each week to sing and listen to preaching about letters written thousands of years ago, is a stretch for most people. Common to unbelievers, I’m sure there are times when believers waver on the purpose of this weekly routine as well; especially when they don’t feel close to God.
The worship and preaching can certainly be anointed and helpful to restore our sense of God’s presence, but Paul says that when true prophecy comes forth it will produce a visceral reaction that causes people to hit the floor exclaiming, “God is REALLY among you!”
When anointed prophecy comes by the Spirit, there is an unmistakable sense that God Himself is there and using an imperfect person to speak to His people.
This may not be something you’ve experienced before, or maybe you’ve observed men who’ve turned prophecy into a self-serving sideshow, but Paul states that true prophecy is a sign of God’s immediate and manifested presence among His people.
Believers receive the sign of encouragement, edification, and comfort because they aren’t surprised by His presence. They already believed He is there. However, for the doubter or unbeliever who isn’t sure, or doesn’t know at all, they will be unable to contain themselves and will proclaim what everyone else already knows when true prophecy comes, “God is REALLY among you!”
The difference in the response of the believer and unbeliever is expectation. We must always gather as believers expecting the presence of God to be active, and true prophecy is a stated, biblical manifestation of His presence.
This is the Father’s heart for His Church. He wants true prophetic ministry operating in the local church as another confirmation that He is really among us. God is delighted to be among His people, and true prophecy is a sign to His Church of that unchanging truth.
Do you see why it’s critical we have prophecy in the local church as the days grow darker in the world? Not as something that seeks to entertain us like a psychic reading; not as something that competes with preaching for superiority in the service; not as something that we have to fear because the gift is poorly understood, received, and delivered; not as something that is man-centered; but as a sign of His presence among us that draws our attention and affection to Him.
Whether corporately or individually, I am more amazed than ever at how a single prophetic message offered in obedience to God, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, at the appropriate time can strengthen the saddened soul, restore hope to the hopeless, and build faith in the faithless. The Church needs to know His manifest presence of love, faithfulness, and encouragement to endure through the gifts...especially prophecy.
Chapter 4
The Gifts Are Operating in the Church
Even if lifeless instruments are played, there is a distinct sound—something recognizable and applicable. Paul used the distinction argument to reflect on the various ways he ministered as a leader to the Church. These differences are clearly demonstrated in the ways the Holy Spirit manifests His grace gifts.
Offices: Men Given by Christ to the Church
Ephesians 4:11 speaks of gifts, or offices, given to men at Christ’s ascension. It says He gave some as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. These are continuing offices or leadership roles, geared to equip and build up His Church to maturity prior to His return.
Each gift/calling continues in individuals raised up within their generation as an ongoing expression of Christ’s faithful love for His Church. Each man takes up the mantle to fulfill the work of equipping and building up the Church until He dies, or Christ returns. Regardless of how men have changed the titles by denomination or doctrine, the Holy Spirit is still using these offices to grow and mature His church. Changing the label to suit our interpretation of Scripture doesn’t change what He is doing, or how He is using those He has chosen.
These are ministry gifts put in people directly chosen by Christ, with resident callings distinct from periodic manifestations of the Spiritual gifts. They are given to the Church by His will, and accountable to Christ to fulfill those callings.
Spiritual Gifts - Gifts Given by the Spirit to the Church
The Holy Spirit made sure prophetic ministry remained in the New Covenant (Acts 11:28, 13:1, 15:32, 21:10), even knowing that we would have the Bible. He made sure the prophet was included in the gifts that Jesus gave to the Church (Eph. 4:11). He also commanded that we eagerly desire the gift of prophecy above all others (1 Cor. 14:1).
We need to reexamine the Holy Spirit’s intent in elevating this gift. If we can understand the New Testament purposes of prophecy revealed in Scripture, then we may find ourselves appreciating afresh the prophetic ministry.
These spiritual gifts are known as charismata, or “gifts of grace” and are given individually to each believer according to 1 Cor.12:7 (“To each is given...”), as the Spirit wills. We each have gifts “that differ according to the grace given to us” (Rom. 12:6). The goal of all the spiritual gifts should be to “strive to excel in the building up of the church” (1 Cor. 14:12).
Each believer should know what grace gifts are flowing in them and earnestly desire the higher gifts, especially prophecy (1 Cor. 12:31, 14:1). The spiritual gifts are listed in different locations in Scripture. Below are listed the most notable spiritual gift locations. There are additional gifts noted in the Scripture such as celibacy, martyrdom, hospitality, missionary, and voluntary poverty, but for our purposes here, these are the most commonly discussed, and observed, “grace” gifts. Italicized gifts are mentioned in multiple verses:
Romans 12
exhortation
giving
leadership
mercy
prophecy
service
teaching
1 Corinthians 12
administration
apostle
prophet
discernment
faith
healing
helps
knowledge
miracles
prophecy
teaching
tongues
tongues interpretation
wisdom
Ephesians 4
apostle
evangelist
pastor
prophet
teacher
It’s interesting to note that the word prophet, or prophecy, occurs
