We were stuck. Our money was stuck in different places, our house hadn’t sold, and our new house hadn’t been built. There was no way to keep our new unbuilt house as ours. We were going around and around in circles with the loan office, the realtors, the builder; there was absolutely no way they could sell us the house. All of our stuff was loaded in a truck, our old house was empty, we were living in a hotel. The movers had stolen our checkbooks so our accounts were empty.
And then my dear, prayerful, Holy-Spirit-filled Grandma comes into the picture. My Grandma had studied English in college, was a homemaker, worked in the church as a secretary, and then went into full time mission work. Her work was miles away from loans and finances and house-knowledge. But into her mind came a phrase: “bridge loan.” She told my Dad, he told the loan officer, and it was like a lightbulb came on. A bridge loan! Genius!
And just like that all our problems were solved.
The house went through, we moved along with our lives, we entered into ministry in this new town.
Without my Grandma entering into conversation with the Lord, hearing from the Holy Spirit, and speaking the strangest nonsensical-to-her words into existence, we may not have moved. The Holy Spirit prompted her to tell us what He had told her, and she was brave, and acted. My Grandmother was not qualified in this situation to speak about houses and loans and finances, but she was qualified to speak because she was deeply connected to the Lord.
There are so many situations where we can feel unqualified, or wholly unable to enter into the work of God, but prophecy isn’t one of them.
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” Acts 2:17 (in reference to Joel 2:28)
As a result of the Holy Spirit falling down upon God’s people at pentecost, we have the Holy Spirit within us. And if we’re paying attention, He’s working. If we’re listening, we can prophesy. ALL sons and daughters, not especially holy ones, not those who speak loud in church
Many times when we hear the list of spiritual gifts given to us by the Spirit—prophecy, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, mercy, word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, discernment, tongues, interpretation of tongues, helps— we pick out the one we are most comfortable with. We think “alright I can encourage people, or give all my money, or have mercy,” but we ultimately skip prophecy thinking that’s a gift for someone else. But here’s where we get a little kick in the pants from Paul:
“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” 1 Corinthians 14:1
Like really Paul? Why do you have to point out that one? Why above all else would you want us to prophesy? And why is that the one that you say we all can possess? If he’s saying to earnestly desire it, then obviously it’s the one we all can do. No one is disqualified from any of the gifts, but like Paul says: “especially that you may prophesy.”
So when you’re hesitant, or think I’m just a teenager, or a new Christian, or a woman, or I don’t read my Bible enough: remember Paul. If we earnestly desire it, if we’re listening, if God speaks and we know we’re supposed to say it out loud, then that’s the Lord asking—even you—to prophesy.
When we know and live into the fact—yes it’s a fact— that we are God’s masterpiece, made in His image, and He has cool things planned for us, then we should also believe we are qualified to do these cool things. We can’t believe only half of this verse “oh yes I am God’s amazing creation, but He has not given me the ability to hear Him and tell other people what He’s saying. No, not me.” If we are God’s instrument to do the good things He’s calling us to, we better also believe He has qualified us. Even if that means He is qualifying us to prophesy.
So next time you feel hesitant, answer these to questions: am I connected to God? Is he saying something? If you can answer yes to both, you better believe you can—and should—prophesy.
abideandwrite.com 