|
Friends United Meeting |
 |
July 1997
The Voice of God
An Interview with Cindy Jacobs
By Mary Glenn Hadley
Friends have a rich heritage of recognizing that God speaks to us today just as God spoke to the prophets of old. Our style of worship is dependent on people listening for God and sharing what they have heard out of the silence. That experience has put Friends on the front lines in missions and social justice across the years.
Today there seems to be less emphasis on acknowledging God's voice among us. Last summer, while I was recuperating from major surgery, I discovered Cindy Jacobs' book, The Voice of God. It is a book which addresses the issues of prophecy in a loving manner. It is written simply and practically, answering many questions that are on the heart of the Church.
As I read it, I was moved by the sense that God is calling Friends to restore the prophetic gift given to us long ago. Cindy Jacobs is founder and president of Generals of Intercession, an international intercessory prayer ministry that works with prayer leaders in dozens of nations to help build prayer movements around the world. She travels extensively, speaking and ministering in the areas of intercession, spiritual warfare and racial reconciliation. She and her husband, Mike, have two children; she is a member of Springs Harvest Fellowship in Colorado Springs.
Perhaps there are those of you reading Quaker Life to whom God is speaking with a message that needs to be shared. I was delighted to have the privilege of talking with Cindy Jacobs, who proved to be a very gracious lady. I hope this synopsis of that conversation will encourage our meetings to recognize God's voice among us.
MGH: Cindy, you are a person through whom God often speaks. Can you briefly tell us how you became aware that God was speaking to you and how you knew what you were to do with it?
CJ: As a very young child, I would say things that would have been impossible for me to know. People would question how I knew that. Oftentimes, the words would come out during times of praying over people. I would find myself including prayers for relatives by name that I didn't even know they had. They would ask me how I knew about those relatives. I did a lot of study of the gift of prophecy. It wasn't until I was in my late 20s that it became clear to me that what I was experiencing was God giving a supernatural revelation beyond my knowledge-which is what prophecy is.
MGH: God spoke to prophets of old which have been recorded throughout Scripture. How do we hear the voice of God today?
CJ: In John 10:4, Jesus mentions that his sheep know his voice. At the time of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was given to many. It was not a select few who heard the voice. Today one becomes aware of God's voice in different ways. It may be that while a person is reading God's word, there is an inner quickening of the spirit. Sometimes God's voice can be heard through other people. Those other people may be people speaking with spiritual authority or it doesn't have to be. It may be through children. God may speak through visions, dreams, visitations, or the inner witness of the heart.
MGH: There are many voices out there today. How does a person discern God's voice as opposed to the enemy or the flesh?
CJ: God will not violate Scripture, the family or marriage relationships. The enemy will encourage you to do something against nature. One way to determine if it is coming from the flesh is to test it with others by asking, "Do you think this could be God?" The voice will often come again and again in a repetitious manner. Confirming things often will follow. For example, suppose a person is thinking that God is calling her into mission work. She experiences the word. While reading Scripture, a portion stands out that supports what she has been considering. Then on the news, she hears something about the very location under consideration. Next an opportunity to visit the area opens. Each of these things may be a confirmation that what is being heard is the voice of God.
MGH: How does the gift of prophecy strengthen or benefit the church?
CJ: It brings to the attention of the congregation the truths God wants to emphasize. For example, recently there has been developing an increased emphasis on evangelism with a growing heart for people who have not heard the Gospel. This is not limited to just a few people but it is coming from many different places. It may come through pastors. It may come through people speaking with a prophetic voice or it may come during prayer times. Prophecy provides direction for the congregation. It gives a place for restoring truth such as we read in the story of King Josiah when the Book of the Law was found in the temple of the Lord. [II Kings 22-23.] What often happens is that people will be raised up who feel the same burden, and they discover there are others bursting to share in this same concern.
MGH: How does the local church develop a faith community that both recognizes and releases prophetic ministry?
CJ: Teaching needs to be done about prophecy so it is defined and there are opportunities for talking about who prophets are and their role in the faith community. If the gift is already functioning in the church, prophecy is identified. Prayer time may be a place where the gift of prophecy is heard. The leadership acknowledges those with the gift of prophecy. A good place to begin using this gift is in less formal gatherings.
MGH: Many people misunderstand prophecy and may even be afraid of it. How can the church overcome this obstacle?
CJ: God is not the author of confusion. I Corinthians 14:33. Done properly and having the correct scriptural protocol, the prophetic word is a catalytic, powerful influence on a church. Ministered incorrectly, it can cause enormous confusion and church splits. It is important for the pastor to bring up the subject first and validate the gift. Then the core influences such as elders are taught and come to an understanding. This will usually avoid a church split and allow for the ministry to be effective.
MGH: Can prophecy be misused?
CJ: Yes it can be misused by those who, because of their gift, may try to control others, erroneously thinking they are closer to God than others.
MGH: What would you say to someone just learning to listen to the voice of God?
CJ: Develop an intimate life with God through prayer. Study the Bible. Ask God to clarify what is being said. An outgrowth of this personal growth will be witnessed in corporate worship.
MGH: In closing, Cindy, do you have some words that Friends need to hear?
CJ: God wants to use Friends to restore the prophetic gift which was so prevalent in your heritage. There is a redemptive destiny of Friends that, unless you do it, will be lost to the body. Return to the place of corporate prayer for the nations of the earth. There will be a stirring of the missionary heart of Friends and young people will rise to share God's message in the world.
Testing Prophetic Ministry
In The Voice of God, Cindy Jacobs suggests some protocol for releasing the prophetic ministry within the local church. She particularly mentions that a person should test the prophetic word with a trusted leader before delivering it publicly. It should be timed well, meaning that it flows with what God is doing with the whole service. I Thessalonians 5:21 says, Test everything. Hold onto the good.
She offers these questions for testing the prophecy. Is what has been shared as a prophetic word scriptural? Does the prophecy display the character of Christ? What is the fruit in the life of the person giving the prophecy? Is anything tainting the word? (Cindy suggests that critical or condemning, frightening or harsh words seldom come from the Holy Spirit.) What is the Holy Spirit giving me in the way of an inward witness? Is the prophecy from God?
Cindy Jacobs, The Voice of God: How God Speaks Personally and Corporately to His Children Today, Virginia Woodard, editor, Regal: 1995, paperback, $9.99.
Copyright (c) Friends United Meeting 1997
Back to July/August 1997 Contents