WHAT IS PROPHECY?
This article dives into, “what is prophecy?”, and how the prophetic can offer guidance, encouragement, and insight into God’s speaking. A commonly misunderstood topic among Christians, prophecy has been both mistreated and misused, as well as stewarded biblically as God designed, resulting in vastly different experiences.
Learn what prophecy truly is according to the Bible, its relevance today, and how it shapes how we hear and respond to God's voice in our lives. Whether you're curious about prophecy or seeking to understand its role in your own walk with God, this article is for you.
“Do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good”
— (New American Standard Bible, 1995, 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21)
Why can’t I hear God?
All of us desire to hear God who speaks by His Word and by His Spirit. So, how do we hear God more clearly? And are there instances where what we do can actually affect our ability to hear Him? Knowing the ways we can limit our ability to hear Him is the first step towards learning how we can hear Him. In 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21, we learn that despising prophecy is one thing that can hinder our ability to hear.
How do we know if we’re despising the prophetic? There are ten signs to be mindful of: self-righteousness, mockery, rejection, unbiblical judging, receiving God’s Word selectively, attacking, receiving everything as God’s Word indiscriminately, receiving what God says flippantly, receiving God’s Word arrogantly, and limiting the prophetic to our understanding.
Ultimately, God speaks to be heard. The purpose of the prophetic is to respond to what He is calling us to do, whether that means repenting, believing, persisting, or something else. God has a lot to say to those who will approach His Word with honor, meditation, testing, faith, and diligent application.
Shane Farmer
Serves as the Lead Pastor of Revolution Church. He and his wife, Wendy, have three sons: Josiah, Charlie, and Marshall.
Rebekah Layton
Serves as the Associate Pastor of Revolution Church. She and her husband, Josh, have one daughter, Zuriel.
Learn More About Revolution Church
Our GoalS
1. Steward Revival for Maximum Impact
We believe the tsunami of God’s next great move is approaching shore and are committed not to reject the new thing God is doing, but to participate in the full acceleration His Spirit’s moving brings. We do not exist to sustain or maintain what is, but believe status quo has got to go to make way for Kingdom advancement.
2. Sustain the Gain for a Lifetime
We seek to sustain an open heaven for a lifetime, and therefore, desire to be very diligent about the intersections of Worship and Prayer, Word and Spirit.
3. Raise Up Titans of the Faith
We feel called to pursue power over prevalence, purity over prominence and perseverance over popularity. We believe Christ commends a pure and spotless bride, not a bloated bride. We have a goal of raising up tomorrow’s spiritual giants who are wholly devoted to His person, His praise and His purposes, as we know the Lord’s eyes look throughout the earth seeking to show Himself strong to those whose hearts are wholly devoted to Him (2 Chr 16:9). We believe the church exists to comfort the afflicted but also to spur one another on to love and good deeds, not to coddle each other in partial obedience.
4. Pure Praise
We long to be King Davids of the Kingdom, leading the way for pure praise that catches the attention of heaven, elevating worship as the chief end of the church.
5. Catalyze a Prayer Movement
We want to be driven and directed in dependence lived out through intercessory and inquiring prayer. We intercede because we believe God is, God answers and God acts. We inquire out of a desire to be led by Him, not trusting our own skills, strategies or schemes but His guidance.
6. Raise Up a Joshua and Caleb Generation
Only two of approximately two million had the faith to persevere in pursuit of God’s promise. We know what God has revealed about the test of faith coming to the next generation and we are burdened to pass on a baton of persevering faith to the future generation.
7. Fight for Every One
We refuse to leave our community uncontended and uncontested, but instead, we are unapologetically on mission for every life and every eternity.
