Prophecy for 21st Century

New Prophecy for 21^st Century

I believe there is a new phase or manifestation of prophecy about to enter our lives. I believe the church in general has so virtually abandoned the prophetic word that they no longer even recognise the gift or the gifting. Elijah and Elisha never had this problem did they? They spoke and the world stood up and listened. Today, the prophets speak and most of the world never hears of it. Those who do hear frequently ignore or pay no heed – certainly, for the most part, they seem to say “And . . . ?“, then carry on about their own business.

The role of the prophet has been marginalised by the undermining of belief and by the pooh-poo-ing of those who still claim, wrongly, that prophecy has no place in the modern church. Such people, for the most part, have an odd view of God’s Word, believing only the bits that suit or fit with their own peculiar theology. Either God is truth or He isn’t. Either His Word is indeed His Word or someone, somewhere, sometime has pulled of a great con trick. If it is in God’s Word, then, it is true and either it is ALL true or it is ALL false. If it is true, then prophecy is just as much part of today as it was when Elijah strode through Israel.

I not only believe it is true and that prophecy is for today, but in these present days, I believe the Lord is releasing greater prophetic gifting - words of deeper knowledge that may or may not be for sharing – they may be solely for the prophet to understand. Some prophets will once again have that relationship with God that Elijah and Elisha had, but that seems to have waned and virtually disappeared with John the Baptist. This new level of gifting will reveal to the prophet a person’s agenda or motives – the true desires of a persons heart. I also believe that a level of persecution will come with this. The Lord is seeking those who will be fearless in speaking out His Word whatever the cost.

You may say that all this is nothing particularly new, but I believe this is something deeper than we have seen prophetically for centuries. The days are coming back when pastors and leaders may once again ask a prophet if he or she comes in peace. Remember when Samuel went to anoint David, the town elders met him, trembling, to ask that question. Even King Ahab called Elijah, “My father”, as well as the “troubler of Israel.” So the time is coming once again when the office of prophet will become recognised once again and the true prophets will be more revered than reviled.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19