WHAT IS The Gift of Prophecy?
The gift of prophecy is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to receive and communicate an immediate message of God to His people through a divinely anointed utterance.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES FOR this Gift
Tap each verse to read it. Unless otherwise noted, all scriptures are in the English Standard Version.
What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.
He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. 10 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
SUGGESTED POTENTIAL STRENGTHS & CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS GIFT
- Builds up the community. The whole purpose is positive, although there may be admonition and warning, even exhortation, to desist from some evil. Has a real lifting power and gives real light on the truth to those who hear.
- Finds consent and agreement in the minds and hearts of others in the community. There should be a prevailing sense in the community that the prophecy was divinely inspired.
- May be spoken in a variety of ways as the Lord Himself wills it.
- It comes forth in the power of the Spirit of God.
- Spontaneity marks such an occasion, and the words are divinely inspired.
- The prophetic word should be given in an orderly manner (1 Corinthians 14:26-40).
- Not infallible and the utterance must be judged by the infallible Word of God. The person should be humble enough to allow his word to be judged (1 Corinthians 14:29). If it is the mind of God, there is nothing to fear.
- Prophecy has a vital connection with faith; the individual must prophesy according to the measure of faith (Romans 12:6).
- Paul has a tendency to prefer prophecy to other gifts (1 Corinthians 14:1).
- It may convict nonbelievers (1 Corinthians 14:24-25).
- Prophecy should be harmonious with God’s Word; it must not take away from nor add to Scripture, but should intensify and quicken that which has already been given to us from God (1 Corinthians 14:27-33; Revelation 22:19).
- It may be spoken in a variety of ways; it is the Lord speaking through a human vessel (1 Corinthians 14:3-6, 27-33), in the power of the Holy Spirit (12:4-11).
- Speaks as one speaking the very words of God (1 Peter 4:10-11).
SUGGESTED POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES & WARNINGS OF THIS GIFT
- Deals with things that do not edify and is designed to puff up its hearers and to lead them into error.
- Must remain humble enough to allow your prophecy to be judged.
- Must remain on guard against anything designed to make you think that you are superior to those whom God has put in the church to rule the church.
- Forgets to praise partial progress (due to goal consciousness).
- Can be misused if not properly judged (1 Corinthians 14:29).
- Not all prophecies may be of God (2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2).
- The person giving the prophecy may be forbidden or hindered by leaders or the congregation (1 Thessalonians 5:19-20).
SUGGESTED WAYS TO SERVE BASED ON THIS GIFT
- Boards & Committees
- Community Ministry
- Pastor
- Pastoral Staff
- Missionary
- Preaching
- Vision
- Worship / Music Ministry
- Intercessory Prayer
*The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016).
Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.