The second level of prophecy is the gift of prophecy. This gift is spoken through Spirit-filled believers to bring edification, exhortation, and comfort to the body of Christ, as mentioned earlier. However, this particular gift carries with it a greater measure of grace and authority, which will be discussed later. Paul admonishes the believer to “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy” (1 Corinthians 14:1). There is nothing wrong with desiring spiritual gifts and to prophesy, but always remember that God is the giver of the gifts, not man.

 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you … If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matthew 7:7, 11)

Never seek or expect a man or woman of God, who may be anointed, blessed, highly favored, and well seasoned in their gift or office, to give to you what only God can. Seek God for revelation and understanding with regard to all of the spiritual gifts. As you are seeking Him, He will send those who are ordained to be in your life to help you discover the gifts He has placed within you. God used the apostle Paul to confirm the gift He had placed within his spiritual son Timothy and to release him into the ministry.

 I remember our genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. (2 Timothy 1:5–6 NLT)

Your spiritual covering serves as a conduit for the activation of the spiritual gifts that were imparted to you by God. Your spiritual covering will encourage you by reminding you to “fan into flames” those gifts. It is important to know what your spiritual gifts are and to begin to utilize them in the body of Christ. A detailed listing and description of the spiritual gifts has been included in the Appendix.

The gift of prophecy must only be delivered within the boundary of grace that has been defined by the Lord. Apostle Eckhardt defines grace as “God’s ability, which is our boundary.”⁴ The gift of prophecy carries with it a greater measure of authority and will have the strongest utterances than one who speaks by the spirit of prophecy. As the believer begins to “fan into flames” the prophetic gift, the utterance becomes stronger because the believer is speaking from the gift. Any believer who attempts to go beyond their level of grace without additional equipping may bring confusion to the body.

God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians 14:33)

Let me take a moment to share a practical example of the importance of operating in your gifts within God’s boundary of grace, using my personal experience as a private pilot. In unpressurized aircraft, supplemental oxygen has to be used if pilots fly more than thirty minutes at cabin pressure altitudes of 12,500 feet or higher. At cabin altitudes above fourteen thousand feet, pilots must use oxygen at all times. Above fifteen thousand feet, each occupant of the aircraft must be provided supplemental oxygen. If I am flying above 12,500 feet and portable oxygen is not located on my airplane, I have created an unsafe flying condition. I, and anyone flying with me, could die from oxygen deficiency, or hypoxia, because we are flying beyond the aircraft’s safety boundary or grace limits. Even though I am a certified pilot, I have a responsibility to know and comply with the safety limitations for my type aircraft as outlined in the Pilot’s Operating Handbook.

In like fashion, although the gift of prophecy may flow through you, you also have a responsibility to be aware of your limitations, or grace-boundary, as outlined in your operating handbook, the Holy Bible.

Those who operate in the gift of prophecy “speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort” (1 Corinthians 14:3), and they stay within those three realms.

(Read more in my new book, “Submerged in the Prophetic!” A Christmas gift that will last a life time and impact generations.)

Blessings!

Prophetess Jocelyn