The Spirit of Prophecy Is the Testimony of Christ
Unglued: How to Walk humbly in prophecy
“The testimony of Jesus is the
spirit of prophecy.”
—Revelation 19:10
The prophetic does not exist to draw
attention to a person, a spiritual gift, or a dramatic prediction. True
prophecy points us to Jesus. It declares who He is, reminds us of what He has
done, and gives us courage to trust what He has promised.
Bishop Michael’s testimony from
northern India offers a powerful example. In the face of persecution,
suffering, and uncertainty, the Holy Spirit continues to bear witness to one
unchanging truth: Jesus Christ is King, and His Kingdom is still advancing.
An
Ever-Growing Kingdom
Our ministry is located just below Nepal. It is one of the most persecuted states in India,
yet no matter what happens around us, we know that the Kingdom of God cannot be
stopped.
Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would
be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of
Peace. He also declared:
“Of the increase of his government
and of peace there will be no end.”
—Isaiah 9:7
The Kingdom will continue to grow
because Jesus is its King.
One Sunday, after I had finished
preaching, I noticed a man sitting at the back of the church waiting for me. I
approached him and asked whether he needed prayer.
“No,” he answered. “I came to talk
to you.”
He told me that he represented a
fundamentalist Hindu group. “You are on our hit list,” he said. “Shut this
ministry down and leave the city.”
“I cannot,” I replied.
“You know the consequences,” he
warned.
I told him, “They said the same
thing to my Savior. They wanted to silence Him and stop His work. They killed
Him, but He rose again on the third day—and His Kingdom is still advancing. I
am not the one building this church. The Lord Jesus Christ is building His
Church, and you cannot kill Him now.”
The man became terrified. He did not
say another word before leaving.
We still encounter opposition, but
the Kingdom of God continues to advance. Today, hundreds of people
worship with us each Sunday across two services. From five young ministers, the
Lord has enabled us to plant 190 congregations. We now carry a vision to train
1,000 young men and women to take the Gospel throughout India and plant 1,000
churches.
This is not the accomplishment of
any person. It is the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Worthy
Is the Lamb
Revelation 5 gives us a prophetic
vision of Jesus at the center of God’s unfolding plan. John sees a scroll in
the right hand of the One seated upon the throne. It is written on both sides
and sealed with seven seals, but no one is found worthy to open it.
John begins to weep.
The scroll contains the future of
the Church and the world. If no one can open it, what will become of God’s
people? What will become of God’s promises?
Then one of the elders speaks:
“Weep no more; behold, the Lion of
the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered.”
—Revelation 5:5
John looks for a Lion, but he sees
“a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain” (Revelation 5:6).
Jesus has conquered not by avoiding
suffering, but by passing through death and defeating it. The Lamb who was
slain is standing. The cross was not His defeat; it was His victory.
All of heaven responds:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and
blessing!”
—Revelation 5:12
This is the center of prophecy. It
does not merely tell us what will happen—it reveals the One who holds the
future.
He
Is Worthy of Everything
Before I came to Christ, I was a
cricket player who had embraced Hinduism. I would walk twenty to twenty-five kilometers
in a day to worship idols. But then the Lord came looking for me. He saved me
and filled me with His Spirit.
When I began the ministry, I had no
transportation and knew only four families in the city. Yet I carried a desire
to reach people with the Gospel.
The Lord reminded me, “Michael, I am
worthy for you to walk, to sweat, and even to shed your blood for Me.”
So I began walking ten to twelve
kilometers every day to tell people about Jesus. During that first year, five
young people gave their lives to the Lord. Through those five, God has allowed
us to plant 190 churches.
Jesus is worthy of our labor. He is
the treasure for whom we can surrender everything with joy. No sacrifice made
for Him is wasted.
Prophecy
Gives Us Hope in Suffering
The book of Revelation was written
to believers enduring intense persecution. John was concerned about the future
of the Church, but God gave him a vision that reached beyond the power of Nero,
Domitian, and every earthly empire.
Revelation was not written to terrify
the Church. It was written to assure the Church that Jesus reigns.
“The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and
ever.”
—Revelation 11:15
God gives prophetic promises so that
His people have something certain to hold onto while passing through uncertain
circumstances. God has a plan. Keep saying. Keep doing. Prophecy reminds us that our suffering is not meaningless, our
tears are not forgotten, and our future is not controlled by those who oppose
us.
The final word over the Church is
not defeat. The final word belongs to the Lamb.
That is why Paul can declare:
“In all these things we are more
than conquerors through him who loved us.”
—Romans 8:37
Notice that Paul does not say we will
someday become conquerors. Through Christ, we already are more than
conquerors—even while we are suffering.
Look
to the Lamb
Perhaps you are walking through
misery, persecution, disappointment, or grief. Your present circumstances may
tempt you to wonder whether God’s promises can still be trusted. Despite what you go through, Jesus is worthy of your worship.
Look to the Lamb.
Once you see the plan of God in your misery, you will have peace, and you will be able to bring peace. If Jesus loved you enough to give
Himself for you upon the cross, you can trust Him with everything else. He is
the author and finisher of your faith. The One who began a good work in you
will carry it to completion. The Lion of Judah has conquered, and the Lamb who
was slain is standing.
The spirit of prophecy is the
testimony of Christ. Every true prophetic word ultimately brings us back to
Him:
Jesus was slain.
Jesus has risen.
Jesus is worthy.
Jesus is reigning.
Jesus is building His Church.
Jesus is coming again.
Therefore, we do not lose heart.
Even in our groaning, we are growing. Even in our suffering, the Kingdom is
advancing. Even when the future appears sealed, the Lamb is worthy to open the
scroll.
Our hope is certain because our hope
has a name.
His name is Jesus Christ.