If someone has the Gift of Prophecy, but hesitates to use their Gift, would God punish them?

Question

This could apply to any spiritual Gift? Not just prophecy. Also, if a person has been gifted with the ability reach many people when they share good news about the Lord, but they refuse to do so for various personal reasons, would the Lord prevent them from using their verbal and preaching Gifts in other areas where they would communicate well or lead others in business, self-help, etc? Has anyone had these gifts, but when you tried to use them contrary to God's will(but not in a bad way), you had difficulty, and your gifts seemed almost stagnated, or didn't' flow as freely?

Just Jesus was God in the flesh. No human can be compared to the Lord due to our imperfections and sinful natures.

I guess what I'm asking, is have you noticed that when you use your Gifts for the Lord, they are strong and without doubt a Gift that stands out, but when you've tried to use them in other areas, they seem almost non-existent?

Halo anything which comes from the Lord is a blessing and Gift. Also, the Gift of Prophecy is not to be confused with fortune telling or psychics. It is simply conveying Revelation of God's Word, as told by the Lord to edify, upbuild, comfort, and teach others. Read 1 Corinthians 14:3, 1 Corinthians 14:26-40

Charmain you've misunderstood my question. Everyone can minister, teach, evangelize, and share the good news and Glory of the Lord. From children, to the Elderly, regardless of our talents. But that is not what I'm asking. Maybe someone will understand what I'm attempting to ask. I may not have phrased the question well. I am praying to the Lord for a direct answer, but just wanted to read the thoughts of other Christians.

Answer 1

Anything a saint does is in vain unless prompted by the Holy Spirit. The anointing shall break every yoke, not a persons words or actions.
Too many try to go out on their own and cause chaos instead of harmony and peace.
Wait, I say Wait on the Lord. But be prepared when He says GO !
There is a time and season for everything.

Answer 2

First of all there is no evidence that a God even exists. This may be a fact that is regularly pointed out but one that is vital to questions like this.

Secondly there has never been a single so called prophecy that was realized was refering to a specific event until AFTER the event took place. Which means all of the so called prophecies are meaningless! To say after an event occurs that it was prophecied about does no good to those whose family members died because this so called prophecy that was around before the event wasn't recognized and if not stopped a warning having been given.

Thrid the idea that a God could manipulate a persons mind (Which is what would be required to inhibit their ability to articulate themselves in a highly effective way) would render us as no more then puppets to this God. Even assuming such a God exists (A massive streach of the imagination) for this being to behave in this manner would in my view make him worse then the most evil tyrant this world has ever seen! To control someones mind to that degree would have to be the most abusive form of RAPE!
Is that the kind of God that you want to follow assuming a God exists?

Answer 3

The Spirit of God can grant any present in a 2nd as He wills. The Spirit of God can fall on anybody people and any people can prophesy. The present is something that the Spirit can come by using the two a guy or a woman. It has no longer something to do with their calling, their education, their education or their qualification. that is informational, directive or a notice of encouragement. Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and a few, prophets; and a few, evangelists; and a few, pastors and instructors; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the artwork of the ministry, for the edifying of the physique of Christ ... What I make of this that the prophet has the present of the Spirit of expertise and bringing out the deeper problems with the notice of God that are actually not obtainable to the guy who has the present of preaching or coaching in ordinary terms.

Answer 4

Yes, and he will take not only that, that which he has given you he will also take what you have. We are to share what God gives with all that will listen.

But we must not add to it to make it a more convincing story, we must not tempt God the Father, who is in heaven with idle desires of Glory. This it what made all the Prophets that came before Jesus fail. And Moses was the first of all to fail. Read the 3 temptations of Christ.

Answer 5

a similar thought crossed my mind. i dont have the fully realized gift of prophecy but i see certain ironies and obscure patterns and coincidences which seem to almost predict the future. i astral project on a regular basis and have an uncanny empathy - these are my personal gifts. i think we all have specific gifts, whether we know or not. it is natural for your gifts to become enhanced when used for divine purposes as this is a catalyst. when you try for other reasons you do not have this catalyst - its not so much that youre being punished or having your gift restricted. this signals that you need to work on prophecizing etc in general not just for divine purposes but also for your own spiritual/emotional/earthly growth. obvoiusly dont be greedy or use your gift for ill-will. with any gift of this nature comes responsibility and a certain code of ethics. i think using your gift for bad deeds can only help you forfeit your gift or suppress it. also dont try to perform 'party tricks' as this gift is yours and yours alone, there is a reason you have it.

Answer 6

First of all, Jesus has commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel..... that is not a gift, but a command. We have different graces and speaking is one of them and has to be developed, like everything else. Secondly, God give to the Church gifts liberally. We are responsible to use and in the way in which we use our gifts for the edification of the body of Christ and for others. Yes, I believe God will punish us for slothfulness.

Answer 7

I don't think God punishes people today who will not use the gifts he has given them. However, refusing may have an impact later..not sure.

Although I can't speak for God, I would think that he certainly would cause someone to feel a little uncomfortable if they persisted in not making use of what he gave them. Not punishment...just a reminder.

Answer 8

God has His reason to give us gifts.

I think if you have a gift from God, you start using the gift without even realizing it.

My gift is decernment and I have to make sure I follow God and not my own thoughts. and I love to tell people about Jesus, spreading the Good News.

Pray to God for wisdom

Answer 9

What do you think?

Ezekiel 33:7 "So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.

Matthew 25:24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'

26 But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Answer 10

I think not punish, but counsel.

God gives spiritual gifts to each of those who follow Him: i.e., mainly speaking, He gives them to His followers. If you have a spiritual gift and you do not use it, God would help you understand it better, and help you learn *how* to use it, especially if you asked Him for the help.

Now, if (as you suggest) a Christian refuses to use and/or share their gift, my first thought is the passage that talks about how God disciplines His children, and He does so because He loves them.

Barjesse37