How can I be a Prophet?

"Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy."  1Cor 14:1 NASB version.

I was confused by this verse for a very long time.  Me?  Prophesize?  Like Elijah or Elisha or Jeremiah or Jonah?  Going around telling people when war will come, when the world will end, when this and that will happen?  No way!

Later, I learnt that there are 2 meanings to 'prophesy' (or prophecy).  2 types of prophets:

Prophet Type A:  Predicts the future based on divine revelation or inspiration.  That was what Elijah and Elisha and Isaiah and Jeremiah did.  They told the Israelites "If you continue with your wicked ways, you will be destroyed.  The Assyrians or Babylonians would attack you.  You would become slaves, etc.

Prophet Type B:  1 Cor 14:1 Today's English Version is clearer:  "It is love, then, that you should strive for.  Set your hearts on spiritual gifts, especially the gift of proclaiming God's message."

Now I understand.  I was told to desire the spiritual gift of prophesy Type B, which is gift of proclaiming God's message.  Not predicting future events.  Not going around telling people when Rapture or the Third World War will take place, or when Christ will return.

Simply proclaim God's message.  That was what Abraham did, what Moses did, what Aaron and his sister Mariam did.  No wonder they were also called 'prophets'. (Genesis 20:7, Exodus 7:1, Exodus 15:20)

We all can do a bit of Prophet Type B.  Simple proclaim God's message of Jesus Christ.

(Photo:  My favorite mountain, Mt Fuji.  Majestic and standalone)

EASTER without COVID - Because He lives.

Today is Good Friday.  The mood is sombre not just because Christ was crucified on the cross this day years ago, but also because we are in the midst of a 'Lockdown' due to the COVID19 pandemic.

Today I read 1 Chronicles 21 verse 7 onwards.  Let me paraphrase below:

   God was displeased with what King David had done.  So He punished Israel.  
   David said to God, "I have committed a terrible sin in doing this! Please forgive me..."
   But God asked Gad the prophet.  "Go and tell David that I am giving him 3 choices of punishment.  I will do whichever he chooses."
   The 3 choices were a) 3 years of famine, b) 3 months of running away from the armies of your enemies, c) 3 days during which the Lord attacks you with His sword and sends an epidemic on your land.
   David replied to Gad the prophet.  "I am in a desperate situation! But I don't want to be punished by men.  Let the Lord Himself be the one to punish me BECAUSE HE IS MERCIFUL."
   So the Lord sent an epidemic on the people of Israel, and 70,000 of them died.  Then He sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem, but He CHANGED HIS MIND and said to the angel, "Stop! That's enough!"
   David saw the angel standing in midair, holding his sword in his hand, ready to destroy Jerusalem.
   David prayed, "Oh God, I am the one who did wrong, I am the one who ordered the census.  What have these poor people done?  Lord, my God, punish me and my family, and spare your people."

This is truly a sad story about God's righteousness.  God WAS a tough discipline master.  When the Israelites sinned, He punished them.

But all these had changed.  With Good Friday and Easter, when God's people sin, Jesus was the one who got punished.  He was hung on the cross.  God's people would not suffer an epidemic from God anymore.

So, dear friends, DO NOT SAY that this COVID19 PANDEMIC is an act of God.  It is not an act of God -- because Christ died on Good Friday and was raised on Easter.

This is the Dispensation of God's Grace.

(Photo: Mostar Stari Bridge, Bosnia. 2019)