The Role of the Gift of Prophecy Today! - 1 Corinthians 14

 14 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a] does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,[b] but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,[c] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

Paul reaffirms the gift of love and the pursuit of it, but he also tells them to eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit.  Though spiritual gifts are given, Paul suggests that we need to be intentional to pursue, discover, and use them.  Like any gift, if it is not opened it is worthless.  There is nothing wrong with pursuing spiritual gifts if that desire comes from a longing to bring God's kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. Spiritual gifts are dynamic, not static.  Like love, we grow in our understand and use of our spiritual gifts. 

Then, Paul contrasts the gift of "prophecy" with the gift of "speaking in tongues".  The main difference is the usefulness of the gift in regard to building up the body of Christ.  We call this "edification", as in the edifice of a building.  Paul's lithmus test for evaluating these two gifts is do they "strengthen, encourage and comfort" the body of Christ and build it up.  

The problem with speaking in tongues is that usually only the one speaking is built up.  Note Paul is not dismissing or disregarding the gift of tongues, he is merely putting it into the context of its usefulness to build up the church.  This is partly due to the way the Corinthians prized the gift of tongues and used it as a badge of spirituality in a prideful way.  Paul isn't against tongues. In fact, he says he wishes everyone spoke in tongues.  But he makes the case that one word of edification is better for the church than many words that only the speaker understands.  

So what does it mean to prophesy?  Prophesy in the Old Testament was primarily used to predict the coming of the Messiah.  We would call that "predictive prophesy". It is not as if people in the church now can't have a prophesy about the future, but the primary use of prophesy in the early church was to equip and prepare the church for the spread of the gospel.  

The simplest definition of prophecy is to speak forth the word of God in way that is relevant to the listener(s).  Therefore, a sermon could be prophetic in that it is speaking forth God's word and comforts, encourages and exhorts the body of believers.  Remember in the Old Testament a prophet often brought a word of a judgment that God had given them.  Being a prophet in the Old Testament was a lonely job.  

Anytime we use the word in a way that brings God's truth in a timely and relevant way it is prophetic.  When I say relevant I don't mean it fits into the times, or bends the truth to make it more palateable.  God's Word is truth.  Speaking prophetically is applying what Paul is teaching the Corinthians to the church today.  My hope would be some of the words I write in the Daily Bread blog are prophetic, in the sense that they build you up, challenge you and encourage you.

Eagerly desire the gifts God has given you, especially prophecy. "God's Word is living and active dividing soul and spirit and joint and marrow.  It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  Hebrews 4:12  As we apply God's word in our lives, we are transformed, and we grow to Christ-like maturity.