What is Prophecy? Part One – Edification

The scripture says in 1 Cor 14:3 –  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.  Today, I will discuss the meaning of the word “edification.”  The word edification comes from the Greek word oikodomē which means house, building, architecture and to promote Christian growth.

An architect is one who designs, plans and develops public and private buildings and structures. A prophetic word should include words that build the hearer’s spiritual house and gives them God’s specific designs and blue-print for their lives and situations.

In 1 Samuel Chapters 9 & 10, Saul finds out by the Prophet Samuel he was chosen by God to be Israel’s first King. 1 Sam 9:20b And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house?  Other versions say “all the desire of Israel is turned to you and you’re whole family line, all Israel hopes in you, you own all the wealth of Israel and Israel’s future is in your hands now“.  Saul sees himself as little, small, insignificant and unimportant, 1 Sam 9:21 – “And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin?.”

Saul was terrified and truly felt unqualified to be a King. God saw Saul as a King but Saul saw himself as a commoner. According to 1 Sam 10:1, 24 – God had chosen and anointed Saul to be Ruler and Commander-in-Chief over Israel and there was none like or equal to him among all the people in Israel. You are also uniquely you and God has a distinctive assignment for your life.

Samuel prophesies to Saul a series of events that would happen to confirm God’s will for his life as King. All the signs happen just as Samuel declares. Even though Saul tries to avoid God’s will by running and hiding, the people run after him and find him. 

Are you running from God?  God knows where you live and is coming after you.  Are you hiding from your true-self? Many times God will allow confirmation of His will to break fear and unbelief off of us. What area(s) of your life does your faith and confidence need to be built?

God will build you privately before He releases you publicly. In 1 Sam 9:27, Samuel told Saul to tell his servant to go ahead of them, but that Saul needed to stand still and hear the Word of the Lord.  Prophets need to know when a word is meant to be private and when it should be public. 

In 1 Sam 10:9 it states – And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: The word heart comes from the Hebrew word leb meaning mind, thinking, will, determination, resolution and courage. This prophetic word caused Saul to challenge his negative thinking, self-defeating thoughts, to have a new attitude, open mind, determination, resolution and courage for God’s plan for him as King and ruler over Israel.

This prophetic word brought transformation to Saul and changed him into another man.  Is the Spirit of God trying to take complete control of you? Is God trying to change you into a completely different person? To do what God wants you to do will take a new heart and new attitude, Eventually, Saul’s faith and confidence get’s built and he surrenders to the will of God.

What assignment has God given you? How are you thinking about it? Do you feel unqualified and fearful today? Ask God to give you another heart and turn your heart toward Him. Ask for a heart that will be open to His perfect will and give you the determination, resolve and courage to obey His voice. Let God build your confidence in Him and give you some confidence in yourself. He wants to guide your decisions for His highest and best for your life. 

Father, give me a heart to obey, to stop running and hiding.  Help me to be more concerned about obeying Your voice and lead those you have chosen me to lead.  Help me to fix my focus on You.  Open my eyes that I may see You and not my insecurities, frailties and limitations. I bind the spirit of fear and command it to go and I break unbelief and stagnation off me in Jesus name. I loose Your peace over me. Lord, give me determination, resolve and courage to obey Your voice and build according to your blue print. I receive it now in Jesus name amen.

Are you walking in faith or fear when it comes to obeying God. Leave a comment below.

For more information about prophecy and to learn what other spiritual gifts or what 5-Fold ministry God may have given you, enroll in our upcoming “Discover Your Spiritual Gifts” Class today – https://shamarglobal.org/product/discover-your-spiritual-gifts-master-class/

God Bless You!

Prophetess Pam Finklea

Manere Vigilanti Custos Regnum Dei – Stay Vigilant Guardians of the Kingdom!