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Scripture Reading: 1, 1 Cor. 14:3, 4-5, 12, 39a, 31, 23-25
In this chapter we will cover the fourth step of being a priest of the New Testament, that is, prophesying for God.
The preaching of the gospel is for begetting, that is, for regenerating people. The feeding of the lambs is for nourishing, that is, for cherishing the babes. The perfecting of the saints is for teaching, that is, for instructing people in the truth. Prophesying for God is for building, that is, for the building up of the church.
Speaking may be considered the greatest ability or skill. We may speak the same word, yet you may speak it in one way, and I in another way. Hence, there needs to be much consideration in this matter. In the New Testament there is one chapter, 1 Corinthians 14, that is altogether concerned with the matter of prophesying. The Greek word that is rendered “prophesy” in this chapter may also be rendered “predict.” However, whichever way we may render it, both prophesying and predicting are not to speak for ourselves but to speak for God. We must keep this point firmly in mind. When we prophesy in the church, we speak for God and not for ourselves. God is our source; He is the word that we speak. When we prophesy for God, we speak for God, speak forth God, and speak God into people to dispense God to them.
In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul speaks altogether about prophesying. He highly exalts prophesying and greatly belittles speaking in tongues. He says, “Greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, that the church may receive building up” (v. 5). He also says, “In the church I would rather speak five words with my mind, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue” (v. 19). For this reason he encourages us again and again to prophesy for God.
To prophesy for God is not to predict. To predict is to foretell an event before it occurs. This is not the meaning conveyed in 1 Corinthians 14. The Chinese Union Version renders this word “to be a prophet preaching.” However, the term prophet may lead people to understand the Greek word here as referring to predicting. Actually, what the prophets of God spoke in the Old Testament did not altogether consist of predictions; rather, their speaking included a great measure of exhortations and warnings. In 1 Corinthians 14, in speaking of prophesying for God, Paul did not have any intention for us to speak in tongues or to predict; his intention was that we all speak for God. God desires to speak to His people. However, He would not speak directly to them; He wants us to speak for Him. Therefore, this matter is very precious, and for this reason it is also quite difficult.
First Corinthians 14:3 says, “He who prophesies speaks building up and encouragement and consolation to men.” Building up is for the church; the church needs the words of building up. Encouragement is for the work; the Lord’s work needs the words of encouragement. Consolation is for the believers; every believer needs the words of consolation because every day we all have problems and worries, and we all need to be consoled. Therefore, when we prophesy for God in the church meetings, we first need to take care of the building of the church of God so that the church may be built up. Second, we need to take care of the Lord’s work. Because they have many problems, everyone who works for the Lord needs incitement and encouragement. Third, we also need to take care of all of God’s children so that they may have joy and satisfaction. Therefore, we should remember that to prophesy is to speak building up for the church, to speak encouragement for the work, and to speak consolation for the believers.
First Corinthians 14:12 says, “Since you are zealous of spirits, seek that you may excel for the building up of the church.” Speaking in tongues is for the building up of ourselves; thus, it is a gift of lesser value. Only prophesying is for the building up of the church; thus, it is the excelling gift. How transcendent and noble it is if we can speak for God by speaking some illuminating words that everyone may be comforted and may be full of joy and hope and that the church may be built up.
Prophesying is the excelling gift because it builds up the church (14:4-5, 12). Prophesying not only builds up individual saints but also builds up the Body of Christ, which is the church.
Because there are more people in the larger meetings, the words that we prophesy are more powerful.
First Corinthians 14:1 says, “Pursue love, and desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” We need to desire earnestly the most profitable gift, which is the gift of prophesying. Since to prophesy for God is to speak for God and to speak forth God, it is to minister Christ to people. This is the most important thing in the church meetings and the most profitable gift in the building up of the saints and the church. In the concluding word of this chapter, Paul still charges us to pursue and desire earnestly to prophesy for God’s building (v. 39).
First Corinthians 14:31 says, “You can all prophesy one by one that all may learn and all may be encouraged.” God’s desire is that every believer would prophesy. For this reason we should not only earnestly desire this gift but also make an effort to learn and exercise.
Every saint has the capacity to prophesy for God. God has given this gift to us. All believers possess this gift, and all can prophesy for God.
First Corinthians 14:23-25 shows us that if all prophesy in the church meetings, this will cause people to be convicted and to be brought back to God. However, if we do not prophesy, we owe God something, we owe others something, and we even owe ourselves something. In the church meetings, the thing that edifies people the most is prophesying. Furthermore, what we prophesy edifies ourselves the most. If in a meeting you stand up to prophesy for God, you feel that that meeting is good; otherwise, you may not feel that it is good. Actually, whether a meeting is good or not does not depend on the meeting itself but on whether or not you prophesy for God. The reason is that once you speak, the meeting is yours, and all the riches become your supply. Therefore, if we want to be blessed and edified, we should pray and prophesy in the meetings. This is our duty to God and man.
That God wants us to speak for Him is based on the principle of incarnation. Under the grace of the New Testament, God does not want to do things by Himself; He wants man to cooperate with Him. God and man, man and God, coordinate mutually and cooperate together. When we speak, God speaks. This truly benefits man and glorifies God. Therefore, I encourage all of you to prophesy for God. Do not be afraid or shy. One who is shy cannot learn to speak a foreign language well. The same is true with our prophesying for God. Do not be afraid; regardless of this or that, speak and keep speaking. Do not be afraid that people will laugh at you if you do not speak well. The more you speak, the more you will be able to speak. Furthermore, we can learn from one another and teach one another. We all are students, and we all are teachers. Consequently, we all are being perfected and are becoming good prophets.
If we mean business to learn to prophesy, I would propose to you that every week you set aside two hours and come together with eight or ten to teach one another and to learn from one another. For this reason every one of you should have a morning revival every day. There is a publication that is very suitable for this, The Holy Word for Morning Revival, which contains Scripture text, portions from footnotes, and portions from Life-study messages for our pray-reading and enjoyment of the Lord every morning. When you have a morning revival every day in this way, you will surely have some inspiration that you can jot down. When the weekend comes, you can put together the portions that you have written down, read them over, and do a little polishing so that it will be approximately three minutes long. This becomes a very good draft for your prophesying. Doing this is something very basic, and it will be of great benefit to you.
Furthermore, in order to prophesy for God, we need to know more of the Bible. Therefore, we need to memorize the best Scripture verses. If you learn to memorize one or two verses a day, you will have an accumulation of the Word. Then, unconsciously, your prophesying will be strengthened. In addition, when you prophesy, avoid wordiness or common words; instead, speak God’s word and speak concise words. Eight or ten of you may take turns to practice, to adjust one another, and to learn from one another. Within half a year or a year you will do very well. At that time, when you come together, you will be able to speak for God; you will be able to speak to the point and speak with substance. Furthermore, you will be able to speak forth God so that people can understand, and you will be able to speak God into people so that they can receive the benefit. If in a meeting twenty people prophesy in this way, no individual preaching can compare with their speaking. When you practice this, in the beginning it may not be so good, but that does not matter. We should simply encourage everyone to speak. It does not matter if we have to “sacrifice” the meeting somewhat. After some practice, gradually the proper condition will be manifested, and the improper condition will disappear. After you have learned to prophesy and the ability has been developed, you will receive great profit. Not only will you be able to speak in the meetings, but even your speaking in your daily life will be helped.
We receive the inspiration in our daily life, and then we can present it in the meetings for the building up of the church. Therefore, our prophesying is not our instant inspiration; it is to prepare something from what we have received of the Lord in our daily life and to offer it in the meetings for others’ benefit and for the church’s building up. I put these words before you. As long as you mean business to practice this, I am confident that you all will be able to prophesy for God and become New Testament priests of the gospel who fulfill their responsibility.
