Evangelist Dea Warford

I didn’t say it; God did! In 1 Cor. 14:31, Paul told the Corinthian church: “You can all prophesy.” You (in the Greek) means you. Can means can. All means all. And prophesy means prophesy! Now, true; in this context it probably is referring to Prophets (see verses before and after), however there are ample other scriptures to indicate that virtually anyone can be used of God to prophesy. Proof of this is the fact that in the same letter to the entire Corinthian church, Paul wrote things like: “Desire spiritual gifts; but especially that you may prophesy.” (14:1) and “Desire earnestly to prophesy.” (14:39).   Also, the “gift of prophecy” is listed along with other gifts of the Spirit (12:7-11) as available “for the profit of all. (12:7).

Some people think that prophesying is something that only Prophets do. Prophets do specialize in this gift (as even their “title” explains); even as evangelists (Greek: bearers of good news) specialize in taking good news to needy people. However, just as every Christian can “Do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5) and witness to others concerning the gospel; so too, every Christian can by used of God to prophesy to others. That this is a very important gift which we all should diligently seek to see operate in our life is proven by the fact that when Paul urged the church in 14:1 to “Desire spiritual gifts;” he quickly added, “but especially that you may prophesy.” Prophecy is an especially important gift and always has been since the early history of God’s dealings with mankind. Enoch was the first person in history that we know prophesied (see Jude 14). Abraham, the “Father of faith” was the first known Prophet (Gen. 20:7).   Moses was a Prophet (Deut. 34:10). In fact, most every book of the Old Testament was written by a Prophet. We truly owe the very existence of our faith, to a great extent, to the ministry of the Prophet!

Just as the Old Testament could not have been written without the contributions of the Prophets; so also, the New Testament church owes its very roots to the prophets: p.” (Eph. 2:20).   Legalistic Dispensationalists (a school of theologians) argue that miracles, Apostles and Prophets were limited to the New Testament church period and are no longer needed or in existence today. But, this doesn’t make sense in light of Scriptures like 1 Corinthians 12:28: “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.” If Prophets and miracles have been done away with, why do we sill have teachers, and helpers and administrators in churches today? And why do over 500 million people on earth today speak in tongues? The answer is simple: the Dispensationalists are wrong! People started prophesying from at least the 7th generation from Adam; prophesied throughout the Old Testament; prophesied throughout the book of Acts; and are still prophesying today. I know, because I prophesy!

I was 17 years of age and a freshman at LIFE Bible College in Los Angeles. I had a job working for FGBMFI (Full Gospel Business Men) in downtown LA. We had a guest speaker one day at work who taught us that anybody can prophesy. He probably quoted 1 Cor. 14:13: “Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.” explaining that any Christian can speak in tongues and then interpret “by faith” what they had said. Then, he asked if anyone would like to try it. One woman raised her hand; so he had her come up front and sit in a chair (a common practice back during the “Charismatic Movement”). He then instructed her to pray in tongues for a moment. After she did, he stopped her and said, “Now interpret it!” I can still hear her as though it were yesterday (kind of comical!). She said, “Yea . . . Yea . . . Yea . . . ”; but just couldn’t get any further with the interpretation. Nobody else came forward and that was the meeting. Afterwards, I ran into the guest speaker in the hall and confided with him, “When you were having that woman do that, I felt like I could have spoken in tongues and interpreted it.” You didn’t say something like that to a Charismaniac! He answered. “Why, do it right now!” So, obligingly; right in the hall near where other people worked, I spoke with tongues momentarily. Then, I “interpreted” it. I don’t remember what all I said, but it was something about the fact that God’s gifts were “for his children’s usage still today.” I had passed through a faith barrier. Within weeks, I was giving an interpretation of a tongue at my home church. From time to time, in the ensuing years, God continued to use me this way.

Later, I would learn that, “Tongues plus interpretation of tongues equals prophecy.” This truth is taught by Paul in 1 Cor. 14:5: “I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.” Prophesying is greater than speaking in tongues UNLESS it is interpreted. The obvious corollary of this truth is that tongues plus interpretation of tongues is the equivalent of prophecy. So, I determined, if prophecy is the same as tongues and interpretation, why speak in tongues first? Why not move immediately into prophecy? And, so for many years, the Lord has infrequently used me to prophesy as I sensed His Spirit inspiring me. The stirring up of this gift again in me because of the influence, encouragement and impartation of working with Prophet Elaine is quite similar to what happened when Saul joined a group of prophets: he too started prophesying! (1 Samuel 19). Since we have been prophesying so frequently over people, I saw the need to write on the subject so that we might have something to put into people’s hands to help them understand the gift of prophesy better and to make sure our prophecies weren’t misunderstood, misused or abused. Thus, this sermon of the month on prophecy!

There are three primary purposes of prophecy: “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.” (1 Corinthians 14:3). Let’s examine each:

Edification: We call a building an “edifice.” The Lord wants to make each Christian a strong “building” to house Christ and to withstand the storms of life. Thus, a word that would help build character, understanding, or strengthen one’s Christian experience would be the first purpose of a prophecy. Since “the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy.” (Rev. 19:10), we would expect prophesies that are truly from the Lord to bear the clear imprint of the character of Jesus: “full of grace and truth.” (1 John 1:14). Prophesies aren’t going to condemn or blow people away (see 1 Cor. 14:24, 25)!

Exhortation (Greek: encouragement): Sometimes we need a “shot in the arm” or a “nudge” to get us moving forward for God. Prophetic words can give us a sense of calling or enablement: encouraging us to take new steps of faith. I had been pastoring 10 years in Hawaiian Gardens, California, but had lately been feeling that I should resign my pastorate and launch into the full-time evangelistic field. I had a visiting evangelist speak at my church. I shared with him my desire. He prophesied that within 90 days, I would be on the field. Since it was mid-April at the time, that would mean that I would be leaving my pastorate in mid-July. So, I began planning my “switch” around that date. I immediately began scheduling meetings for beginning July 15. In May, I gave my supervisor a two-month notice. In June, I ordered our new trailer (which would take 6 weeks to build). The first of July, I finally found and bought our van which we had to have to pull our new big trailer.   July 14, we headed out as a family for our prophesied destiny. See the encouragement that a prophecy can bring?

Comfort: Oh, how we all need this at times! I was still working at FGBMFI while in college. Dick Mills (a prophet) was our guest speaker for our weekly devotional. After his message, he began prophesying over us. We had one woman who worked in the office whose daughter had recently run away from home. You can imagine how concerned she was! The prophet gave her the following verse from the Bible: “There is hope in your future, says the Lord, that your children shall come back to their own border.” Talk about comfort! This benefit of prophecy can’t be emphasized enough!
Though not officially listed in 1 Cor. 14:5, we can assume that other purposes of prophecy could be “subtitled” under the above list of three. One example is . . .

Guidance: Many times in the Old Testament, prophets told kings or the nation of Israel exactly where to go, what to do, or how to defeat their enemies. There is no reason to think God wouldn’t similarly, from time to time, give us guidance through prophecy today as well.

In the New Testament, God used Prophets to provide guidance to the church in Acts 11:27-30: “And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.

This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.”   Their quick response to the Prophet’s predictions proves conclusively that they valued his ministry.

I know God still uses prophecy to guide people today, because He has in my life! As I described earlier, in March, 1995 I had been feeling that I should launch into an evangelistic traveling ministry again (I had been pastoring for a decade!). So, while I was at a convention in Sacramento about that time, I determined that as soon as I returned back home to the L.A. area, I would start calling pastors to set up series of meetings; resign my church pastorate; and begin my full-time evangelistic calling. At a service during convention, a complete stranger came up to me and began giving me a prophetic word. He said that the Lord showed him that I “was like Joshua and I was to march around Jericho seven times and then blow the trumpet.” In my heart, the Lord confirmed that I was indeed to do that. And, I knew “by the Spirit” that to “march seven times” around the city before I blew the trumpet meant I was to go home and fast 7 days before I “blew the trumpet” to pastors announcing my   “blast-off” on the Evangelistic field.

As so led, I returned home and fasted 7 days.   When I ended my fast, I was preparing my breakfast just hours before I planned to start calling pastors for meetings. I suddenly realized, “I don’t know where I’m supposed to start!” The United States is a big country. Which district should I contact first to set up the itinerary? As I pondered this in my heart, I felt the Lord speak to my heart that there was a clue for me in the 8^th chapter of the book of Acts. Excited, I opened to where it describes Phillip’s evangelistic ministry. When I got to verse 26, it said “Go by way of the south.” My heart leaped when I read that. That’s where I was to start: in the south! I went over to my church office next door and that same day called three pastors I knew in the south (two in Oklahoma: not technically south of the Mason-Dixon line; but anybody who has been there knows that it has the culture and flavor of the south and is known as the “belt-buckle of the Bible belt”). I found all three pastors were home when I called and all three gave me meetings that very day (something that was never been repeated again: it is very difficult to find pastors when you need them and they rarely say yes to an evangelist immediately; if at all!). I soon added 14 more weeks of scheduled meetings and within 3 months was headed “by way of the south” on a whirlwind evangelistic tour that continues today.

Now, the Lord will normally not lead someone by a prophetic word. “The sons of God are led by the Spirit (not by the Prophets!).” (Rom. 8:14).   However, there are exceptions to every rule. And, examples in the Bible and in my own life show that when you are at a very, very important crossroad and desperately need to hear from God, He will at times give you prophetic guidance: through a Prophet; a prophecy; a vision; a dream; a word of wisdom; or a word of knowledge.   Many times in the Old Testament, people sought out a Prophet specifically for a word. I do this too from time to time.

There are so many churches today that rarely have prophetic words; have no one in their assembly that they call “Prophet”; and wouldn’t have the slightest idea how to go about obtaining a prophetic word. No wonder so many churches are “dying on the vine.” Solomon prophesied such in Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no revelation (Hebrew= a vision, prophecy, or prophetic word), the people . . . (perish: KJV).” So, we can certainly see why Paul was so emphatic in urging the church to “Desire spiritual gifts: ESPECIALLY that you may prophesy.”

If you have never received a prophetic word, start praying and believing for one! Visit meetings where the prophets are! Buy a book on prophesying. If you have received a prophetic word: act on it; claim it; and pray for it’s fulfillment. Prophecies aren’t automatic: they are a future potential through God’s power activated by our faith and obedience. Paul instructed Timothy (1:18, 19): “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare; having faith.” Notice Timothy had to “wage the good warfare” and “have faith”; if the prophecies he had received were to fully come to pass.

One final note: a prophecy is never to be blindly followed. The same Prophet that prophesied the famine (and the church so quickly responded to) also prophesied to Paul: "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.' " (Acts 21:11). Did Paul immediately cancel his Jerusalem trip? Absolutely not! He responded to the Prophet, "What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done." (vv. 13-14).   Paul trusted the Holy Spirit more than any prophecy! We should do the same. Ultimately then, the Holy Spirit’s witness in our heart and the Scriptures must be the primary and decisive source of guidance in our lives. Yet, nevertheless, we’re still to, “Covet to prophesy.”