Prophesying Meeting

For you can all prophesy one by one that all may learn and all may be encouraged 1 Cor. 14:31

Prophesying mainly brings to mind foretelling. And in the bible this thought is present. However, a deeper and more prevalent meaning of prophesying is found in the New Testament. This definition actually sets the standard of what the church does when they gather together.

“But he who prophesies speaks building up and encouragement and consolation to men.” 1 Cor. 14:3

To prophesy is to speak. To speak for God and to speak forth God.

“…he who prophesies builds up the church.” 1 Cor. 14:4

Because the believers have the divine life of God within them, they have the ability to speak forth the divine life of God! When we speak by our spirit with the Spirit (to prophesy) we are directly building up the church by infusing God into the listeners who are open to receive the divine dispensing.

“But he who prophesies speaks…encouragement…” 1 Cor. 14:3

For the work of the Christian there is the need for prophesying to speak encouragement to all. God has a purpose and a plan to carry out that purpose. Jesus is on the throne today interceding and as the Lord and Savior He is working out all situations and events for the carrying out of His organic salvation that will ultimately fulfill His purpose. Such speaking encourages the believers to stretch forward to the things which are before, forgetting the things which are behind! (Phil. 3:13)

“But he who prophesies speaks…consolation to men.” 1 Cor. 14:3

For the daily life there is consolation. It is a much stronger word than comfort. There is only One who can truly console the believers and that is Christ the Comforter, John 14:26. The believers speak forth God in Christ as the Comforter. Christ today is in the heavens, but he is also in us as the Comforter taking care of our case. (1 John 2:1)