Timothy...the boy who lived? (1 Timothy chap 1)

Has anyone ever prophesied over you?

My wife Laura had a very interesting experience the first year of our marriage. She went to a christian music conference in Estes Park, CO. While she was there she met a very kind and interesting woman. This woman, let's call her Kate, was apparently from a charismatic tradition. She would tell Laura what she had heard from the Lord on any particular day. One day she told Laura she heard from the Lord and it was about Laura. She proceeded to prophecy over her. She told Laura God had told her Laura's ministry was going to become subservient to mine for a time. She was going to follow me in my career instead of my following hers. This was pretty interesting at the time considering we had moved to Nashville and I was doing home study courses so Laura could chase her music.

Sure enough though about 6 months later we moved back to Andrews University so I could finish my degree in the classroom. Sense then we have followed my career to other places and churches. It seems quite possible Kate did hear from the Lord and told Laura these things to prepare her heart for our move away from Nashville.

In 1 Timothy chap 1 Paul is writing to Timothy a young pastor placed in the church in Ephesus. At the end of the chapter Paul encourages Timothy to remember the prophecy pronounced over him and fight the good fight. The whole letter is describing the actions Timothy needs to carry out in this fight. Doesn't this sound a little bit more like Harry Potter then church? When was the last time you heard or saw anyone prophecy over someone else? Is Timothy...the boy who lived or something? Is it something magical, out of the norm, super natural?

I'm not so sure it is. I went to a youth specialties convention a few or more years ago and heard a speaker encouraging us as youth workers to have a prophetic voice in the lives of our students. Do you remember a teacher or parent who inspired you when you were growing up. There was the time when your 5th grade teacher took you aside and told you...you could write well...your art was impressive...you're a good leader...etc. The speaker was encouraging us to recognize the God given talents and gifts our students have and name them. Call those gifts out. Prophecy of the call God has placed upon their lives with those gifts.

I wonder if this is the kind of prophecy Paul is reminding Timothy of. When you were young Timothy, your grandmother Eunice saw in you the call to share the good news of Jesus. Now is that time, fulfill the prophecy placed upon your life.

We can have prophecy go one of two ways in our lives. There are the good messages which come our way. There are also the negative ones. "You'll never amount to anything...You call that art, the bird could do better...Stop messing around with your stupid music and get a real job." Have you ever heard prophecies like those?

To be a prophet of God is to speak for God. He does show us when things are going in a wrong direction to be sure, he lets us know when we are in sin. But he doesn't let us know in order to push us down into it. He wants us to rise out of it. He has a plan for each of us. The Holy spirit gives each of us gifts according to his wisdom.

If we are to a mouth piece for God then we must call out those gifts in others. We much prophecy over our kids, friends, family, even aquaintances. It's more than just encouragement. The things we say could be the things which shape our lives.

So let's pay attention to the people around us..really notice them. Let's speak specifically into their lives, not general compliments or "you can do anything you want to." Let them know what we really see in them, their potential, their gifts, their calling. Let us prophecy!