirit empowers our words for those hearing. He opens their ears to hear, and makes our words carry weight and convi film which is not from ourselves. In this all Christians should prophecy.
But the main benefit I have gained from prophecy is the growing ability to be led by the Holy Spirit. From the above, it is not hard to figure out why this is so.
I pray that more of His children are called to receive this gift to walk in it. If enough do, it will change the world, and add to the body of Christ abundantly.