The Power of Prophecy

1 Corinthians 14:22-24

22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that

believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for

them which believe.

23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak

with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will

they not say that ye are mad?

24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one

unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

1 Corinthians 14:25

And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest;

Prophesying has the power to destroy the yokes in the life of an unbeliever. Thus, the scripture infers that the secret yearnings of an unbeliever’s heart will be manifest in the presence of the Spirit of God. Note also that the script did not say the secrets of the heart would be revealed. The reason this is important is because many have erred in trying to work the gift. They have reduced it to speaking to an individual about himself. Thus, they have caused the Body to be constantly looking for a personal word from the prophet.

Although a true prophet is able to speak a word of knowledge directly to an individual, that is not the function of the gift spoken of here. Prophecy is the testimony of Jesus Christ. It is God revealing Himself to all who will hear. Therefore, prophecy has the power to manifest or make known the secrets of one’s heart. It can expose a desire to know God. But it can also manifest a rejection of the God who exposes Himself in the prophecy.

So now we come to the manifestation of the heart that is convinced of God.

1 Corinthians 14:24-25

But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

Prophesying has the power to convince the hearer that they have entertained God. Therefore, one is judged by his response to that encounter. He will either fall down and submit to God, or he will simply reject the God he has heard.

John 6:44

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

I also feel that there is a need to clarify the meaning of this passage. It simply means that no one can come to Jesus for salvation, except God exposes Himself to that individual. But what about the backslider? Can he get back to God without God drawing him? The backslider left the faith of his own free will. He made a choice to stop serving God. He must now make the same choice to return. That is his responsibility, not God’s.