The holy spirit gift of prophecy

THE HOLY SPIRIT GIFT OF PROPHECY
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Question: "What is the spiritual gift of prophecy?"
Answer: The spiritual gift of prophecy is listed among the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians
12:10 and Romans 12:6. The Greek word translated “prophesying” or “prophecy” in both
passages properly means to “speak forth” or declare the divine will, to interpret the purposes
of God, or to make known in any way the truth of God which is designed to influence people.
Many people misunderstand the gift of prophecy to be the ability to predict the future. While
knowing something about the future may sometimes have been an aspect of the gift of
prophecy, it was primarily a gift of proclamation (“forth-telling”), not prediction (“fore-
telling”).
A pastor/preacher who declares the Bible can be considered a “prophesier” in that he is
speaking forth the counsel of God. With the completion of the New Testament canon,
prophesying changed from declaring new revelation to declaring the completed revelation
God has already given. Jude 3 speaks of “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints”
(emphasis added). In other words, the faith to which we hold has been settled forever, and it
does not need the addition or refinement that comes from extra-biblical revelations.
Also, note the transition from prophet toteacher in 2 Peter 2:1: “There were false prophets
among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you” (emphasis added). Peter
indicates that the Old Testament age had prophets, whereas the church will have teachers.
The spiritual gift of prophecy, in the sense of receiving new revelations from God to be
proclaimed to others, ceased with the completion of the Bible. During the time that prophecy
was a revelatory gift, it was to be used for the edification, exhortation, and comfort of men (1
Corinthians 14:3). The modern gift of prophecy, which is really more akin to teaching, still

declares the truth of God. What has changed is that the truth of God today has already been
fully revealed in His Word, while, in the early church, it had not yet been fully revealed.
Christians are to be very wary of those who claim to have a “new” message from God. It is
one thing to say, “I had an interesting dream last night.” However, it is quite another matter
to say, “God gave me a dream last night, and you must obey it.” No utterance of man should
be considered equal to or above the written Word. We must hold to the Word that God has
already given and commit ourselves to sola scriptura—Scripture alone.
ProPheCy Objective 5. State the function and purpose of prophecy. Prophecy Defined “. . .to
another prophecy. . .” (1 Corinthians 12:10). According to one Bible scholar, prophecy means
“prediction,” that is foretelling. Another Bible scholarsays it means “public exposition,” that
is preaching or forthtelling. We will understand best what prophecy means if we understand
how it is both foretelling and forthtelling. Prophecy Forthtelling Foretelling Edify the Body
(Church) Prophecy should not be thought to be the same as ordinary preaching. Like the
other gifts of the Spirit it is supernatural. Ralph M. Riggs, an American Bible scholar, says
prophecy is “speaking one’s own language in the power of the Holy Spirit, or divine ability to
forthtell as well as to foretell.” Prophecy Explained and Illustrated In Lesson 3 of this course,
we studied the gifts of ministry. We learned that one of those gifts was prophets. “He gave . .
. some prophets” (KJV). Christ, the Head of the church, is named as giver of these gifts. Now
we are studying the gifts of the Spirit. In our present lesson, the giver of the gift of prophecy
is the Holy Spirit. “To one there is given through the Spirit . . . prophecy” (1 Corinthians 12:8-
10). What is the difference between prophets and prophecy? The gift of prophets is the gift of
full-time leadership to the body. The gift of prophecy is the gift of inspired utterance. The gift
145Healing, Working of Miracles, Prophecy
of prophets is for a rather small number of the body’s members. The gift of prophecy can be
experienced by all of the members. “you can all prophesy in turn” (1 Corinthians 14:31). The
difference between the office of the prophet and the gift of prophecy is this. All who have the
office of the prophet will prophesy. But all who prophesy do not have the office of a prophet.
Prophecy, because of its nature, is perhaps the greatest of the gifts mentioned in 1
Corinthians 12:8-11. Paul says, “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts,

especially the gift of prophecy” (1 Corinthians 14:1). The King James Version says, “Desire
spiritual gifts, but rather (most of all) that ye may prophesy.” So we see, prophecy is a very
important gift. We must seek to understand it well. It is especially important because it is the
greatest of all nine gifts for building up the body. It is the gift which makes the body come
alive in a special way. Through it believers are built up and sinners are moved toward God.
“But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand[a]comes in while everybody is
prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner” (1 Corinthians 14:24). 7 Circle the
letter before each TRUE statement. a By forthtelling we mean “telling the future.” b The gift
of “prophets” and the gift of “prophecy” are the same. c All members of the body may have
the gift of ministry called “prophets.” d Prophecy is a very important gift because it can help
both believers and sinners.
146 Spiritual Gifts
Purpose for the Gift of Prophecy 1. Forthtelling. The great value of forthtelling was made
clear on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit was poured out, and almost at once the gift of
prophecy was manifested in Peter’s sermon. That was no ordinary sermon. A day earlier
Peter could not have preached it. At the heart of his sermon was the mighty power and
inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Peterspoke ideas that were not his own. They came from the
Spirit. Prophecy is a natural result of being filled with the Spirit. Peterwas filled with the Holy
Spirit, and he prophesied. When the Ephesian disciples in Acts 19 were filled with the Holy
Spirit, they spoke with tongues, and prophesied (Acts 19:6, KJV). True prophesying is done
with God’s ability and power. Believers may be talented for speaking. They may be able to
preach great sermons. But no one can truly prophesy apart from the Holy Spirit (See 1 Peter
4:11). The believer who prophesies speaks to men. “But everyone who prophesies speaks to
men” (1 Corinthians 14:3, KJV). The question is, what does he speak to men? What does he
tell forth? He speaks and tells forth the Word of God. But don’t all preachers and teachers do
that? Yes. However, in prophecy, it is not so much what or who speaks forth as it is how he
speaks forth. Through the gift of prophecy the Holy Spirit can also bring to the speaker’s mind
what he would not have thought of himself. Surely that was true of Peter’s great sermon
described in Acts 2. 8 When a believer speaks forth the Word of God under the Spirit’s power
and inspiration that kind of prophecy is called . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . 2. Foretelling. To foretell means to tell something before it happens. We have
already learned that God knows everything. This means He knows the past, the present, and
the future. Man
does not by his power know the future. Only through the Holy Spirit can he know something
of the future. Through the gift of prophecy, the Holy Spirit can cause a believer to speak forth

something about the future. The Old Testament prophets often foretold the future. Telling
the future was a great part of their ministry. Usually the purpose was to awaken people to
their need of God. Jonah was one of those who foretold the future. He prophesied, “Forty
more days and Nineveh will be overturned” (Jonah 3:4). Evil men sometimes predict the
future. They are called fortune-tellers. Paul had an experience one day with such a person.
“Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a
spirit by which she predicted the future” (Acts 16:16). God is very much against this way of
telling the future. It is of Satan. As believers, we must not have anything to do with such
things, “…Let no one be found among you …who practices divination or sorcery, interprets
omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults
the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD…” (Deuteronomy 18:9-
12). Satan is always a destroyer. He seeks to destroy faith. He seeks to destroy believers. He
seeks to destroy the body of Christ. Any foretelling of the future he may inspire is aimed at
destroying. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). God’s work is
always to save. Sometimes through the gift of prophecy the Holy Spirit saves the body of
Christ from suffering. (Read Acts 11:27-30.) At other times, through the gift of prophecy, His
body is prepared for coming suffering. (Read Acts 20:23; 21:10-13.) Believers can be tempted
to use the gift of prophecy to help them know what they should do. This is not a safe thing to
do. We will learn more about this when we study the gift of tongues.
148 Spiritual Gifts
9 Place an F before each FALSE statement, and a T before each TRUE statement. . . . a
Foretelling means telling forth something after it happens. . . . b Old Testament prophets
were often foretellers. . . . c Fortune tellers are very helpful to believers. . . . d Satan always
seeks to destroy. God always seeks to save. Instructions for Use of the Gift of Prophecy 1
Corinthians 14:29-40 1. Prophecy must be according to the faith we have. (See Romans 12:6.)
The Holy Spirit can work through the believer only according to the faith in the believer’s
heart. To prophesy without faith is to speak forth out of our own hearts. This makes it very
important for the believer to pray much, to know God’s Word, and to be filled with the Spirit.
2. Prophecy must be limited and judged. (See 1 Corinthians 14:29.) God desires that there be
order in the public service. It appears Paul is saying, “Don’t just go on and on prophesying.
Give time for those who sit by to judge.” Judge means “to judge correctly.” Other believers
are to judge or evaluate with careful thought what may be said in a prophecy. Why? Because
those who prophesy are human. They can speak by the Holy Spirit. But, people may also
speak out of their own spirit or even out of an evil spirit. Those who sit by are to listen and
decide, with the help of God’s Word, if what is said agrees with the Word. If it does not agree
with the Word they are to cast it aside. For example, if a prophecy was given telling the
people they should curse the name of Jesus, that prophecy must be cast aside. 3. All may

prophesy. (See 1 Corinthians 14:31 and 1 Corinthians 14:5, 24.) This tells us every believer
may be used by the Holy Spirit to prophesy. The gift is not only for church leaders, it is for all
Spirit-filled believers.
4. Those who have a prophecy to give do not have to speak forth. The person who prophesies
decides when he will prophesy, and when he will not prophesy. He is not under some sort of
spell which makes him unable to use his own will. Read 1 Corinthians 14:32-33. 5. Those who
are used by the Holy Spirit in the gift of prophecy must be willing to take instruction and to be
corrected. (See 1 Corinthians 14:37.) 10 Circle the letter before each CORRECT statement. a
Once a person gives a prophecy, he no longer needs to prepare his heart to prophesy more. b
It is wrong for those who hear a prophecy towonder if it came from the Holy Spirit. c The gift
of prophecy is only for church leaders. d The believer who prophesies has no right to decide
when he should prophesy. Purpose for the Gift of Prophecy The gifts of the Spirit are for
building up the body. Each gift has its own special way for building up the body. Paul tells us
how prophecy does this. “But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their
strengthening, encouragement and comfort” (1 Corinthians 14:3). The King James Version
says, “He that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort”
The believer who prophesies speaks forth to encourage and to comfort others. As others are
encouraged and comforted, they are built up spiritually. And as they are built up spiritually,
the whole body is helped. 11 When we say that the one who prophesies builds up the body,
we mean the body is ...............................................
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament Church
Course: The Gifts of the Spirit
Lesson 7
Lesson Title: Prophecy
Text: '…to another prophecy; ' 1 Corinthians 12:9.

Introduction: What is the gift of Prophecy?
Prophecy – Greek ‘propheteia’ (‘pro’ forth and ‘phemi’ to speak) literally means ‘to speak
forth’.
A prophecy is the speaking forth of a message that is given for the purpose of
1) …building up a believer in his or her spiritual life or
2) …to come to his or her aid for a specific purpose.
The gift of prophecy is not the same as the ministry of a prophet.
The Gift of Prophecy is given for edification, exhortation and comfort.
It is not predictive.
If something is revealed concerning a future event this is a Word of Wisdom not prophecy.
a) An Old Testament prophet was a seer.
The ministry of the prophet was to guide the people in righteousness, and to warn of the
consequences of disobedience.
The prophet proclaimed what God was saying to the people at a specific time.
It was necessary for the prophet to say what was going to happen.
Therefore a prophet spoke concerning the present orthe past, and foretold future events in
regard to judgment and restoration.
b) The ministry of a prophet in the New Testament is to guide the people in
righteousness, and to warn of the consequences of disobedience. This involves foretelling
future events (a Word of Wisdom) as well as speaking concerning the present and past.
This is very different from the gift of prophecy.
The Gift of Prophecy is given for edification, exhortation, and comfort
1 Corinthians 14:3 ‘But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and
exhortation, and comfort.’

1) Edification - Greek ‘Oikodome’ (‘oikos’ a home and ‘demo’ to build) literally means ‘to
build a home’.
Edification refers to being built up in our spiritual life
2) Exhortation – Greek ‘paraklesis’ (‘para’ to the side and ‘kaleo’ to call) literally means
‘calling to one’s side’.
Exhortation refers to a message that comes to one’s aid. It is a support that helps us for a
particular purpose.
3) Comfort - Greek ‘paramuthia’ (‘para’ to the side and ‘muthos’ speech) literally means
‘speaking closely - by the side’.
Comfort refers to a message that expresses tenderness and concern in a particularsituation.
It is more personal than an exhortation.
Personal Testimony: Example of the Gift of Prophecy
When I receive a word of prophecy it usually begins with a scripture.
For instance one evening I was at a meeting and the word came to me that the Lord has not
called his people to be a voice crying in the wilderness. I did not understand the meaning at
first, but then it became clear as the message came that a wilderness is a barren place and
the Lord has called His people to fruitfulness. The prophecy continued that these are not the
days of Moses for he longed for the day when the Lord would pour out His Spirit upon all the
people, and these are not the days of Elijah when the people had to go to the anointed
prophet, but these are the days of the prophet Joel when the Lord has poured out His Spirit
upon all His people.
Main Points

1. The Gift of Prophecy in Scripture
a) In the Old Testament
The Gift of Prophecy is seen in the Old Testament
Moses
When the anointing came upon the elders they moved in the gift of prophecy.
In the New Testament when the Spirit came upon believers they spoke in tongues and
prophesied.
Tongues are not manifested in the Old Testament because tongues are the moving of the
Holy Spirit expressing the desire of the heart.
A new tongue needs a new heart. The
The 70 elders moved in the gift of prophesy, Numbers 11:25-26
The moving of the Holy Spirit upon the elders brought concern for Moses leadership.
Moses had no concern for his own leadership – he was called to lead the people not control
the people. The Holy Spirit was in control.
Moses desired that all of God’s people were prophets, Numbers 11:29.
This desire of Moses looks right across the Old Testament into the New Testament.
Saul
Saul did not have a right heart towards the Lord – he was not a David.
But even though his heart was not right, he still moved in the gifts of the Spirit.
Saul exercised the gift of prophecy when he came under the anointing, 1 Samuel 10:11-12.
Joel
The prophet Joel spoke of the time when the Lord was going to pour out His Spirit upon all
flesh

Joel 2:28-29 ‘And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh;
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, yourold men shall dream dreams, your
young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those
days will I pour out my spirit.’
Joel spoke of sons and daughters prophesying.
The Gift of Prophecy is not a special ministry to be expressed by a few people.
The Gift of Prophecy should be common among believers.
b) In the New Testament.
The fulfilment of the prophecy of the prophet Joel on the Day of Pentecost. Acts 2:16-18 ‘But
this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days,
saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And
on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they
shall prophesy:
The servants and handmaidens are also expected to prophesy.
The Ephesian believers spoke in tongues and prophesied when the Holy Spirit came upon
them.
Acts 19:6 ‘And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and
they spake with tongues, and prophesied.’
2. Testimonies concerning the operation of the gift.
Personal Testimony:
One Sunday morning I received a word of prophecy. The words came to me that the Lord
does not rule His people with a rod of iron, but the Lord rules His people with a sceptre of
gold.

As the prophecy developed I saw that a rod of iron reveals His strength, and the Lord will rule
over His enemies with a rod of iron, but the sceptre of gold reveals His nature and His
character, the beauty of who He is. The Lord’s people respond to the sceptre of gold out of
love for the Lord Jesus.
I felt the word was personal and did not share it at that time.
Just as I received the word of prophecy a person sitting behind me put his hand into mine and
gave me a gift. I asked him afterwards why he had done it. He said he just felt to do it.
The Lord gave me a word of prophecy that He rules His people by love, and then the word
was demonstrated by one moved upon by the Holy Spirit at that exact moment.
This is New Testament ministry.
3. Why is this gift necessary today?
a) Scripture tells us to desire to prophesy.
We are to desire spiritual gifts especially to Prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:1)
If we desire to prophecy then we must be filled with the scriptures. The Holy Spirit will
always speak in accordance with the scriptures. If we do not know the scriptures then the
Holy Spirit cannot bring the scripture into our minds.
The Gift of Prophecy can operate at any time.
We should always expect the Holy Spirit to speak through us right intoa specific situation.
Sometimes the Holy Spirit can tell someone to pickup the phone to give a word of
encouragement.

b) Prophecy builds up the Church.
Prophecy is necessary for edification, exhortation and comfort (14:3)
Prophecy builds up the Church (14:4).
Prophecy will bring conviction, 1 Corinthians 14:24-25 ‘But if all prophesy, and there come in
one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus
are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship
God, and report that God is in you of a truth.’
Tongues and interpretation should be limited in a meeting but not prophecy.
The gift of prophecy can function during a persons preaching.
c) The Gift of Prophecy is a gift that every believer should seek to move in.
It is a wonderful gift given to bless the Church.
Some people say there is no need for this gift now that we have the scriptures.
The Gift of Prophecy does not replace the scriptures it puts the spotlight on to a particular
aspect of scripture.
It is a word brought by the Holy Spirit that is needed for a particular purpose at a specific
time.
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament Church.
Course: The Gifts of the Spirit (10 Lessons)
Study based upon teaching from the textbook:
The Gifts of the Spirit, Harold Horton (1934)
Lesson Seven

Lesson Title: Prophecy
Text: ‘... to another prophecy.’ 1 Cor. 12:10.
Introduction: PROPHECY! What human words shall reach the splendours of so high a theme?
What hands can more than mar its pure brightness? By the spurting of its own fountain in the
spirit can its beauty be felt, even tasted; but how can we with sin-blunted sense unearth for
fellow mortals the mysteries of so rare a fount?
Hebrew
· To "flow forth" is the lovely meaning of the commonest Hebrew word. Nabal
· To "bubble forth, like a fountain " says one. As the heart of the Psalmist when it was
bubbling up or boiling overwith a good matter touching the King! Hallelujah! "
· To let drop "' is the meaning of another delightful Hebrew word: to let drop like golden
oil in ripened olive yards; or honey from the crammed honeycomb; or sparkling rain from the
bursting clouds.
· And the meaning of yet another Hebrew word is "to lift up"--like coloured banners with
mystic devices, or silver clarions with flourishes of solemnity or delight.
To flow forth--tumble forth--spring forth! You that prophesy! -do not these Hebrew words
exactly describe your precious fountain? Who would not covet thus to prophesy (14:39)?
Greek
· To "speak for another" is the meaning of the Greek word. To speak for God! To be His
"spokesman," His " mouth "! Wherefore, brethren, covet toprophesy. By the Gift of Prophecy
the Holy Ghost makes you, O once injurious, unprofitable, the "mouth" of the Lord! Therefore
(you can say) my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth. And my mouth shall praise thee with
joyful lips!
Prophecy is really the most important of the three Gifts of Inspiration or Utterance.

Some form of the word occurs twenty-two times in these chapters in Corinthians, eleven to
fourteen.
The unusual frequency of the word indicates not only the importance of the Gift but the
urgency of the need for its regulation.
The sharper the tool the more need for care in its employment.
Such a lovely Gift will provide much occasion for the cunning manipulations of the enemy.
Since he cannot dam so rich a stream, he will divert it or vitiate it or slander it or exalt it, or in
some other way reduce its authority or attractiveness or usefulness or appeal.
Prophecy in its simplest form is divinely inspired and anointed utterance.
It is entirely supernatural.
In its simplest form it may be possessed by all who have received the Baptism in the Holy
Ghost; "for ye may all prophesy one by one " (14:31).
Main Points
1. Some of the mistaken views of the Gift.
(a) The Gift of Prophecy is confused with the Prophetic Office.
Differences between the Old and New Testament.
In the Old Testament only some were priests, because such intermediaries were necessary;
In the New Testament all are priests.
In the same way in the Old Testament, only some were prophets, because such
intermediaries were necessary; but
In the New Testament "all may prophesy" (14:1).
Though not all are called upon tobe Prophets (12:28, 29)

Both the offices and the spiritual endowments are called " gifts" (Eph. 4:8, 11; 1 Cor. 12:28,
30);
The Offices are the gifts of Jesus to the Church,
The Gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 are the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the individual.
Philip's four daughters, "which did prophesy" are put in deliberate contradistinction to "a
certain PROPHET named Agabus" who in inspired mimic action foretold how Paul should go
to Jerusalem and what should befall him there. (Acts 21:9-10)
The Prophetic Office and the Gift of Prophecy are distinct for the following reasons:
1) The Office of Prophet is inseparable from a person (Eph. 4:11);
The Gift of Prophecy is only an instrument (1 Cor. 12:10). The exhortation in 1 Cor. 14:1, is
not to seek an office but a Gift of the Spirit.
Seeking after offices is the cause of many evils. The Scripture forbids it.
Desiring Spiritual Gifts is a good thing. Scripture encourages it.
2) Revelation of things outside the Word of God - things of the hidden past, present or
future--is necessary to the Prophetic Office.
· The test of the PROPHET is personal and exclusive revelation (Num. 12:6);
But this revelation is not included in the scope of the Spiritual Gift of Prophecy. Prophecy,
the Gift of the Spirit is for edification, exhortation, and comfort. (1 Corinthians 14:3)
3) The Gift of PROPHECY is compared with the Gift of Tongues plus Interpretation (14:5) in
such a way as to suggest an exact correspondence in value.
Nobody would say that the two Gifts of Tongues and Interpretation place their possessor
among the Seers! Neither does the equivalent Gift of PROPHECY.
4) The Gift of PROPHECY is low in order of importance among the Gifts (1 Cor. 12:10); the
Prophetic Office is 2nd among the Offices (Eph. 4:11; 1 Cor. 12:28).

5) Among the holders of the prophetic Office are such mighty names as Moses, Elijah,
David, Isaiah, Paul!
Any ordinary believer-everybody-(14:31) may be the possessor of the Gift of PROPHECY, but
not of the Office.
At Ephesus as Paul laid hands on the new believers that they might receive the Holy Ghost,
each of them spoke with tongues, and all of them PROPHESIED! (Acts 19:6.)
(b) The mistake of associating the Gift with Prediction.
The Gift does not in itself convey the power to predict the future. The Scripture definition in 1
Corinthians 14:3, gives no hint of foretelling.
The word "prophet" simply means "one who speaks for another."
It was only in medieval times that the word passed into the English language in the sense of
prediction.
"Etymologically it is certain that neither prescience nor prediction is implied by the term in
the Hebrew, Greek, or English language." (William Smith Bible Dictionary)
· PROPHESY, then, does not mean to foretell, but simply to speak for another.
· If in PROPHESYING a revelation is given of some existing fact quite hidden from the
senses, the Word of Knowledge is operating with the simple Gift of PROPHECY.
· If an event is predicted (an event, of course. that really comes to pass, like the dearth
foretold by Agabus in Acts 11:28), then the Word of Wisdom is working in conjunction with
PROPHECY.
· In 1 Corinthians 14:6, we see this possibility of several gifts operating in association at
the same time.
Revelation of the future is always the work of the Word of Wisdom, and never of the simple
Gift of PROPHECY.
When Ezekiel "prophesied" life to the bones and they lived the power was in the associated
Gift of Faith--not in the propheticword.
The same with the Lord when He prophesied death to the fig tree and it perished.

And the word of the Lord that told the disciples where to find the colt tied was a simple word
of PROPHECY: the revelation it contained came to the Lord by a Word of Knowledge. And so
on with many of the Gifts.
(c) The mistake that PROPHECY is intended for guidance.
It is not intended to take the place of common sense and natural judgment. "Be not as the
horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding," says the Psalmist. "Yea, and why even
of yourselves judge ye not what is right?" says the Lord Jesus (Psalm 32:9; Luke 12:57).
Giving "leadings" and "guiding" through "prophets" is not scriptural.
Now the Old Testament prophet foretells, and often " leads."
The New Testament ministry gift of prophet foretells, but never "leads."
The New Testament prophet, Agabus, did not "lead": he foretold events that came to pass,
and left the "leadings" to the sanctified judgment of those concerned (Acts 11:28; 21:10).
New Testament PROPHETS (those who operate in the gift of prophecy) neither foretell nor
"lead."
Contrary to both Testaments, pseudo prophets will "lead" but never foretell.
The pseudo prophet does not foretellevents -- he reverses the order and forces events by
"leadings."
The authority of the real prophet is in repeated miracles: that of the pseudoprophet is in an
affixed label.
But what about the calling of Barnabas and Paul by the prophet in Acts 13:1-3?
· This portion shows really the deliberations of a kind of local Presbytery Meeting--where
two of the members were called by Holy Ghost guidance and general consent, not toan office
or a title, but to a temporary task.

· And why should the guidance here be supposed to have come through the " prophets"
any more than through the " teachers " mentioned in the same verse?
The whole of the portion is contrary to the notion that these two servants of God were called
out by a solo pronouncement of some "set prophet."
(d) The Gift is confused with Preaching.
Every translator knows well that the word for "preach" in the original is always a quite
different word from the word for "prophesy."
Many words in Greek are rendered by the word "preach" in the A.V.
Their meaning is Proclaim, Announce, Cry, Tell--always in the sense of telling out or
expounding the Word of God--The Scriptures--The Good Tidings.
Preaching and prophesying are totally distinct.
In true preaching the natural mind (with its furnishings of the Word) is operated by the Spirit:
in prophesying the Mind of the Spirit is speaking through natural speech organs.
Preaching in the Holy Ghost may on occasion be lifted right away into the serene realm of
prophecy, where every word is rich with the Spirit's breathings and winged with the Spirit's
swift energy and piercing light. Preaching, in a word, is divinely inspired, but not
supernatural. Prophesying is every whit supernatural. A combination of the two sets the spirit
dancing, and lifts the heart to Jesus' presence.
But a good deal of what passes for preaching today is neither prophecy nor preaching in any
Scripture sense; it is just a base glittering currency, a cunning counterfeit, "uttered" in the
false moulds of authorized infidelity. There is no authority for preaching in the Bible. The
command is to preach the Word—Jesus- The Christ--The Cross. See 2 Tim. 4; Phil. 2:16; Acts
8:4; 15:35; 5:42; 1 Cor. 1:23, etc.
(e) The Gift used to be confused with the mere repetition of Scripture verses.

One of the offices of the Holy Ghost is to bring to our mind the Word of God (John 14:26); this
is a work of the Spirit acting through the memory, not through a spiritualgift at all.
2. The ground being thus cleared, we can now pass along to considersome Scriptural
Purposes of the Gift of Prophecy.
(1) Prophecy is for speaking untomen supernaturally (14:8).
In Tongues men speak to God supernaturally (14:2); in Prophecy God speaks to men
supernaturally-through the speech organs of men. How often a dull meeting, labouring
heavily in an atmosphere too stuffily earthy and natural, has been quickened into thrilling
vitality by the sudden current of heavenly prophecy! Like the free-blowing Breath of old--
deep, warm, pulsating, death chasing--that caused the skin and bones and sinews in the dry
valley to glow with vigorous life before the astonished prophet who "prophesied"! How can a
dry head minister water to the thirsty spirit! Fine phrases parch the soul; prophecy, like
Hermon's dew, wakes the morning flowers, sets the birds singing, and starts a fountain by the
way.
Beloved theologian! How can you miss this divine plan to set a flagon of heaven's wine beside
your royal pieces of honest bread? Can the combination be bad, since a more bountiful than
David has provided it! Bread and wine. Meat and drink. Natural and supernatural. Poise and
flight. The Spirit's Word and the Spirit's Gifts.
(2) To edify the Church--the body of believers (14:4).
Literally to build up. This is a good step further than speaking with tongues which just edifies
ourselves. Is not the expressed purpose of the Lord Jesus to build (the same word) His
Church? And if prophecy is one of His major tools in this blessed work how can we set it aside
as obsolete or useless? The Written Word and the word of prophecy are complementary
agents in this grand and glorious workof the Spirit (Acts 20:32). Significantly it is among the
ranks of those who look upon the Gifts of the Spirit as worn-out tools that are found great
numbers who are discarding the Word also as effete and not too desirable. There are no
doubters of the Word among those who believe in the Gifts of the Spirit!

To return to our first problem, let us notice that the sphere of influence of the PropheticGift
is confined to the Church; the sphere of influence of the Prophetic Office may extend far
beyond, even until the Prophet has become God's mouthpiece to cities, or nations, or the
whole world.
(3) To exhort the Church (14:3).
Exhortation in the original signifies "a calling near. It is obviously a word of blessed meaning;
to see it written (paraklesis)! is to think of the Comforter! So infused is the word with the
very breath of helpfulness that the R.V. gives "comfort" instead of " exhortation," and
Weymouth follows the same sweet thought in his word "encouragement." Obviously there is
no inclement element of rebuke and threat to distress us here. Just the reverse, indeed. By
this precious word we are really to understand those balmy words of the Holy Ghost the
Comforter that encouragingly lead us away from the world and its sin and care, and "call us
near" to the homely warmth of heaven and God's sweet presence.
Since I have found brethren purporting to use this precious Gift of Prophecy and its sister
Interpretation of Tongues as instruments of correction in the assemblies, let me pause to say
that in the New Testament, correction and rebuke come not this way but through the
application of the Word in teaching and doctrine.
Concerning all the improprieties and excesses that needed correction and rebuke in Corinth
Paul ministered not as a prophet but as a teacher and pastor.
He was indeed a prophet, even in the grand sense, but he did not stand in the Corinthian
meetings pouring forth invectives and rebukes.
He wrote pastoral advice, applying the Written Word of God to every problem.
When he prophesied it was with blessed words of helpfulness within the meaning and the
limits of this third verse.
When a warning has been given through the message of a " judgment prophecy ", the
prophecy has contained a Word of Wisdom predicting events to take place if the warning was
rejected.

(4) To comfort the Church (14:3, 31).
The Greek word here means consolation, solace, comfort--in trial or distress.
The word " comforted" in verse 31 is the same as that translated " exhort " above; the same
as that repeatedly rendered "comfort" in that lovely verse, 2 Corinthians 1:4, "Who comforts
us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the
comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."
Is it not good to minister in divinely dictated words the solace of the Comforterto poor,
suffering, sorrowing, persecuted, stumbling children of God? Wherefore, brethren, covet to
prophesy! "To edification, exhortation and comfort."
"Building up, stirring up, cheering up! " is Ellicott's triumphant rendering.
(5) That believers may "learn" (14:5).
From the position of the word here we may be sure it means that members of the Church
should become wise in the mysterious supernatural beauties of the Spirit.
All may prophesy, that all may learn the ecstatic delights of speaking by the Spirit--learn both
by prophesying ourselves and by listening toothers prophesying.
Any element of general instruction that may be suggested by this word obviously contains no
mixture of distressful rebuke or correction, for it, too, is governed by this precious third
verse: "to edification, exhortation, and comfort."
Learning in the general sense is associated with the ministry of the teacher--not the prophet
(Acts 13:1).
(6) To convict the unbeliever and make manifest the secrets of his heart (14:24, 25).
Tongues, originally intended in a secondary way as a sign to unbelievers, were, and are,
rejected by them:
Prophecy, though intended principally for believers, has a convicting and converting influence
even upon unbelievers.
Inference: Employ Prophecy, not Tongues, in believers' meetings where unbelievers are
expected or known to be present. verses 21 to 25

Prophecy serves principally for believers (22), yet since it is understood by the mind it may
serve also as a message straight from God to the unbeliever (24, 25).
Tongues are not understood by the mind, but only by the spirit of the believerwho speaks in
them. They are unsuitable for use in meetings with unbelievers.
The "unlearned." Who are these? Weymouth (and others) calls them those "who lack the
gift"--that is the spiritual gift either of Tongues or Prophecy.
Wesley calls them " ignorant" persons--of course in no offensive sense.
Another says, "Those who take no part in ministrations."
The Greek word means just a private person or a layman: one, that is, who is "ignorant" of
these supernatural things Paul is talking about-Spiritual Gifts and the Baptism in the Holy
Ghost, though he might all the same be soundly saved and even learned in holy things other
than the miraculous.
The effect of Prophecy on these is the same as that upon sinners.
"He is convinced of his sinfulness by them all [who are prophesying], he is called to account
by them all; the secrets of his heart are revealed [by the supernatural power--as well as the
words of prophecy], and then, throwing himself on his face, he will worship God, and declare,
'God is indeed among you!'" I have added the parentheses to the Twentieth Century N.T.
rendering.
How well I remember the first time, as "unlearned" I heard sweet words of divine prophecy! I
knew God was speaking. I knew I was "out of it." Yet the very words of the prophecy
persuaded me that God was intensely concerned about me, and had set His whole heart on
bringing me "into it."
Purposes: (1)To convert the sinner to sainthood, (2) To arrest those ignorant or sceptical of
supernatural things of the Spirit, (3) To convince them of the reality and power of miraculous
Gifts. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy.

3. In a few final observations we can briefly touch any remaining questions about use or
control.
(a) We are expressly commanded to desire this particular Gift (14:1) and to covet it (39).
The word is exactly the same in both cases in the original and it means:
· to strive for,
· to be eager-enthusiastically desirous—
· zealous for prophecy.
(b) Prophecy should be the Gift most commonly exercised in the Church (31)
· Women should prophesy as freely as men (1 Cor. 11:5):
· Even Joel in his prophecy of the blessed results of the outpouring of the Spirit in these
latter days says, "Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy" (Joel 2:28).
· In its simplest form this beautiful manifestation of the Spirit may be possessed by all (I
Cor. 14:1, 24, 31).
And the Lord is not exclusively dependent today upon any grand order of Prophets, but might
occasionally at any time convey His important revelations through the simple prophesies of
His simplest prophets.
(c) Prophecy is clear to the understanding but it is not speaking with the understanding
(14:19)
· It is the Spirit of God speaking through human speech organs.
· It is a manifestation of the Spirit of God (12:7, 11) but it does not set aside human
elements;
· Its varying fluency and force are evident in different characters: Isaiah, Amos, Jonah,
Anna, Philip's daughters; and also in its free operation through the varying speech organs of
different nationalities.

(d) A believer may be endowed with Prophecy (or any other Gift) at his Baptism in the Holy
Spirit, in addition to speaking with Tongues;
· At Ephesus (Acts 19:6);
· There is no indication anywhere that Prophecy ever takes the place of speaking with
Tongues as the initial sign of the Baptism.
(e) The Gift is not to take the place of the Written Word of God.
The word of man, even when he is purporting to speak for God, is always fallible, while the
Word of God is always infallible!
Prophecy shall cease (1 Cor. 13:8), but the Word of the Lord abides for ever (1 Peter 1:25).
(f) The VVritten Word is our only infallible Guide - the Scriptural character of the message in
prophecy is to be judged, if necessary, by the other prophets present (29).
A prophecy that is not according to the Word is at once to be pronounced as worthless or
mischievous, and repudiated without fear. (See Ezek. 13:1-9.)
The Lord has not left His people at the mercy either of office-hunters or even genuine holders
of Spiritual Gifts misusing them through ignorance or prejudice or selfishness.
The Word of the Lord, not the word of the prophet, is our sure and unshakable Rock.
The message is sometimes given an air of authority that is quite unscriptural by the words
“Thus saith the Lord" or "The Lord has spoken,"
It can be easily seen that that is hinging backresponsibility upon the Lord which He has
already placed upon the prophet (32).
It is not the Lord who speaks, but the prophet; and the prophet speaks by the Third Person of
the Trinity, not the Second.
(g) The possessor of the Gift is responsible for its use, misuse, suppression or control.
The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets (32),

Conybeare and Howson put it "The Gift of Prophecy does not take from the prophets the
control over their own spirits."
The Gift can be misused: therefore it must be regulated (29) and safeguarded (33, 40).
The prophet, not God, is responsible for any disorderly use of the Gift--however emphatically
the prophet may protest he was under divine compulsion while prophesying.
God is the Author of peace--not confusion--because He always acts and speaks in harmony
with His own Written Word.
Regulations:
(1) Though all may prophesy in turn, not more than three prophecies must be given in any
one meeting (29)--that is, three prophets' utterances.
(2) But though messages in Prophecy are subject to regulation they must not for that or any
other reason be despised (1 Thess. 5:20).
· It was fear of fanaticism or disorder that in the first centuries silenced the blessed Gifts
of the Spirit and left a church given over to formalism and powerlessness as a mortuary is
given over to the dead.
· Regulations are not for suppression but stimulation. Wherefore, brethren, covet to
prophesy.
(3) Messages in prophecy may often be mystical and not fully understood, except in the
spirits of those for whom they may be specially designed.
(4) As in all the Gifts faith must be exercised in prophesying, and the things uttered must be
within the scope of the faith possessed. "Whether prophecy, let us prophesy according tothe
proportion of faith " (Romans 12:6).
· The responsibility here is greater than in using the Gift of Tongues, since now we are
using a Gift that not only edifies the spirit but informs the mind; and further a Gift that not
only profits and influences the possessor but the Church also.
· And more inspired courage is necessary for prophesying than for interpreting tongues,
for the interpreter has a dying start, so to speak, from the unction accompanying the message
in tongues, while the prophet must launch out on an unction of his own.

· A greater measure of faith is for those reasons necessary here than for the other smaller
Gifts.
And finally we must ever remember that the enemy has a plan, cleverly conceived and
zealously prosecuted, to destroy the supernatural, which is mightily frustrating and finally
checking him (1 John 4:4).
· His focal point of attack is faith. If he can destroy faith, even in you who possess Spiritual
Gifts, he can destroy the Gifts themselves. If he can turn faith into fear he can both silence
existing Gifts and prevent furtherheavenly bestowals.
· Fear is the opposite of faith (2 Tim. 1:7).
· It is therefore always necessary to rouse up faith, and keep rousing up faith, taking
strong, bold, deliberate and determined action, if these Gifts are not to fall into disuse.
· Even Timothy must be warned against neglecting the Spiritual Gift he possesses (2 Tim.
4:14), and exhorted to stir it up, lest his ministry be limited by fear, and the voice of the Spirit
silenced through neglect (2 Tim. 1:6, 7).
DAVID LEGGE
Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 12. We covered an awful lot of ground last week, probably too
much - I apologize for that, but it is an in-depth subject, what we were looking at last week:
'Tongues and Interpretation'. You'll probably have to listen overto that again to get the
depth of what I was sharing. We'll try, hopefully, to do a bit better here today with the gift of
"Prophecy". Now, let me just remind you, before we read anything, that this is inaccurate -
what you see on the screen, the division of the categories of the gifts of the Spirit, because
there's overlap. As we saw, about the colours of the rainbow, there's kind of overlap, where
they phase into one another. But we, for our help, we've carved them up into powergifts
(which is faith, healing, miracles), revelation gifts (word of knowledge, word of wisdom,
discerning of spirits), and vocal gifts, which we've been looking at the last two weeks:
tongues, interpretation of tongues - and this week, we're looking at prophecy.

I just want to read two verses. First of all, chapter 12 verse 31 - we read all these passages, by
the way, last week, we'll not do that again. Verse 31 of chapter 12: "But earnestly desire the
best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way". And then he gives us this great purple
passage on love, and he tells us that you can have the most supernatural, charismatic
ministry in the world - but if you don't have love, you're nothing and it's worth nothing. That
must be - and I can't keep recapping the things I did in the introductory week - but that must
be a foundation of supernatural ministry: love. Very often it's not, and that's why some of
you have got hurt with people who have believed in the gifts of Spirit, because they haven't
been exercised in love, grace and sensitivity.
I can't keep recapping the things I did in the introductory week - but that must be a
foundation of supernatural ministry: love...
Verse 1 of chapter 14: "Pursue love", so he's just finished talking about this love, "Pursue
love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy". Some people kind of
pit against each other the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. They say the fruit of the
Spirit is much more important than the gifts of the Spirit - that's not true. The weight of
Scripture is not either or, but both and - and we are to pursue love, but desire spiritual gifts,
especially that we might prophesy. So we've got to have the fruit and the gifts of the Spirit
being manifest in our lives. But he then adds this other emphasis: "Especially that you might
prophesy". He sets prophecy higherthan any otherspiritualgift.
Can I say, before we move on from that: love is connected with the gift of prophecy. Here's
the reason why: because prophecy edifies the church - and if you love the church, you'llwant
the church to be built up. The only way the church can be built up, in a New Testament sense,
is through the gift of prophecy. So basically, if you love the church, you will want prophecy to
be there. To ignore prophecy is not only to ignore Scripture, it's to ignore God's means
whereby the local church can be edified and strengthened. It's the best gift in all the gifts,
because it fulfills God's purpose for spiritual gifts the best. What is that purpose? Edification.
Over and over we've seen this word - anything that's not edifying, we're to forget about it.
That's why understanding needs to be there, and that's why Paul has prophecy in all of his
lists of the gifts of the Spirit, and why it's prioritized in those lists.
Let's just compare tongues with prophecy as it's in this passage. Tongues speaks to God - we
saw that - but prophecy speaks to people. Tongues speaks mysteries to God, nobody
understands what they're saying unless it's interpreted - that's why that gift is necessary - but
prophecy speaks words understood by the speaker and the hearers. Tongues edifies the
individual when the individual is praying in tongues, when there's not interpretation in the
church; whereas prophecy edifies the church, because there is understanding of what is being
said. Now there are occasions in Acts where there were tongues and prophecy together, but I

want you to understand this about prophecy - and this is central to it: prophecy has the
power to bring about what it proclaims. So, when a true word of prophecy is being given,
inherent within it is the actual dynamism of God's Spirit to make that thing happen. It may
not happen immediately, but it will happen.
Prophecy fulfills God's purpose for spiritual gifts the best. What is that purpose? Edification...
Now prophecy can have many functions and purposes. For instance, prophecy may bring
guidance to people - and we see that in the Bible, you know Joseph, the husband of Mary,
guardian of Jesus, was given dreams to guide him. There were prophetic dreams, instructive,
and visions can be the same - they're different in that you have visions normally in the
daytime, unless they're night visions, dreams, and they can be again directive, but they're
prophetic when they're like that.
Prophecy can read the hearts of individuals who are hearing - and we see that actually in this
portion of Scripture, in chapter 14 of Corinthians. You remember verses 24 and 25: 'If all
prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is
convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his
face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you'. So, through prophecy, our
hearts can be exposed to the light of God.
Prophecy can see the invisible. You remember Anna and Simeon in the Temple, and Jesus was
brought in as a little baby, and they were able to see in Him something that otherpeople
couldn't see. That was a prophetic sight, or insight. There's also a foretelling aspect to
prophecy. I don't have time to lookat it with you, but in Acts chapter 11 there's a prophet,
who we'll mention again later on, called Agabus. He prophesied that there was a famine
going to come upon the whole world - and it then did take place, and that was a foretelling
prophecy. But not all prophecy is foretelling. In fact, I would say most of it is what we might
describe as forth-telling, actually, a 'now' word that God is speaking now overpeople's lives.
So there are various operations of prophecy. But what I will say is this to you: in the Acts of
the Apostles, and through the teaching of the epistles, we discover that prophecy was part of
the normal life of the routine, early church. If we're going to see the church built up today in
Lisburn, in Ireland, prophecy has got to be foundational to the gifts of the Spirit being used.
You remember Anna and Simeon in the Temple, and Jesus was brought in as a little baby, and
they were able to see in Him something that other people couldn't see. That was a prophetic
sight, or insight...
First of all, I want to ask and answer the question: who can prophesy? In the New Covenant,
we see it in Acts 2 - put a marker in there in Corinthians, and come with me to Acts 2, the Day
of Pentecost. Peter is trying to bring understanding, edification to the people who have

witnessed this speaking in tongues, people hearing in their own languages - and we showed
you last week how Acts 2 can be different than 1 Corinthians 12 and 14; but leaving that
aside, Peter is wanting to say: 'Now, this is that, this is what's happening here in a biblical
sense. I'm going to explain to you this phenomenon'. In verse 16, he quotes Joel 2: 'This is
what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams' - that's maybe
happening to some of you already in the gathering - 'And on My menservants and on My
maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy''.
Now that's a pretty comprehensive description there of different types of people, isn't it?
There are old people mentioned; but the other three categories, if you look at it, are actually
young people. Women are mentioned there. In fact, in 1 Corinthians 11:5, it talks about
certain church order in the early church (we'll not get into that in its detail), but it does say
that when women pray or prophesy they should have their heads covered. There needs to be
an exposition of that passage, and indeed the other one that I did skip over - OK, I'll grant
you, I skipped over the bit about the women keeping silent in the church in chapter14,
because - look - I had enough trouble with the gifts, I'm not getting intothat one in my weeks
here! But you understand that this is for both sexes, the prophetic gift. In fact, in Acts 21 we
read of Philip, who was an evangelist, who had four daughters who were prophetesses.
Derek Prince actually says 'Considering the culture in the Middle East, it's extremely unlikely
that Philip would have had four unmarried daughters who were much olderthan fifteen. So,
in all likelihood, these four virgin daughters, they're described as, were fifteen or below.
These were young girls, and they were prophetesses. Imagine if your kids started prophesying
to you! It can happen. Someone said there is no Junior Holy Spirit - isn't that true?
What I want to emphasize here is that the propheticministry now in the New Covenant is
broadening. The coming of Christ intothe world did not end the gift of prophecy, but rather
extended it to all of God's children: 'They shall prophesy'. Now there are several differences
between Old Testament and New Testament prophecy, and we can't gointo it all here today -
but what we will say is this: God envisaged a community of the propheticin the New
Covenant. Do you remember when the prophet was encouraged to stop others prophesying?
He said, 'I wish everybody could prophesy. I wish the Spirit would come on everybody'. That's
what we see a fulfillment of in the New Testament: a community of prophecy. All can
prophesy. Now, let me emphasize this distinction: I'm not saying that everyone has the gift of
prophecy. You may say: 'Well, what's the difference?'. Well, what I'm saying is: every one of
you can pray for someone else to be healed. If any of you are confronted by a demonic spirit,
you've all got the authority and the powerto deal with that. That's what Mark16 talks about:

'They shall cast out demons; they shall lay hands on the sick' - who are they? Those who
believe.
What I want to emphasize here is that the propheticministry now in the New Covenant is
broadening...
So, you might be able to give a word of prophecy to someone, but it doesn't mean that you're
operating in the gifting of prophecy most of the time - which I think your pastor, Gary, has.
Then there's another distinction between just prophesying to someone and having the gift of
prophecy, and then another level is 'the prophet', which is more like an office. Remember the
gifts that we talked about in Ephesians 4 that are the people, the people are the gifts, not the
abilities - that's chapters 12, 13 and 14 of Corinthians - but in chapter 4 of Ephesians, the
people: apostles, pastors, evangelists, teachers - so they are the people that are the gifts. Are
you with me?
So there is a distinction. But when we talk about prophecy of encouraging one anotherin the
Spirit, and we will tease that out a little bit more, it says we all can do this. If you look at
chapter 14, look at verse 31, we have an accurate description of what prophecy should be
like. Chapter 14 verse 31: 'For you can all prophesy' - there's the 'all' - 'one by one, that all
may learn and all may be encouraged'. So understanding is important, encouragement is
important, and then goto chapter 14 verse 4. This is a key verse to do with prophecy: 'He
who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church'. It's all
about building up. The preceding verse, verse 3, tells us three ways that prophecy builds up
the church. 'He who prophesies speaks edification' - another word for that is 'strengthening' -
'exhortation' - which is anotherword for 'encouragement' - 'and comfort', which is 'comfort',
'to men'.
So, this is what prophecy is meant to do, OK? 'Edify', which is 'build up'; 'exhort', which is 'stir
up', motivate people; and 'comfort', which is 'cheer up'. So, the difference, intrinsically,
between the Old Testament prophecy and New Testament is: New Testament edifies, builds
up, exhorts, stirs up, and comforts, cheers up; whereas, generally speaking, prophecy in the
Old Testament was judgmental. Prophecy in the Old Testament, generally speaking, was
more to unbelievers who were in the congregation of God's people nevertheless, but they
were unbelieving, they were disobedient, and God's prophets were bringing judgment.
Whereas in the New Testament, prophecy, we've read together, is a sign to believers that
God is in their midst and even unbelievers can be affected by that.
So, sometimes the 'prophets' that we see in the church today, they're always blazing bolts of
fire and judgment to this city, that city, the other city. They're condemning people for their
sin, etc. We have to be very careful, because that doesn't always align with what New

Testament prophecy is. New Testament prophecy certainly neverdoes the devil's work - and
he is the accuser of the brothers. He's the condemner; whereas�the Holy Spirit, 'Parakletos',
you've heard that word already, is the One who comes alongside, comforts, helps, counsels.
He is our Advocate from God. That doesn't mean that a word of prophecy can't be corrective,
can't bring a certain amount of discipline, or even be quite stern at times. But New Testament
prophecy, the general tone of it is not judgment, but building up, stirring up, and cheering up
- edifying, exhorting, and comforting. Do you get it?
Prophecy in the Old Testament, generally speaking, was more to unbelievers who were in the
congregation of God's people...
But I'm sure you, hopefully, are picking up as I'm going through here, that God does not
discourage believers from prophesying. On the contrary, He encourages it. So, what exactly is
it? Well, effectively, it is speaking to people from God. That's quite simple. But it's telling
something that God has spontaneously brought to you. A word in season, you may want to
look up Isaiah 50:4 at some stage, a word in season is a word of prophecy. Now, one of the
objections to this, you know, prophecy being a message from God is: 'Well, does this not
demean Scripture? Does this not make prophecy equal to Scripture?'. I've had people say to
me, you know, 'You need all these blank note papers at the back of your Bible to fill in all the
prophecies that are being made. You're adding to Holy Scripture, and Scripture is quite clear
that you ought not to dothat'. The fact of the matter is: New Testament prophets never ever
spoke with the same authority equal to Scripture.
Turn with me to Acts chapter 21. We're seeing this guy Agabus again, who I mentioned
earlier. Acts chapter 21:4, Luke writes: 'And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days.
They told Paul through the Spirit not to goup to Jerusalem'. Now, what does that say? Was
this a false prophecy? No, it says: 'They told Paul through', what? 'The Holy Spirit not to go',
where? 'Up to Jerusalem'. Now come with me up then to verse 11, verse 10: 'And as we
stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. When he had
come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, 'Thus says the Holy
Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into
the hands of the Gentiles''. Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that
place', from Judaea with Agabus, 'pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul
answered, 'What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to
be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus''.
Now, what's going on here? Well, Agabus brought a word that if Paul went toJerusalem he'd
be bound and in danger, and he said it was from the Holy Spirit, and Paul ignored it. He went
to Jerusalem, and he said, 'Look, don't break my heart guys!' - because they're all begging:
'Don't go there! This is what the Holy Spirit says is going to happen!'. He says: 'Don't break my

heart, I'm going!' - and he went. So, if prophecy is equal to Scripture, Paul disobeyed
Scripture. But, you see, it's not. You say: 'Well, what's, what's the anomaly here?'. Well, the
anomaly is: Agabus got a message from the Holy Spirit, but his interpretation of that was:
'Yes, Paul, you're going to Jerusalem, and you're going to be bound and hurt, but you
shouldn't go'. That was his spin on it, that was the human dimension that he added. That's
often what happens in prophecy. God downloads something, and we put ourparticularslant
on it. But Paul, recognizing he was actually destined to go Jerusalem for this reason, heard
that the Holy Spirit was warning him: 'Brace yourself for what's coming', but it wasn't a
directive to stop him to go.
You see, there's a learning process in this. We're all learning. Look at chapter 14 of
Corinthians again, verse 29. We're considering if prophecy demeans scripture: 'Let two or
three prophets speak, and let the others judge' - or 'weigh'. If prophecy is as authoritative as
Scripture, why would we weigh it? We're not to question Scripture, are we? But it says here
that we ought to weigh prophecy. Then something else is obvious, that we are to be
accountable to Scripture in what's being prophesied, and we're to be accountable to the rest
of the body of Christ. First Thessalonians 5:19-21: 'Do not quench the Spirit ' - don't put out
the fire of the Spirit - 'Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good'.
Do you think these Thessalonians would have despised Scripture, or something equal to
Scripture?
Now, do you think these Thessalonians would have despised Scripture, or something equal to
Scripture? If prophecy was equal to Scripture? They wouldn't have despised the Word of God
in the sense of holy, inspired writ. But what is being said here is: there needs to be an
operation of your discernment when propheticwords are given. Don't despise them, but see
what is good and what is bad. So, you can have bad prophetic stuff going on. Paulis saying
you need to discern between them: keep what's good, reject what's not, but there has to be
this accountability to the Holy Scriptures and to the rest of the body of Christ. If you look at
verse 30 of chapter 14 of Corinthians, verse 30: 'But if anything is revealed to another who
sits by, let the first keep silent'. So, what's happening here is: one chap or lady starts
prophesying, and then somebody else gets a download from God, a word from God of
edification, exhortation and comfort. When they get it, the first one has to keep quiet and let
them deliver it. Now, why would you cut someone off in mid-flight if they were delivering a
word from God that was equal to Holy Scripture? You wouldn't do it. You wouldn't permit
any interruptions - isn't that right?
So this is not equal with Scripture at all. On the contrary, if you look at verse 36, Paul actually
distinguishes between prophecy and the Word of God: 'Or did the word of God come
originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? If anyone thinks himself to be a

prophet', there it is, 'or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are
the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant'. So there he is
pitching these prophets, and those who thought they were spiritual, against Paul, whowas
the apostle, and the one inspired by the Holy Spirit, giving us most of our New Testament,
and saying: 'There's no much for these two things'. Prophecy is vital, and it's primary in the
church, but let's not fall into this trap of thinking that anyone is saying that it's equal to Holy
Scripture.
So, that should temper how we describe words of prophecy. We should realize that prophecy
should not be considered as God's word, but human words that the Holy Spirit has
influenced; human words that the Holy Spirit has influenced tobring, edification, build up,
exhortation, stir up, and comfort, cheer up. Therefore, we should not be walking in - Gary,
some morning walks in with the microphone and says: 'Thus says the Lord'. OK? 'The Lord
says to you: 'Do this, do that, do the other''. We would be better saying things like: 'I think
maybe the Lord is saying', or 'It seems to me that maybe the Lord might be saying' - and we
certainly should not be controlling or manipulative in words that we share with others. 'If you
don't do this, this is going to happen' - that's witchcraft, that's control and manipulation.
So, you might be sitting there saying: 'Well, what about false prophets and false prophecy?'.
Well, there's many warnings about this in Scripture that we don't have time to look at. In the
Sermon on the Mount in particular, Matthew 7, Matthew 24, in the last days there will be an
increase of false prophets, false Christs and even doing signs and wonders. So, how do we
discern the true from the false? Well, let me give you four criteria to test prophecy and
prophets.
How do we discern the true from the false? Well, let me give you four criteria to test...
The first is a truth test. Is what is being shared in accordance with the truth of God's revealed
will in His Word? Because the Spirit doesn't contradict Himself - you know that, don't you?
First John 4:1-3: 'Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of
God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you knowthe Spirit
of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every
spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is
the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the
world'. So, the truth test is: it will not contradict what the Bible teaches, and specifically what
the Bible says about Jesus Christ. Remember chapter 12 of Corinthians verse 3, there was this
test: 'Therefore I make known to you that noone speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus
accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit'. So, this gift of
prophecy, like any of the other gifts: is it presenting the authentic Jesus? Is it glorifying Jesus?
Is it about Jesus?

First Peter 4:10-11 talks about how the gifts have to bring glory to Jesus: 'As each one has
received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If
anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with
the ability which God supplies' - here's the reason - 'that in all things God may be glorified
through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen'.
Melanie, sharing her testimony - I know I was the one here and praying and so on, but her
healing was nothing to do with me, other than me being a facilitator for what God wants to
do and cooperating with Him. We do have a part to play, but the glory doesn't come to us, it
must go to God.
So, there's the truth test: does it agree with Scripture? Does it agree with who Jesus is? He
came in the flesh - is the doctrine about Jesus sound and does it bring glory toHim? A second
test is the love test. We've spent a lot of time talking about chapter 13, but even when a
word of prophecy may be correctional or a word of warning, it might be stern, but it has to be
edifying and it must not be judgmental.
The truth test: does it agree with Scripture? Does it agree with who Jesus is?
The third test, after truth and love, is the order test. The place for New Testament prophecy is
the local church, that's where it's meant to happen. We get into problems when there are
'Lone Ranger' prophets wandering around with no accountability to local church structures,
and coming off with certain things, and predicting things, and no accountability. Then, when
it doesn't happen, there's no one there tosay: 'Look, what's going on with you?'. So that's
why you need to check yourself, if you've got a propheticword according to Scripture, and
according to the things that we've already mentioned: love and truth. But when we give
prophetic words, it must be with accountability to ourlocal structure. So, I would encourage
you, unless you're a trusted person, trusted by the leadership here, you shouldn't just give a
prophetic word, you should be putting it through your pastorand the others who are in
authority.
You see, no one has the operation of a spiritual gift in perfection. So, we need the other
prophets, and we need the other leaders to discern in a prophetic culture. So there needs to
be order: no 'Lone Rangers'. Some prophetic people are a bit like this. It's not that they're not
prophetic, it's just they need to come intoorder. They could have a genuine gift, but it needs
to be ordered.
Truth test, love test, order test - and finally, the fruit test. Jesus gave us this very clear
understanding of how toknow a false prophet from a true prophet: 'Beware of false
prophets', Matthew 7:15-17, 'who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly' - this is the
important emphasis, 'inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits'.

So, the inward root of the heart will be manifested in wrong fruit in their life. 'Do men gather
grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but
a bad tree bears bad fruit'. So, if you want to know who's a false prophet and who's a true
prophet, or if you want to know what's a prophecy you need to take heed of or ignore, you
need to look for fruit in the person's life. First of all, fruit of the Spirit needs to be there - it'll
not be there perfectly, but it needs to be evident. What are they? Galatians 5:22-23: love joy,
peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faithfulness, self-control. There's also
the fruit of supernatural works as well, that's spoken of in John chapter 15. But gifting, whilst
it's important, has to be in tension with fruit of character.
We get into problems when there are 'Lone Ranger'prophets wandering around with no
accountability to local church structures...
So there's the tests. Have you got it? Truth test, love test, order test and fruit test. Well,
quickly, in the time that we have, let's look at how - and this will be quick - how do we
prophesy? Just assuming you're not a prophet, and you maybe don't even have the gift of
prophecy, how do you recognize if God is giving you a word of encouragement,
strengthening, or comfort tosomeone else? Well, it's often spontaneous to the mind - a bit
like words of knowledge and wisdom. It can be impressed on your consciousness, where you
just feel and sense that God wants you to say something to someone.
Paul actually calls this, by the way, if you look at chapter14, if you look at verses 30 and 31,
he calls it 'revelation'. That's where a lot of conservative Christians panic, because they think
we're talking about Holy Scripture here. Actually, Paulused that term 'revelation' in a
broader sense than biblical inspiration. I could give you a number of verses to show where
that's the case, but he's talking about howGod is breathing on you, giving you prompts,
goading you, prodding you, giving you impressions mentally, emotionally, giving you a kind of
intuition that could be called 'prophecy' - it's a kind of revealing of what God wants. There are
various ways - it's a bit like listening to the voice of God. I said it before: you need to study
how to listen to the voice of God. But this is the parting shot that I want to give you here
today: like all the gifts of the Spirit, it's according to our faith. Romans 12:6: 'Having then gifts
differing according to the grace that is given to us' - they're from God - 'let us use them' -
we've got to use them - 'if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion toour faith'. All these gifts
are connected to faith. In regard to prophecy: do as much prophecy as you have faith for, and
then shut up! Don't go off on one, on your own steam, but prophesy and move in all the gifts
according to faith.
If you want to hear from God, and you want to operate in the prophetic, it requires waiting
on God. It requires listening for God, to hear the promptings of His heart. Can I also say to
you: if you want to be moving in the prophetic, you need to saturate yourself in this book, the

Holy Scriptures, the Word of God - because all the biblical prophets were immersed in the
Bible. You need to know the revelation God has already given, if you're wanting to move in
revelation for the now, today.
But guess what: the more you practice - in faith now - the more you grow. A toddler that is
constantly worried about using wrong grammar is never going to learn totalk. So, as we
venture out into this area of the gifts of the Spirit, we need to be humble, we need to
recognize nobody has the perfect thing - but we need to take risks, and we need not to take
ourselves too seriously either. Some of us have a Christian perfectionist mentality, and we're
so scared of failing or being wrong.
Understanding The Spiritual Gift Of Prophecy By Pastor Duke Taber
There is much buzz in Charismatic and Pentecostal circles today concerning the gift of
prophecy. There is a whole movement that has sprung up called the Prophetic Movement.
We have men and women running around calling themselves prophets.
When I was just a few years old in the Lord, I got involved with a “movement.” I thought it
was the latest and greatest thing that God was doing.
It was only after a couple of years getting banged around and swallowing some pretty lousy
doctrine did I realize that there is only one movement that God is calling us to. That is to run
your race towards the high calling that is in Christ Jesus.
Since that time I have seen at least four movements come and go. All of them brought an
issue or an understanding of ourfaith to the conversation table, but they also carried much
baggage because of the extremes that went along with the movement.
In today’s lesson on the Christian gift of prophecy, I am going to try to remove the baggage,
maybe bring some correction, but most importantly I hope to encourage every one of you
that you can be used by God in encouraging with propheticgifting.
What Does Prophecy Mean In The Bible?

In this lesson on the prophetic, I am going to center our discussion around the gift in the New
Testament. It is not that there are not many examples of the gift of prophecy in the Old
Testament, but that we are living in the Church age, not the age of Mosaic law and as such it
has changed the way the gift of prophecy works.
There is a mental picture that comes from Old Testament prophets and prophecy that depicts
a wild-haired dude that is just slightly off his rocker who stands on street corners with
proclamations of doom and gloom. You will not find this model of prophecy in the New
Testament. In
1 Corinthians 14:3 it says
“But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.”
You will notice that it leaves out pronouncements of divine judgment and retribution. I
believe that the reason for this is that the payment for sin and the spiritual consequences of
sin were taken care of at the cross of Christ.
There is, therefore, no condemnation tothose who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1) New
Testament prophecy transformed from edicts of destruction and displeasure to words that
strengthen, encourage, and comfort.
The Gift Of Prophecy In The Life Of Jesus.
In Luke’s gospel chapter 22, we have a very famous incident of this gift at work in the life of
Jesus. It is the time where Jesus predicts Peter’s denial of him.
Notice that Jesus tells Peter that Satan had asked to sift him like wheat. Satan wanted to take
him out, but Jesus said that He prayed for Peter’s faith not to fail.
Now that is a word that is both comforting and encouraging. Jesus told Peter that he would
deny him, but He also said to him that he had been prayed for.
This also shows that faith goes beyond our incidents where we fail. It is what we do in the
long term, not the short term that matters.
In John’s gospel chapter 2, we see where Jesus operates the gift of prophecy in the prediction
of his death and resurrection.

He tells the religious leaders who were questioning His authority that if they destroyed the
“temple,” He would rebuild, it in three days. What he was talking about his own body is the
temple, and they assumed He was talking about the physical temple they worshiped at.
There is an essential point in this incident in the life of Jesus. You cannot take all prophecy at
face value or assume you know what it is talking about. I have found it best to let a prophetic
word play out and ponder it for a while before acting upon it or deciding what it means.
Prophetic Gifts In The Early Church.
In the book of Acts chapter 21, we have two incidents of the prophetic gifts in the early
church. Both had to do with Paul’s return to Jerusalem. The first incident the scriptures say
that the believers prophesied by the Holy Spirit for Paul not to return to Jerusalem.
In the second instance, we have a clearer picture of the prophetic gift in action where A man
named Agabus took Paul’s belt and tied up his own hands and feet and told Paul that he
would be bound the same way by the Jewish leaders if he went to Jerusalem.
Now I have always speculated as to whether or not Paul missed the boat and disregarded the
prophecies or if he had decided and seen that the prophecies were given not to warn him not
to go but to forewarn him what was ahead.
It is evident that Paul felt that they were to prepare him for what lay ahead of him not to
dissuade him from going. I always wonder if he interpreted the reason for those prophecies
or not. Regardless, Paul was right about this. The will of God will be done regardless.
This brings up an excellent point concerning the gift of prophecy. It is not the job of the
prophet to interpret what the meaning of the prophecy is. That is the right and responsibility
of the one receiving the prophecy.
If you are giving a propheticword, then you need tobe the messenger, not the interpreter.
You need to make sure your spiritual pride and ego are out of the way.
It is not your job to make sure the prophecy is accepted or heeded. It is just your job to give
the message. However, I have found that, if the word you are giving is encouraging,
strengthening, and comforting then there is usually very little resistance.
How To Test Prophecy Today

As I mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, there is much buzz about the prophetic gifts
today. I have watched, listened, and tried to sift through this hub bub about God restoring
this gift and I have come to my own conclusions as to what is from God and what is hype.
Here are a few things that I look for when deciding if a word that is given to me is indeed a
prophetic word or a word designed to profit the one giving it. I ask myself these questions
and not necessarily in this order.
Does this word line up with being a word that encourages, strengthens, and comforts?
Does the messenger walk in, and have a track record of humility?
Does this word line of with the written word of God?
Has this word been judged and confirmed by others?
True Prophets Must Be Humble
We have seen that Paul said that propheticwords would encourage, strengthen, and comfort.
The scriptures also teach that we are to be concerned with false teachers and those that
would spread lousy doctrine.
I have found that just by looking at a person’s humility level with discerning a lot about the
type of words that they will give.
If you take a close look at the life of Paul, you will see a progression of his humility becoming
deeper. He got older he went from thinking of himself as least of all the Apostles, to the point
He thought of himself as just a recipient of grace as the chief of all sinners.
The need for recognition and title’s diminished directly in proportion to his humility and
recognition of his need for grace.
Prophetic Words Must Line Up With The Bible
Any word of prophecy needs to line up with the revealed written word of God. God does not
contradict God.
If a person gives you a word of prophecy that contradicts the word of God, then they are not
speaking from the Spirit of God, but are speaking out of their soulish nature.
Spit these out as trash or lovingly bring correction to the one giving the word.
Prophetic Words Are To Be Tested

Finally, I believe that any prophetic word has to be judged. In 1 Corinthians 14:29 it says “Let
two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said.”
In 2002 I received three prophetic words concerning returning to ministry. They were given to
me over a 2-3 month period by three different people in three different churches, and none
of these people had met me before.
I took those words and then presented them to the people whom I hold in high regard
spiritually. They all felt that it was God and that I would be returning to ministry.
If you receive a prophetic word from somebody, I suggest you do the same thing. Let the
word be judged.
In my own church here in Pine Haven, if there is a prophetic word given, we stop and
evaluate the word and decide whether it is from God or not. This has brought a balance in our
church that when a propheticword is given, then it is taken seriously, and at the same time, it
has made those with the gift cautious in its use.
This has been a healthy thing in our congregation, and we don’t have any self-proclaimed
prophets running around wounding the sheep.
I know that I will probably get some flack about my stance and teaching concerning the gift of
prophecy.
That is ok.
I learned a long time ago to run the race before me, not to follow a movement. I hope and
pray that you will hear my heart and that you too will find the place of balance and integrity
when being used with the gift of prophecy."
Prophecy By: Michael Bradley
This is supernatural utterance in the native tongue. It is a miracle of divine utterance, not conceive
d by human thought or reasoning. It includes speaking unto men to edification, exhortation, and co
mfort. Can be connected together with a "wordof knowledge".

1 Corinthians 14:1‐6 Follow after charity,and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may proph
esy. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no m
an understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth spe
aketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown to
ngue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with
tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater [is] he that prophesieth than he that speaketh
with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receiveedifying. Now, brethren, if I come
unto youspeaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revel
ation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not withenticing words of man's wisdo
m, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
Acts 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, whichGod h
ath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
Acts 11:27‐28 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood
up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throug
hout all the world:which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Acts 21:10‐11 And as we tarried there many days, there came downfrom Judaea a certain proph
et, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul'sgirdle, and bound his own ha
nds and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that
owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spak
e [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.
1 Corinthians 14:14‐33 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understan
ding is unfruitful.
What is it then? I willpray with the spirit, and I will pray withthe understanding also: I will sing
with the spirit, and I will sing withthe understanding also. Else when thou shalt bless withthe
spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, see
ing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is
not edified. I thank my God, I speak withtongues more than yeall: Yetin the church I had rath
er speak fivewords with my understanding, that by my voiceI might teach others also, than ten th
ousand words in an unknowntongue. Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeitin m
alice be ye children, but in understanding be men. In the law it is written, With [men of]other t
ongues and other lips willI speak unto this people; and yet forall that will they not hear me, saith
the Lord. Wherefore tongues are fora sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe n
ot: but prophesying serveth not forthem that believe not, but for them whichbelieve. If therefo
re the whole churchbe come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come i
n those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy,

and there comein one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convincedof all, he is judged of a
ll: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will w
orship God, and report that God is in youof a truth.
How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of youhath a psalm, hath a doctrine,
hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If a
ny man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two,or at the most by three, and that by course; a
nd let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church;and let him
speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If a
nything be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophe
sy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are s
ubject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion,but of peace, as in all churches of
the saints.
The Gifts (Acts) of the Holy Spirit – (4) The Gift of Prophecy
February 11, 2019 by Share Life Ministries, posted in The Nine Gifts of the Holy Spirit
In this letter…The fourth Gift, The Gift of Prophecy within, Classification #2: The Gifts of Inspiration,
or the VocalGifts (4) The Giftof Prophecy – The main scripture text for this letter –
1 Corinthians 14:1-5 “Let love be your highest goal, but also desire the special abilities the Spirit
gives, especially the gift of prophecy. For if yourgift is the ability to speak in tongues (Or in
unknown language), you will be talking to God but not to people, since they won’t be able to
understand you.You willbe speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. But
one who prophesies is helping others grow in the Lord, encouraging and comforting them. A person
whospeaks in tongues is strengthened personally in the Lord, but one whospeaks a wordof
prophecy strengthens the entire church.I wish you all had the gift of speaking in tongues (Or in
unknown language), but even more I wish you were all able to prophesy. For prophecy is a greater
and more useful giftthan speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so
that the wholechurch can get some good out of it.” Also read these scriptures, 1 Corinthians 14:29-
33, 39.…to another prophecy.” 1 Corinthians 12:10 – prophecy in the New Testament translated in
the Greek means “divinely inspired and anointed utterance.”
The gift of prophecy is entirely supernatural. Speaking with other tongues is supernatural utterance
in other tongues. Prophecy is supernatural utterance in a known tongue. It is a manifestation of the
Spirit of God, not of the human mind. Through prophecy,God speaks to men through the organs of
men.
As stated in the last letter, when man was created and placed in the Garden of Eden, God conversed
with him directly. Sin broke the communion. There remains a deep longing in the human spirit for

direct communication with his Creator. This basic need of man is supplied in a measure through the
operation of the giftof prophecy as it is manifested in the New Testament church.
Let’s take a look at the various types of prophecy recorded in the Scriptures: In the Old Testament
days, one inquired of the Lord through a priest. In the present dispensation, all believers are part of
a royal priesthood, and may individually approach the Lord.
1 Peter 2:9-10 (NKJV) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own
special people, that youmay proclaim the praises of Him who called youout of darkness into His
marvelous light; whoonce were not a people but are now the people of God, whohad not obtained
mercy but now have obtained mercy.
The gift of prophecy must not be confusedwith the officeof prophet. Both the officesand the
spiritual manifestations as stated in:
Ephesians 4:8-12, are called “gifts,” but we must realize that the officesare the gift of Christ to the
church whilethe other is a gift of the Spirit to individual believers. The gift of prophecy,anointed
utterance, is generally distributed among all believers. But the officeof prophet is another thing
altogether.
It takes far more than a simple gift of prophecy to make a man a PROPHET.Thedifference is shown
in Acts 21:8-11. The revelation of things hidden from the natural understanding is given to the
PROPHET.Thereis no hint of any such revelation of prediction in connectionwith the “gift of
prophecy.”
In factas stated in:
1 Corinthians 14:3 (NKJV) the gift is limited to… edification and exhortation and comfortto men.
The officeof prophet includes the gift, of course, but the gift does not make a prophet in the larger
sense of the word.
The gift of prophecy is not to foretell (or predict), but simply to speak foranother. At times, in
prophesying some hidden truth may be revealed, this is the gift of knowledge operating along with
prophecy. An example of this is given in:
Luke 1:46-55. Here Mary while visiting her cousin begins to prophesy. Nearly everything she
speaks is directly from the Word itself. In verse 48, under the anointed revelation of the Spirit she
said: “fromhenceforth all generations shall call me blessed.” This was the wordof knowledge
operating within the giftof prophecy.
The gift of prophecy is not forpersonal guidance.
1 Cor. 14:3 But one whoprophesies is helping others grow in the Lord, encouraging and comforting
them.
In James 1:5, God says to:“ask for wisdom.” It is a mistake to seek unto anyone for personal
guidance through the gifts of the Spirit.

The gift of prophecy is not manifested in the ordinary teaching or preaching of the Word.For, the
gift is supernatural in character. In true, anointed, preaching, the natural mind is operated by the
Spirit. In essence, the preaching of a pastoral sermon requires careful preparation but one does not
prepare to deliver a message in prophecy, except to wait on the Lord for the anointing required for
its manifestation. In true prophecy the Mind of the Spirit is speaking through the human speech
organs. A minister may as the anointing increases, move from the ordinary preaching into the realm
of prophecy.
Paul’s Teachings on the Giftof Prophecy
It is forspeaking supernaturally to men. (1 Cor. 14:3-4)
It is to edify,to exhort (to encourage) and to comfortthe church. There are times when the spiritual
atmosphere of the services drop. A church can become so caught up in its organization, in political
events, in business, in social engagements, that it fails to notice the slow cooling off.At such a time
the word of prophecy may give a wordto awaken the people. An example of this would be the
words of Jesus to the Church at Ephesus:
Revelation 2:4-5 But I have this complaint against you. Youdon’t loveme or each other as you did
at first! Lookhow faryou have fallen from yourfirst love!Turn backto me again and workas you
did at first. If you don’t, I willcome and remove yourlampstand from its place among the churches.
When apostle Paul correctedthe churchit was not as a prophet, but as a teacher and instructor.
As stated in 2 Cor. 1:4, the gift of prophecy comfortsthe Christians going through tribulation and in
John 16:33 Jesus said: I have told youall this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you
will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcomethe world.” In other
words, a certain amount of tribulation and sorrow willbe in every Christians’ life… it has a
purifying effect.The Christian to be at his best, should not be overcomewith sorrow, but needs to
be comforted if he is to comfortothers.
The gift brings convictionto the sinner.
1 Corinthians 14:24-25 “But if all of youare prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t
understand these things come into yourmeeting, they will be convictedof sin, and they will be
condemned by what you say. As they listen, their secret thoughts will be laid bare, and they will fall
down on their knees and worship God, declaring, “
God is really here among you.” Yes…Prophecy blesses believers, but it convictsthe sinners. Often
prophecy willstrike home like an arrow and cause the sinner to feel that God is talking directly to
him. However,convictionis not conversion. In most cases, it takes the preaching of the Word as a
necessary follow-upto secure a decision for Christ.
The gift of prophecy,like all the other gifts, must be exercised in faith. Romans 12:6 God has given
each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak
out when you have faith that God is speaking through you.If Satan can destroy yourfaith he can
destroy your use of the gift.

Sources of Prophecy
The Holy Spirit –
1 Corinthians 12:4 Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who
is the source of them all.
EvilSpirits and Lying Spirits – Isaiah 8:19-20 So why are you trying to find out the future by
consulting mediums and psychics?Do not listen to their whisperings and mutterings. Can the living
find out the future fromthe dead? Why not ask yourGod? “
Check their predictions against my testimony,” says the LORD.“If their predictions are different
from mine, it is because there is no light or truth in them. (“familiar spirits”)
Here is an incident where God permitted a lying spirit to go into and speak through a false prophet
in order to deceive a wickedking.
1 Kings 22:22 “‘How will you do this?’ the LORD asked.” And the spirit replied, ‘I will go out and
inspire all Ahab’s prophets to speak lies.’ “‘You willsucceed,’ said the LORD. ‘Go ahead and do it.’
In Acts 16:17 we read of an evil spirit speaking through a girl.
Acts 16:17 She followedalong behind us shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God,
and they have cometo tell youhow to be saved.”
This is the reason the gift of discerning of spirits is necessary in the church. There is no fear and no
danger that anyone whohas a clean heart and whose life is under the blood of Jesus, can be
possessed be these wickedspirits.
The Human Spirit – not supernatural at all but the Bible speaks of the possible of prophesying out of
our own heart.
Jeremiah 23:16 This is my warning to my people,” says the LORD Almighty. “Do not listen to these
prophets when they prophesy to you, filling youwith futile hopes. They are making up everything
they say. They do not speak forthe LORD!
Ezekiel13:2-3 “Son of man, speak against the false prophets of Israel whoare inventing their own
prophecies. Tell them to listen to the wordof the LORD. This is what the Sovereign LORDsays:
Destruction is certain forthe false prophets who are followingtheir own imaginations and have
seen nothing at all!Yes, it is possible forsomeone to speak fromhis own heart, deceiving others and
sometimes even themselves, into thinking that their wordsare supernaturally anointed.
True, supernatural anointing by the Holy Spirit cannotbe mistaken, as stated by Jeremiah “And I
can’t stop! If I say I’ll never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like
a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am weary of holding it in!” (Jeremiah 20:9)

The holy spirit gift of prophecy

The holy spirit gift of prophecy

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Similar to The holy spirit gift of prophecy

Similar to The holy spirit gift of prophecy (20)

More from GLENN PEASE

More from GLENN PEASE (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

The holy spirit gift of prophecy