S204P9 – Our spiritual fuel: prophecy

1 Cor. 14:22-25

Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

The first few days in that strange place were a lot for him to handle.  He had gone there alone, and over that brief time had expected to connect with at least someone.  However, those days would be spent on his own remembering the company he used to have when he was back home. Always the popular guy, there was no shortage of friends. He was always busy and never really had time to himself.  Now, he was thrust into a new environment, a new world, and he was on his own for the first time.  He picked up the phone and called home.  The sound of his father’s voice was the greatest comfort he could have.  Even though dad was not physically there but was hundreds of miles away, he was secure knowing that his father was still there for him.

Prophecy is an interesting gift because it speaks the words of God. These words do not come from man but are divinely inspired.  Today’s scripture tells us that an unbeliever who hears a prophetic word will know that God is indeed in that place. It is evidence that what is going on there is real and true.  The truth is, believers need this kind of encouragement as well.  We do not always feel the presence of God, and we certainly do not see him around us in physical form.  There are times when we crave some type of evidence that He indeed is there, some type of sign.  Prophecy fuels us because it allows us to hear the words of God for us.  It is not only evidence that we believe in the one true God, but it is also evidence that He still speaks to us.

God’s promises through prophecy are certainly a gift because they clue us in on things God is not required to share with us.  It is a gift to hear his words and to know that He is thinking of us.  It is a gift to be in the midst of prophecy and know that God is abiding there with his people. This kind of encouragement fuels us not only in those moments when prophecy is spoken but also during other times when we do not feel or hear him.  Prophetic words that speak present or future truth inspire us by their evidence of God and by giving us something to look forward to. Father, thank You for the grace of sending your word and speaking it through us, and let your prophecy fuel us as we feel your presence and know that we are on your mind.