Who is The Holy Spirit? The Spirit of Prophecy

Spirit of Prophecy

Joel 2:28-29 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” (NIV)

            God gave His people prophets by way of the Holy Spirit to be His mouthpiece and to deliver messages directly from the Throne to guide, teach and warn them of things to come. Jeremiah 1:4-5 The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. (NIV) A person who is truly a prophet of God is not designated by men, but of God. Jeremiah was chosen to be a prophet before he was even born. He was handpicked by God to deliver a word of warning to the Israelites who had turned away from Him and wandered into idolatry. God wanted the best for His chosen nation, but they did not align their will with His and were therefore judged.

God has a plan for all those who will be submissive to His will. The Holy Spirit, therefore, enables those whom God chooses to work in the office of a prophet, to speak on His behalf. The Book of Joel lets us know that God promised to pour out his Spirit upon all people where they would prophesy in the last days. This does not mean that everyone will have the office of a prophet, but God would pour out His Spirit to give dreams and visions, so that His people would never be unprepared for the days to come. Amos 3:7 Sure the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. (NIV)

God used many people in the Bible to give a prophetic word for His children. Prophecy should never be taken for granted for it is God’s gift to the believer and is an important part of the believer’s relationship with Him. God gives the Holy Spirit the message to give to the believer because He loves and care for us and His word never returns void. Isaiah 56:10-11 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (NIV)

            Not only does the Holy Spirit imparts prophecy to the believer as a message from God, but the Spirit of Prophecy testifies as to who Jesus is. Revelation 19:10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.” (NIV) When Jesus was on earth, He too gave spoke prophetically about things to come in order to warn His disciples concerning things that they would have to endure during their lifetime as well as the believer with regards to the end times. Yet, warnings are not the only work of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives prophecy to help guide the believer just as a map gives directions. Prophecy is like a reflective mirror of Christ and if we allow Him to lead us through the prophetic word, then we are being a representative of Jesus. This is why the Bible says prophecy is for the believer and not the non-believer. 1 Corinthians 14:22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. (NIV)

            Many people have confused the Spirit of Prophecy with getting a word in regards to material possessions, jobs, status, fame and popularity. Many of the saints of God flock to prophets not to get a word from God in regards to being in good standing with Him, and to find out what they need to do to please Him, but they are looking for God’s hands to fly open. This, unfortunately tarnishes the true meaning of the gift of prophecy, which is given through the Holy Spirit. It also misrepresents prophetic enlightenment when this is the mindset of Christians that is often endorsed by many televangelists, pastors and self-proclaimed prophets; therefore, perverting the true knowledge of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, we as believers are to understand that the Holy Spirit imparts prophecy to us in order to enable us to be fully equipped for the Kingdom of God. 2 Peter 1:21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (NIV)