“Coveting to Prophesy”

“Wherefore, brethren, COVET TO PROPHESY, and forbid not to speak with tongues”—1Corinthians 14:39

The word “prophesy” is from the greek word “propheteuo”—meaning: to foretell events or to speak under inspiration. Hence, prophecy means to foretell things by divine revelation. Then it also means, to speak under divine inspiration.

Over the years, I have consistently received prophetic directions from the Lord, for my own profiting. And as I keep on walking under divine direction, I have kept on making progress in every areas of my life.

God has never left me in the dark concerning his perfect will and plans for my life.

But recently, God just gave me an eye-opener concerning the ministry of prophecy. And as the days go by, I feel strongly impressed in my spirit, that God would have me minister to people prophetically, in order to get more effective results from my ministrations.

Though I have been doing that over the years, at just a simple level, but I feel that God would have me and every other zealous believers press more for the prophetic gifts in our ministries.

And accordingly, I have already started pressing in with all vigor, with supernatural results already coming out…

Some days back in my local church, as the pastor was leading prayers, I was praying along with a desperate crave for a vision from God. As I pressed hard enough by the grace of God, the Lord gave me an inner vision of a colorful bowl of water, filled with water to overflowing.

As I got the vision, after waiting for a while, I just raised my hand up, signaling to my pastor that I had something to share. As he gave me audience, I simply shared what I saw; and was trying to explain what I believe the symbol meant. But before I could finish with my explanation, the Pastor quickly helped me to finalize it, by saying the symbol meant overflow of blessings.

As he gave that interpretation, the atmosphere of the church was charged with faith. People were edified and the power of God manifested in an unusual way. A woman in the church even fell under the influence of the Holy Ghost.

Hence, this sermon seeks to urge every lover of God and his gifts, to press in for the manifestation of the gift of prophecy in our ministrations, to the intent that people can be edified, comforted and exhorted (1 Corinthians 14: 3).

As we approach the end time; as things begin to turn out more difficult as the scriptures says. As people’s love are already beginning to wax cold. As iniquity is already abounding. Only carefully crafted cold sermons will no longer be enough to sustain people’s love.

People need to know that God is still very much in love with them. People need to know that God is not unaware of their predicaments. People need to know God’s good plans towards them and their challenges. People need to know God’s position about their characters so they can be more watchful and circumspect.

And for people to have a “now word” from God, it will require a restoration of the prophetic ministry to the church, with appropriate, scriptural administration by church leaders.

And this revival will only be made possible, as believers begin to obey God’s instruction regarding the prophetic gifts. That is, by earnestly coveting to prophesy. By zealously pressing on God for direct word for his people. Instead of being erroneously, open-minded for God to use them anytime he wants.

The word of God admonishes us to be active in our pursuit of spiritual gifts (1 Corin-12:31), such as prophecy. But instead, out of unbelief and ignorance, “supposed believers”, have been (and are still) paying passive attention to the manifestation of spiritual gifts.

Hence, the church has come short of the manifestation of God’s glory and power. As a result of this grievous error, many are already falling prey to false prophets. As they run to them for helps which are abundantly and readily available in the church. Just because so-called believers, refuse to believe God and step out in faith.

At this very moment, God’s utmost heart desire is to mightily pour his Spirit on every and any zealous vessel, who dares to believe his word. So he can use them to bring comfort to his people.

So he can use them to preserve his fruits from decadence…

So Who Can Prophesy?

The answer is- anyone and everyone that truly believe in Jesus Christ. Anyone that wants to be used by God in extending his love to the hurting believers and mankind in general.

Prophecy in the new covenant, is not for only a special group of people. It’s not only for the prophets. The Bible says, “We may all prophesy one by one that all may learn, and all may be comforted”—1 Corinthians 14:31.

Again, in Peter’s confirmation of the prophecy of Joel in Acts 2:16-18, he says, “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days says God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy”.

So under the new covenant, you don’t have to be called to the prophetic office to prophecy. We are all to prophecy according to the measure or proportion of faith dealt to every man (Romans 12: 3, 6).

One article will not be enough for me to exhaust my sermon on how to covet prophesying. So I will be continuing in subsequent articles…
But in the interim, I urge you to covet to prophesy, as the scriptures admonish.

Remain Blessed!

Emeke Odili