The prophetic – when God speaks without us losing each other

Most of us have experienced it.

Either:

• being touched and lifted by a prophetic word

or

• being confused, wounded or pressured by it

The prophetic stirs up both longing and unease. Because deep down we long for God to speak. But we're also afraid of what happens when people get involved. So some shut the door completely. Others leave it wide open – without any filter.

The Bible invites us to a third way.

God is a speaking God. Right from the beginning we meet a God who speaks.

• God speaks the world into being

• God speaks to people

• God speaks in order to create, shape and save

About Jesus: "The Word became flesh" (John 1:14)

The prophetic is therefore not first about predictions. It's about relationship. God wants to communicate with his children.

The prophetic in the New Testament

In the New Testament an important shift takes place. Prophecy is no longer reserved for a few "special" people.

Paul writes:

'Pursue love and desire the spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.' 1 Corinthians 14:1

And again:

"You can all prophesy, one after another, so that everyone can learn something and be encouraged and helped." 1 Corinthians 14:31

That doesn't mean everyone is a prophet. But it means the prophetic is given to the church.

What is the purpose of prophecy?

Paul makes it very clear:

"But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort." 1 Corinthians 14:3

The prophetic is meant to:

• build up – not tear down

• encourage – not manipulate

• comfort – not control

If a prophetic word creates:

• fear

• pressure

• dependence

• shame

then something has gone wrong – no matter how "spiritual" it sounds.

Prophecy is not infallible – and that's biblical

Here is a crucial but often overlooked point:

Prophetic words in the new covenant are not infallible.

Paul writes:

"If there are some present with the gift of prophecy, let two or three of them bring their messages, and the others are to weigh what is said." 1 Corinthians 14:29

If prophecy were infallible, there would be no need to weigh it.

It means:

• prophecy can be imprecise

• prophecy can be colored by the person

And that's not heresy.

It's New Testament realism.

The prophetic requires maturity – not perfection

That's why Paul doesn't say:

Stop the prophetic.

He says:

"Do not quench the Spirit, and do not despise prophetic messages, but weigh it all. Hold on to what is good" 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21

We should neither:

• swallow everything whole

• nor reject everything by reflex

Maturity lies in weighing/testing – and keeping what is good.

Prophecy must never replace relationship and responsibility

A prophetic word must never:

• steer other people's lives

• make decisions on other people's behalf

• replace wisdom, community and responsibility

God uses prophecy to confirm, not to control. The Holy Spirit speaks first and foremost to people – not over their heads.

The prophetic in a healthy community

A healthy prophetic culture is marked by:

• humility rather than authority

• dialogue rather than pressure

• love rather than correctness

• accountability rather than mystique

Here it's allowed, as the one receiving the prophetic, to say:

This resonates and speaks into something God is already pointing to – and this I'll set aside.

Without fear.

Without guilt.

When the prophetic points to Jesus

Revelation says:

the prophetic Spirit tells about Jesus and exalts him.

Revelation 19:10

That's the litmus test.

If prophecy doesn't:

• bring us closer to Jesus

• make us more dependent on him

• and more loving toward people

then it has lost its center.

A question for reflection

Have your experiences with the prophetic made you:

• more free?

• or more cautious?

Maybe the next step isn't to open or close the door completely,

but to let God heal our understanding of how he speaks.

Because God is still a speaking God. And his voice is still marked by truth, love and grace.