THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FORETELLING AND FORTHTELLING
“But [on the other hand], the one who prophesies [who interprets the Divine Will and Purpose in Inspired Preaching and Teaching] speaks to men..." .” 1 Corinthians 14:3 (Amplified Classic Translation)
BIBLE READING: 1 SAMUEL 9:9; JEREMIAH 23:28; MATTHEW 22:40; REVELATION 19:10
The Lord God Almighty ordained the Normal Christian Life to be highly Prophetic. The Holy Scriptures clearly state the following: “For as the Heavens are higher than the Earth, so are My Ways higher than your ways and My Thoughts than your thoughts” Isa. 55:9 (NKJV). In other words, the gulf that exists between the Realm of God and the realm of mankind is extremely vast. However, this disproportionate nexus can be bridged by the Prophetic, which equips otherwise mere mortals to think, perceive, speak, and act as Genuine Representatives of God.
In the most fundamental of terms, a True Prophet could be described as the Mouthpiece of the Lord God Almighty Himself. What this essentially means is that every bonafide prophet speaks on God’s Behalf before men in the same way every bonafide priest speaks on man’s behalf before God (Jer. 20:9; Am. 3:7). There are Two Major Manifestations or Expressions of the Prophetic Ministry, serving as Two Sides of the Same Prophetic Coin. They are both functionally different yet at the same time often misunderstood:
(1.) FORETELLING: By this, we speak about Divine Prediction as a result of Spiritual Foresight whereby an Authentic prophet sees into the future realm (hence the alternative term “seer” used to describe them and their operations) by the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit and subsequently speaks by the Power of the Same Spirit (Num. 24:15-25). Foretelling was a very common occurrence amongst prophets during the Old Testament Period and involves a combination of the Spiritual Gifts of the Word of Wisdom and Prophecy, with the latter serving as a Vehicle used to convey the former (1 Cor. 12:8a, 10a).
(2.) FORTH TELLING: This refers to speaking forth the Mind or Divine Counsel of God through the use of the Spiritual Vehicle known as the Simple Gift of Prophecy which the Holy Bible says is “for Edification and Exhortation and Comfort to all men” (1 Cor. 14:3 NKJV). Simply put, Forthtelling involves speaking by the Inspiration, Influence or under the Anointing of the Holy Spirit for the Purpose of “edifying” (building up), “exhorting” (motivating, admonishing or urging) or “comforting” (consoling men during trying times) and carries in itself no single element of prediction whatsoever. The Divine Capacity to forthtell is an Extremely Valuable Prophetic Grace we as Christian believers must all aim to cultivate. The Lord God Almighty Himself grant us the Grace to be able to speak forth His Mind and communicate His Heart as and when due.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, to You alone do we as your children ascribe all the Majesty, Dominion and Power. O Lord, please take Total Control over us to be used of You as Prophetic Vessels in Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen.