CONNETING POINT: Prophecy Tied to Praise

How many parents remember the joys of pregnancy and birth? Currently one of the latest fads includes creative baby gender reveals; this may include blue or pink smoke, cake, and more, many of which go viral. Recently I looked online for some blunders associated with a gender reveal gone wrong, wow there are some doozies!

American and Jewish customs are far different, especially dating back to first-century Jewish households when the New Testament was written.

Traditionally Jewish couples do not have baby showers, purchase baby items, or talk about names until after the baby is born. In Zechariah and Elizabeth’s case we understand that he was unable to speak for their entire pregnancy leading up to John’s birth, he had more reason to celebrate.

In Luke chapter one I want to point out a few similarities seen with Zechariah and Elizabeth; both were “filled with the Holy Spirit” (vs. 41, 67) and both broke out in praise to God, either through song or prophecy. Take note of Zechariah’s response, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days,” (Luke 1:68-75).

As new parents, their first reaction after John’s birth is pure joy and celebration recognizing God’s promise of redemption. Furthermore, Zechariah speaks boldly of John’s purpose, “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,” (Luke 1:76-77). Such a prophecy is deeply grounded in a timeless principle: Proper prophecy includes praise given to God, not man.

Three purposes can be seen in the Bible regarding the purpose of prophecy. One is to foretell future events. Two, to celebrate the praises of God. Three, to teach or preach the Gospel. Great caution comes with proper Bible application today. There is a significant difference between Old Testament prophets and the New Testament church of today. Movements within Christianity today emphasizes new prophets and apostles today, many of whom

receive direct revelation from “God” and somehow their words are equal to the Bible itself in authority. Not all who claim to be prophets are in fact prophets. The Old Testament prophets were unique for their time and place in history, they were spokespersons for God. After Christ’s death and

resurrection all believers were given the privilege to communicate with God, as well as the Bible becoming the closed canon of divine revelation.

Predictive prophecy or foretelling of future events has lessened since the coming of Jesus as the Messiah. Prophecy in the context of the church should be more focused on encouragement, consolation, and building up of God’s people not predictive. Remember true prophecy will place the focus and praise on God, not on clever individuals with gravitas. Be on guard for those imposters out there who flood the internet with sensationalism. John became a forerunner to Christ; his purpose was to point others to Jesus, not himself.