I personally believe that prophecy in our text is not predicting the future but focusing on the truth of God’s Word.
The person with the gift of prophecy focuses on truth. Peter would be a great example of the gift of prophecy. As you read his writing from II Peter, he often warns about the false prophet.
The gift of prophecy in the church stresses the church holding to the truth.
Now, while the gift of prophecy in the Spirit focuses on truth, the person with this gift who is in the flesh sees only themselves as being right. In the flesh, they don’t care who they hurt so long as they “speak the truth” forgetting the spiritual admonition to speak the truth in love.
Years ago, The Betty Ford Story aired on television. This was a movie that told the story of her addiction and recovery. At one point during the movie, a fairly emotional scene took place. The family is still sitting around confronting Betty Ford. Her son says, “Mother, you are destroying yourself; you are destroying this family, and you are killing yourself. Mother, you are a drunk, you are an addict.” The mother was infuriated. She told her son that he was being very disrespectful and questioned his right to speak to her that way. She said, “How can you say these things to me? I am your mother!” The boy said, “Mother, I can say it because it is the truth.” This confrontation was the catalyst for the establishment of the Betty Ford Clinic. Now this same place helps a lot of other people overcome their addictions. Many of the people who have come to the clinic were able to face their addictions because, like Betty Ford's son, someone had the guts to tell the truth.
Be thankful to others who hold the church to the truth. But may I remind all of those with the gift of prophecy to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).
Dr. Mike Rouse
What to do:
✞ Speak truthfully, but do so in love.
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