February 2, 2016

The gift of prophecy is being able to proclaim a message from God. The bible is full of books from Prophets, words and messages from G-d through such prophets as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Malachi, and Daniel. The Greek word translated “prophesying” or “prophecy” in Paul’s letters properly means to “speak forth” or declare the 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. Notice, to prophecy is different from the idea of telling the future. Using the word in this manner was added sometime in the Middle Ages and is in direct contradiction to scriptural passages that condemn such fortune-telling or predicting the future (Acts 16:16-18).

I think it is important to understand that prophecy in the bible is not like fortune telling or predicting the future. Prophecy is about the prophet sharing what G-d has spoken to them, and also about interpreting the purposes of what G-d has spoken. This is the role of the prophet, to share what God has revealed in humility, not assuming that they themselves know the right interpretation or application of what G-d has shared with them. The Christian community then has a role in weighing the prophecy to help interpret its meaning (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:29-33). In the end, though, response to the prophecy is to be determined by the individual church community or its individual members.

In the case of Paul, his fellow Christians in Caesarea interpreted a message as a warning and urged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Paul, on the other hand, felt the right application of the warning was to prepare himself for the persecution that was about to come. Which was the right application of this prophetic warning? Luke doesn’t offer an opinion, but the Christian community in Caesarea rightly allows Paul to follow his conscience and simply prays that God’s will would be done.

We all can be prophets, for pastors and others offer prophetic messages throughout each week. So, keep listening, sharing, and following!

Pastor Dave