"The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10)
When we hear the word "prophecy," many think of predicting the future. While biblical prophecy does include foretelling, it is just as much—if not more—about forth-telling: revealing God’s heart and mind to His people right there, right then.
Luke 22:11-12 "And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
The prophets of the Old Testament were not just predictors of future events; they were spokespersons for God, calling His people to repentance, trust, and obedience. In the New Testament, we see an even deeper connection between prophecy and testimony. Revelation 19:10 declares: “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
This means that when we testify about what Jesus has done, we are engaging in a prophetic act—revealing His presence, power, and purpose in a way that invites others to encounter Him personally.
Prophecy as Sharing God's Heart
Paul exhorts believers to: “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” (1 Corinthians 14:1)
Why is prophecy emphasized? Because prophecy edifies, encourages, and comforts (1 Cor. 14:3). True prophecy expresses God's heart—His desires, His warnings, and His love for His people.
Old Testament prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Micah were not just predicting events; they were revealing God's grief over sin, His longing for repentance, and His promises of redemption.
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
This same prophetic purpose is fulfilled when believers share their testimony of what God has done in their lives.
"Come and See" vs. "Go and Tell"
In the Gospels, two powerful invitations emerge:
1. "Come and See"
When Philip invited Nathanael to meet Jesus, he simply said, "Come and see" (John 1:46). Similarly, the Samaritan woman told her town, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did" (John 4:29).
2. "Go and Tell"
Jesus often instructed those He healed or transformed to share their experience: “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.” (Mark 5:19)
After the resurrection, Jesus told His disciples, "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19).
Both invitations apply to us today. Our testimony invites others to "come and see" what God has done, and it commissions us to "go and tell" how His grace has transformed our lives.
Your Testimony as a Prophetic Invitation
When you share your testimony, you are not just recounting past events—you are revealing God's active presence in your life. The Holy Spirit uses personal testimonies to convict, encourage, and draw people to Jesus.
“If all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.” (1 Corinthians 14:24-25)
Your testimony can be a doorway for the Holy Spirit to speak into the lives of others.
Conclusion: Walking in the Prophetic Power of Testimony
To prophesy is to declare God's truth—His heart, His mind, and His redemptive work. Your testimony is a prophetic tool in God’s hands, revealing Christ to a world in need.
When you share what He has done and is doing in your life, you fulfill the calling to speak forth God's heart, bringing others into an encounter with Him.
So, let your life be a living prophecy. "Come and see." "Go and tell." Let the testimony of Jesus be the spirit of prophecy in your life, pointing others to the One who saves, transforms, and restores.
