“And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I will pout out My Spirit upon all flesh;
Your sons and daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall prophesy.
And also upon your servants and upon the handmaids.
In those days I will pour out My Spirit”
Joel 2: 28-29
This past Sunday we were reminded that God communicates His word and works to His people through the agencies of testimony and prophecy. Let’s just quickly review each.
Testimony declares what God has spoken and done in history and in our lives personally. For example, the Ark of Testimony that Israel carried through the wilderness contained the Law, manna, and rod of Aaron. These acted as a continual reminder and a testimony to the goodness of God during their wilderness sojourn. The Ark of Testimony was a witness of the recent history carried into their present. Though it was a testimony of past actions, the Ark of Testimony became means of ongoing revelation and in the face of new battles. It was from this Ark that God spoke to Moses (Numbers 7:89).
Likewise, when we give a testimony of what God has done on our lives today, He intends to reveal a fresh word of His purposes, provision, and power to encourage those listening. All God’s children are eligible to testify to the word and works of God! Here at Immanuel Community Church everyone with a truly God honoring testimony is invited to share what He has said and done in an appropriate fashion and setting.
Prophecy on the other hand is a current word of what God is doing now (foretelling) and will do in the future (forth telling). It is a revelation which may come to any one of us while we are at corporate worship. It is a word given to both encourage the church (I Cor. 14: 3 & 12) and reveal the heart condition of the unbeliever (see I Cor. 14: 24-25). Prophesy prompts worship as the unbeliever falls on his face declares the presence of Immanuel, God With Us (see verse 25).
Again, like giving a testimony, all God’s people can prophesy. The above scripture in Joel 2:2-28 was quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2: 16-18). According to these scriptures, everyone is eligible to prophesy. Children are literally included! We welcome prophesy to flourish in our meetings. This is why we have been preaching on hearing the voice of God and are ready to begin a workshop series on the same topic.
We look forward to the day both when the Lord brings forth a never ending stream of testimonies and prophesy (and all the other gifts of the Spirit) at ICC! Let us come prepared this Sunday to listen and share what God has done, is doing, and will do in our midst!