Intimations of the Prophetic

Last week I started writing on the aspect of living under a prophetic anointing. When we talk about this we have to consciously avoid the modern caricatures and mis-perceptions that are attached to the words prophecy, prophetic, and prophet. Too often we see these things as out of reach for the modern person.

Now, to bring this into our modern world, we need to go back to the ancient text of Scripture and follow the line of thought that we began with last week. When Joshua complained, to the seeming inappropriateness, of two leaders prophecying outside of the assigned meeting, Moses issued the first intimation of a coming prophetic anointing that would rest on the Body of Christ. Moses said, "would that all God's people were prophets. Would that God would put his Spirit on all of them" (Numbers 11:29 - The Message).

We also talked about three themes that stood out in this first group anointing (1. the transfer of anointing from one to many, 2. the authenticating sign-gift of prophesy, 3. the service component for meeting needs, for which this anointing is all about). This would be the shadow from which the reality would emerge in the New Testament book of Acts.

So lets look at a few more prophetic intimations; glimpses, if you will, of what is coming for New Testament believers. I will limit this to two prophecies that bear this out the best.

First, Isaiah created the language of the Spirit of God being poured out or flooding the nation of Israel (see Isaiah 32:15; 44:3). From this point forward this water metaphor would dominate the language of the Spirit's anointing among the Old Testament prophets (see Ezekiel 39:29; Joel 2:28). Let's see its significance in the next two prophecies.

Isaiah 59:19-21 reads like this, For [the Messiah] will come like a flood tide driven by the breath of the LORD. "The Redeemer will come to Jerusalem," says the LORD, "to buy back those in Israel who have turned from their sins. And this is my covenant with them," says the LORD. "My Spirit will not leave them, and neither will these words I have given you. They will be on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children's children forever. I, the LORD, have spoken!" (New Living Translation)

Here Isaiah references the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ and the Spirit's anointing on his church (here called your children and your children's children forever). It also reveals to us the pattern mentioned above. The Spirit, that would rest on the Redeemer, would be transfered to his spiritual posterity. Also, this anointing would be seen on the lips of both the Redeemer and his children. This is clearly a statement of their prophetic speech which authenticated their anointing. This prophetic speech would also be the way they would each serve their generation and bring about the shining glory of God's presence as stated in the next chapter that follows.

Notice the over-arching theme that stands out in this passage. It says, My Spirit will not leave them. In the Scripture the Spirit of God is often associated with prophecy. Since prophecy, in its simplest definition, means the revelation or voice of God given to a people, then this implies that the Church would always be God's voice to each and every generation. Notice that it would not be given to a select few but to every child of God!

The second prophetic intimation found among the prophets is that of Joel. Joel foretold: And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days (Joel 2:28-29, NKJV). Here we see the prophetic Spirit being given to all people no matter their heritage, age, or economic status. With the coming of the New Age of Jesus, no longer would prophecy be housed in just a select few of holy men. Now, in this New Age of Jesus, the voice of God to our culture would be on the lips of every born-again child of God! God's presence would shine through their lives and their speech as a beacon of light to a dark world. God's power would be seen in their lives as a force for good as salt sprinkled over food (see Matthew 5:13-16).

So, why don't you accept that God is calling you to be His prophetic voice in this world? Why don't you find out how He has uniquely gifted you to reveal God's heart to the people around you? Believe me, you don't need a pulpit or a street corner to do this. All you need is to be a vessal through which God's Spirit can flow through your life to a hurting world.