Prophecy Should Be Exercised in Love – Pst. Cleophas David
This podcast is a repost, originally published on June 3, 2017
This weekend, Pastor Priji converses with Pastor Cleophas David about the gift of prophesying, the significance of the gift in the church, and the pre-eminence of focusing on pursing God rather than His gift.
Transcript:
Pastor Priji Varghese: Can you tell us about The School of Prophets that’s being organised by the church?
Pastor Cleophas David: The Lord laid it in our hearts to train people in the prophetic. I don’t really know how to do it. But we felt the Lord calling us as a church into this.The School of Prophets is to equip people for the ministry of prophecy.
Pastor Priji Varghese: How does not having, being unaware, or ignorant the prophetic affect our lives and our walk with God?
Pastor Cleophas David: I Corinthians 14 says that the one who prophesies edifies the church. To edify means to exhort, encourage, to caution, correct, etc. He also mentions that of all gifts, desire to prophesy.
It is through this gift that God edifies the church. It is part of the lifestyle of the church. Not everybody can prophesy, but we ought to live in the prophetic.
Pastor Priji Varghese: How are the prophets in the New Testament different from the Old Testament prophets?
Pastor Cleophas David: One of the most prophetic Books is the Book of the Revelation through which we understand that the heart of the prophetic in the New Testament is to prepare the church for the return of the Lord.
God speaks to us through His Son Jesus. He is encouraging and preparing the church. The language of prophecy is the language of preparation.
They are secondly for the church to know where they are.
Prophesying is always to be done in the spirit of love.
The Old Testament prophets were mostly for correcting the people for a particular season of time in order to pursue God.
Pastor Priji Varghese: What disciplines can I follow to grow in the understanding of the Lord and hear His voice on a regular basis as a new believer?
Pastor Cleophas David: It is important to have God’s Word as your foundation as it is the foundation of the supernatural.
Let the Word of God fill your heart and mind.
Pursue the Lord, not the gift. The gift will flow. I have learnt to not force the gift to work. Abide in God and let the Holy Spirit use you.
People do say you have to be intentional. I’ve tried it, but that directs your focus to the gift. So it is best to be intentional about pursuing the Lord above all.
Pastor Priji Varghese: It is not just for your self. You do it for the church and the community. How can we go about hearing God’s heart for the city and our nation?
Pastor Cleophas David: Corporate prayers are important. When believers come together, the level of the prophetic is quite different from when you are praying alone. There is a greater unction when believers together pursue the heart of God.
Pastor Priji Varghese: How important is it to act upon what God has revealed?
Pastor Cleophas David: When God speaks, it releases faith in us. When you act upon it, it releases joy. We derive our joy in doing what the Lord desires.
Faith without works is dead. You need to take practical steps.
Pastor Priji Varghese: What is the one key ingredient in revival according to what God has manifested in your life?
Pastor Cleophas David: A group of people who believe in the Lord for revival should meet consistently.
When I pray alone, there is revival in my life. But when we come together, revival in brought into the city and nation.
Pastor Priji Varghese: What is the Word that God has been putting in your heart this season?
Pastor Cleophas David: This year is a year of fulfillment of dreams and of healing hearts.
God will fight for those who have tried to fight on their own.
For connecting with Pastor Cleophas David do visit the following websites:
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