Nougat 30

We can agree that ‘everyone’ refers to every single person. In the context of God’s Spirit being poured out, God’s Spirit is present, but not everyone is ready to accept God’s Spirit moving in their lives. For those of us who do, the proof isn’t just for ourselves, and it is less about speaking in tongues. It is about bearing witness to God’s presence. Not sure if you agree with that? – Consider Today’s Holy Nougat

Acts 2:17 CEVDCI

[17] “When the last days come, I will give my Spirit to everyone. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will have dreams.

Sent … With Prophesying, Visions, and Dreams 4

In Peter’s message, the first sign is visible in everyone. Although sons and daughters sound like children only, we are all sons and daughters – regardless of our age. We could be great-grandparents, nieces, nephews, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, mothers, or fathers – we are all someone’s child. Whether or not our parents died, are alive, gave us up for adoption, mistreated, abandoned, or hurt us, we are sons and daughters.

Let’s allow that to sink in for a moment.

It doesn’t matter what others say of us – we are someone’s child. Even when it seems otherwise, we matter to someone, especially to God.

Self-Check

To what extent do we believe this? Have we helped someone recognise that recently?

Digging Deeper

If we’re sons and daughters, and we’re ‘flesh’ (i.e., humanity), then it is safe to believe that we qualify for the first of the three actions Peter mentions. God’s Spirit has already come, we should be manifesting the prophetic. Before we take this thought any further, let’s note that in the Hebrew text, the root is naba, which refers to speaking or singing by [divine] inspiration, whether in prediction or regular discourse. That changes our understanding of prophecy, doesn’t it? It also explains why Elisha sought music when he prepared to prophesy (see 2 Kings 3:15).

The Topical Lexicon in Strong’s Concordance states that prophecy is not mere human chatter; it is the proclamation of ‘a divine message’. It further states

Prophecy upholds

Exclusive worship of YHWH (now centred on the finished work of Christ)

Social justice [often referred to as the prophetic voice]

Holiness

Further, the Topical Lexicon insists that all prophecy must harmonise with biblical revelation, bearing witness to Jesus and edifying the church.

Prophēteúō, the Greek root, refers to the act of speaking forth through divine forth-telling or foretelling. Here, HELPS Word-studies suggests that forth-telling reveals the mind of God, while foretelling refers to ‘predicting’ the future as the Lord reveals it.

It can get sticky siblings. This business of prophecy can become a grey area. For if God’s Spirit is universally available to sons and daughters, some people who prophesy may be gifted by God but opt to operate outside of God’s plans. We saw that in Acts 16, with the exploited servant girl who was ‘soothsaying’ (prophesying for others’ profits). Yet, many of us who live and breathe in the house of God are not testifying to the mind or will of God, speaking up for social justice, inviting others to experience the finished work of Christ, nor are we intentionally calling others to pursue holiness.

The disconnect is dangerous. For too many are dying without having been exposed to God’s love. St Francis of Assisi is often quoted as originating the phrase, preach the Gospel; use words where necessary. I believe that’s God’s plan for us with prophecy in these times. We are called to forth-telling God’s love to those feeling lost, forsaken or unloved. That doesn’t always require words. And we can always foretell Christ’s return – it WILL happen. The world needs to hear and see that. If only we would speak.

Point to Ponder

How are we practising forth-telling and foretelling under God’s direction to transform a son or daughter in our world?

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May all we seek be found in Christ