The Purpose of Prophesy

Scripture:
The former things I declared of old;
    they went out from my mouth, and I announced them;
    then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass.
Because I know that you are obstinate,
    and your neck is an iron sinew
    and your forehead brass,
I declared them to you from of old,
    before they came to pass I announced them to you,
lest you should say, ‘My idol did them,
    my carved image and my metal image commanded them.’
Isaiah 48:3-5

Observation: The purpose of scripture is faith.

God pronounces his intentions through the prophets not to warn the faithful or advise the believers, but to challenge the doubters and show proof to the non-believers. He says what he will do, then does it, so that the stiff-necked and stubborn people will be faced with evidence, and so none of them can say that there is some other force that achieved those results.

Application: If this is true, then why is prophesy today a "church thing"? We believe people can receive and pass on a word from God, but that we do this in the church. While this may be good, it probably isn't a complete understanding of the way God works. God wants his prophetic word delivered to non-believers, so that when he suddenly does his thing others will be confronted with the evidence of God.

We - the Church - do have prophesies yet to come. However, we also receive small words for others from time to time. It is important that we are bold enough to pronounce those words to those outside the church to eventually aid them in their understanding of God.

Prayer: My father, today I seek your word and your strength. If you have a thought for others, please send me to pronounce it, and give me the strength to do so in faith. I do ask that you produce evidence for the hearts of my unbelieving friends ... that you provide the proof of your authority that kindles their belief. Thy will be done. Amen.