Interview with a Prophet
What is Prophecy?
This interview between Pastor Ras Robinson and Prophet Kent Simpson took place in August of 1994. Its purpose is to familiarize pastors and lay persons with those who operate in the prophetic gifts. It is our desire to see the church allow freedom for the prophetically gifted to come into the congregations to minister to the saints.
The body of Christ has been instructed in the scriptures not to despise prophecy. Of all the gifts we are to pursue prophecy according to First Corinthians 14:1.“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”1 Corinthians 14:1
There are many questions about whether prophecy is really of God. How can we know it is of God? What do we do when we get a word from a prophetic minister? I hope you will find the answers to these and others questions in the following interview.
PASTOR RAS:It is a real pleasure to have with me today a prophet, Brother Kent Simpson. I have known him long enough to say that it is good to have this time with you, Brother Kent, and that I trust you, love you and believe in what you do. I wanted to do this interview so that others could hear us discuss together this incredible gift of Prophecy. Joel said in the latter days it would be poured out upon men, women, and children. In times past, it seemed as if we had a real outpouring of prophecy. It appears, however, that in these days we have had an even greater outpouring spread throughout the body of Christ. I thought I would start by asking some basic questions about Prophecy. So let’s start with what is the definition of prophecy, and what are we speaking of when we talk about prophecy?
PROPHET KENT:I am glad you asked these questions! There is not much opportunity for us (those who walk in the Prophetic) to have someone of your depth and understanding take the time and be inquisitive enough to ask such questions. There is a real need for these questions to be asked. I appreciate that you have taken the time to investigate, to evaluate, and to biblically review the gift of prophecy. I know you have seen the demonstration of all the gifts in operation and realize how important it is that we get a deeper understanding of this prophetic movement in the Body of Christ today.
The definition of prophecy is foretelling, telling of things to come. Many people assume that prophecy is anything you tell them that has to do with their life. They may think it to be something they are presently dealing with, something they have been praying about, or something that has happened in their childhood. That is the gift of knowledge. Hopefully we will discuss this gift and the gift of wisdom later. However, Prophecy deals with things to come. Judging prophecy is something else we need to discuss at some point in this interview.”But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.”1 Corinthians 14:3
PASTOR RAS:One of the definitions of prophecy in I Corinthians 14:3 has to do with edifying, encouraging, and consoling. When I look at the definition in this passage, I see another little phrase and I wondered what you thought about it. I think it is Strong’s Concordance that says prophecy is an “inspired speaking”. What does that mean to you?
PROPHET KENT:Well, my understanding of that definition is an inspired utterance by the Holy Spirit to men. In II Peter, the first chapter, Peter says that we have a more sure word, the prophetic word. He says also in this passage that the prophetic scriptures (scriptures dealing with things to come) never came by the will of man but by holy men of God who were moved by the Holy Spirit.”For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”2 Peter 1:21
This scripture clearly defines inspired speaking not as someone who is a good orator, but one who is a vessel through which the Holy Spirit speaks. You referred earlier to Joel that in the latter day’s young men would prophesy old men would dream dreams and the Spirit would come upon the sons and daughters.
“And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the remnant whom the LORD calls” (Joel 2: 28-32).
This scripture would indicate that the Holy Spirit is still giving inspired utterances to God’s chosen vessels today. We really question whether that can happen these days; however, we will find out that it is possible. The Lord is definitely raising up the prophetic utterance in this day.
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