Adult:

📖 1 Corinthians 14:1 (KJV)

“Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.”

YAYA:

📖 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NKJV)

“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy."

This verse shows two important priorities:

• love remains foundational

• spiritual gifts should be desired, especially prophecy

Adult & YAYA Bible Passage:

1 Corinthians 14:1–5

In this passage, Apostle Paul compares prophecy and speaking in tongues in the context of public edification.

Paul shows that:

• prophecy speaks to people in a way they can understand

• prophecy edifies the Church

• prophecy is especially useful in gathered worship

Verse 3 emphasizes that prophecy brings:

• edification

• exhortation

• comfort

Verse 5 shows that prophecy is greater than uninterpreted tongues in public worship because it builds up the Church.

👉 “Prophecy is valuable because it strengthens the people of God.”

📖 1 Corinthians 14:1–5 — Prophecy and Edification

In this passage, Apostle Paul instructs believers to pursue love, desire spiritual gifts, and especially value prophecy because of its benefit to the Church.

From the passage we learn:

• Believers are commanded to follow after love and desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy (v1)

• He that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks to God, while others may not understand him (v2)

• He that prophesies speaks to men for edification, exhortation, and comfort (v3)

• Speaking in tongues edifies the speaker, but prophecy edifies the Church (v4)

• Paul affirmed the value of tongues, but preferred prophecy in the gathered church because it benefits others more clearly (v5)

This passage teaches that prophecy is a gift meant to strengthen, encourage, and comfort God’s people in a way that builds up the whole Church.

🔎 Reflection: Why is prophecy especially valuable when it strengthens others and not just the speaker?

Prophecy is a spiritual gift and ministry through which God communicates His mind and will to His people. It is a vital aspect of Christian living that enables believers to receive guidance, encouragement, and edification.

🔥A. Basic Facts About Prophecy

Prophecy comes in diverse forms to meet the specific needs of God's people and the church.

1️⃣ Prophecy is speaking God’s words under divine inspiration
📖 Job 32:8

2️⃣ It serves as a channel through which God’s truth, plans, and purposes are revealed
📖 Numbers 12:6

3️⃣ Prophecy is not rooted in human imagination but in God’s authority and wisdom
📖 1 Corinthians 14:3

4️⃣ Prophecy can carry transformative power when spoken by divine instruction
📖 Ezekiel 37:1–14

5️⃣ Prophecy is inspired by God and directed toward His purposes
📖 2 Peter 1:21

6️⃣ The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, meaning true prophecy ultimately points to Christ and His will
📖 Revelation 19:10

🌱 B. Forms of Prophecy

Prophecy can manifest in different forms depending on God’s intention for the message.

1️⃣ Foretelling — predicting future events as revealed by God
📖 Isaiah 7:14
📖 Matthew 24

2️⃣ Forthtelling — bringing God’s word into a present situation for comfort, correction, or direction
📖 Nehemiah 8:8–10
📖 2 Kings 4:1–7
📖 2 Kings 6:25; 7:1

3️⃣ Discernment — providing insight into hidden truths or circumstances to bring clarity
📖 2 Kings 5:20–26
📖 Acts 16:16–19

⚠ C. Test Every Prophecy

Believers must remember that not every prophecy is from God, so every prophetic word must be tested by Scripture and godly principles.

1️⃣ Do not despise prophecies, but test them
📖 1 Thessalonians 5:20–21

2️⃣ False prophecy exists and must be rejected
📖 Deuteronomy 18:20–22

👉 True prophecy will never contradict God’s Word.

Prophecy serves several purposes that strengthen the Church and contribute to its growth.

📘 A. Edification

Prophecy builds up the body of Christ and strengthens spiritual growth and unity.
📖 1 Corinthians 14:3–4

📘 B. Exhortation

Prophecy encourages and challenges believers to remain faithful and pursue righteousness.
📖 1 Corinthians 14:3
📖 Isaiah 40:2

📘 C. Comfort

Prophecy brings reassurance and peace in times of distress, reminding believers of God’s faithfulness and love.
📖 1 Corinthians 14:3
📖 1 Kings 17:13–16

📘 D. Guidance

Through prophecy, God offers direction and wisdom for decision-making so that His people can align with His will.
📖 2 Kings 6:8–12

👉 Prophecy is meant to strengthen the Church, not to commercialize spirituality.

Prophecy is not spiritual entertainment.
It is spiritual communication for kingdom purpose.

Believers must understand that:

👉 Prophecy reveals God’s mind

👉 Prophecy points to Christ

👉 Prophecy strengthens the Church

👉 Prophecy must be tested by Scripture

In a world full of noise, true prophecy brings clarity.

Growing in spiritual maturity

A believer must not only desire prophecy but also pursue love, humility, and discernment.

🔎 Ask Yourself:

• Do I value prophecy because it draws me closer to Christ?

• Do I test prophetic words with Scripture?

• Am I seeking edification or just excitement?

• Do I welcome prophecy that corrects, comforts, and guides?

If God governs my spiritual life:

• I pursue love first

• I value prophecy rightly

• I reject falsehood

• I embrace truth and edification

🏆 COMPETITION PREPARATION

If you are representing RCCG HoD in the regional competition, focus on:

✔ Meaning of prophecy
✔ Basic facts about prophecy
✔ Forms of prophecy
✔ Benefits of prophecy
✔ Difference between foretelling and forthtelling
✔ Scriptures for testing prophecy

Participants should be able to explain clearly:

✔ Why prophecy is not human imagination?

✔ How prophecy points to Christ?

✔ The difference between foretelling and forthtelling?

✔ Why prophecy must be tested with Scripture?

✔ How prophecy benefits the Church?

Leaders must understand prophecy biblically and handle it with maturity.

👉 Adult and Yaya Weekly Homework

👉 Adult and Yaya Mock Quiz: Lessons 1 – 30

Father, help me to understand the place and purpose of prophecy. Let every prophetic word in my life align with Your truth, point me to Christ, and build me up in faith, in Jesus’ name. Amen!