New Testament Prophecy, Discernment, and the Heart of the Church
Part of the UNGLUED series
Acts 11:27–30; Acts 21:10–14
Over the past several weeks, we've been walking carefully through topics like prophecy, spiritual gifts, and hearing from God together. We haven't wanted to rush the process or manufacture spiritual experiences. Instead, we've been taking time to build on the foundation of Scripture and the teaching of the apostles.
A few months ago, our elders received a prophetic picture of our church as a car stuck in the snow. Anyone from Minnesota knows that when a car is stuck, you don't solve the problem by flooring the accelerator. Spinning the tires only digs you deeper. Instead, you gently rock the vehicle back and forth until the wheels gain traction and momentum.
That image inspired this series.
Rather than forcing movement, we've sought to align ourselves with what God is already doing. And as we've done that, we've seen encouraging fruit. We've heard testimonies of healing. We've witnessed tongues and interpretation. We've received prophetic encouragements, words of wisdom, and Spirit-led insights during worship and even during sermons. God is moving, and we give Him all the glory.
Meet Agabus
One of the lesser-known figures in the Book of Acts is a prophet named Agabus.
Many Christians are familiar with Peter, Paul, Barnabas, and Timothy, but Agabus appears only briefly in Scripture. Yet his story offers an important glimpse into how prophetic ministry functioned in the early church.
Luke records two prophetic words from Agabus:
A prediction of a coming famine (Acts 11:27–30)
A warning that Paul would be arrested in Jerusalem (Acts 21:10–14)
At first glance, these stories seem very different. But together they reveal something important about New Testament prophecy.
The Famine and the Chains
The Famine
In Acts 11, Agabus predicts that a severe famine is coming across the Roman world.
The natural response to that kind of warning would be self-preservation. Most of us would instinctively think about storing resources, protecting our families, and preparing for difficult times.
But that isn't what the church did.
Instead, believers in Antioch immediately began collecting relief for fellow Christians in Judea. Rather than responding with fear and scarcity, they responded with generosity and unity. They acted as one family.
The prophetic word didn't cause them to withdraw from others—it moved them toward others.
The Chains
In Acts 21, Agabus delivers another prophetic message. This time he takes Paul's belt, ties up his own hands and feet, and declares:
"This is what the Holy Spirit says: In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him over to the Gentiles."
The response seems obvious. The believers around Paul immediately beg him not to go to Jerusalem.
Yet Paul refuses.
Why?
Because he doesn't interpret the prophecy as a command to change direction. He sees it as preparation for what lies ahead. God is revealing what will happen, not telling him to abandon the mission.
Paul had already been compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. The prophecy didn't cancel that calling—it strengthened him to endure it.
This is one of the great lessons of New Testament prophecy:
God sometimes prepares us for hardship rather than protecting us from it.
Taking Prophecy with a Grain of Salt
That phrase—"take it with a grain of salt"—became an important theme.
Why?
Because prophecy requires discernment.
We need to be honest: sometimes people get it wrong. Even mature believers can sincerely believe they have heard from God and later discover they misunderstood what they received.
The same human limitations that affect biblical interpretation can affect prophetic ministry. God speaks perfectly, but people receive and communicate imperfectly.
That is why the New Testament consistently calls the church to test, weigh, and discern prophetic words. The prophet is not meant to function independently from the body of Christ. Prophecy is given within the context of community, accountability, and humility.
A helpful way to think about it is this:
Discernment is the grain of salt that makes prophecy healthy for the church.
When a word is shared, we should ask:
Does this align with Scripture?
Why might God be saying this now?
Does it strengthen the people of God for the purposes of God?
Does it move us closer to Christ and His mission?
The goal is never spiritual entertainment. The goal is always faithfulness to Jesus.
Living a Salty Life
Jesus told His disciples:
"You are the salt of the earth." (Matthew 5:13)
So what does a "salty" church look like?
1. Unity
When Agabus predicted famine, the churches didn't retreat into isolation.
They collaborated.
They shared resources.
They carried one another's burdens.
In a world that often looks out for itself, the church demonstrates the Kingdom by caring for brothers and sisters both near and far. This kind of unity becomes a powerful testimony to the world.
2. Humility
Paul's response to Agabus reveals profound humility.
He was willing to suffer if that was where obedience led.
Agabus also demonstrated humility by submitting the prophetic word to the church rather than demanding a particular interpretation.
Even the believers who disagreed with Paul's decision ultimately surrendered their preferences and concluded:
"The Lord's will be done."
Humility appears everywhere in this story.
And humility is deeply Christlike.
Jesus Himself walked willingly toward suffering because He knew it was the Father's will for the salvation of the world.
3. The Testimony of Christ
Ultimately, prophecy is not about the prophet.
It is not about spiritual experiences.
It is not even about the prediction itself.
Scripture tells us that:
"The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
The purpose of prophetic ministry is to point people toward Christ.
When spiritual gifts are joined with the humility, love, and character of Jesus, the church becomes a powerful witness. We become a people who look like our Savior.
Remaining Unglued
To be "unglued" is to loosen our grip on our own agendas so that we can follow God's.
It means remaining open to the gifts of the Spirit while remaining grounded in Scripture.
It means pursuing healing, prophecy, tongues, and spiritual gifts without abandoning wisdom and discernment.
It means being a people marked by unity, humility, and love.
The early church demonstrated this beautifully. When faced with uncertainty, they surrendered together and declared:
"The Lord's will be done."
May that be our prayer as well.
May we remain a people who are ready to be led by the Spirit, eager to serve one another, and committed to advancing the good news of Jesus as one Kingdom family.
The Lord's will be done.