Prophecy involves speaking the mind of God under divine inspiration. Effective prophecy will be in line with scripture, glorify Jesus, edify and not divide, love sinners but hate sin, convict without condemnation, present God as the solution, not be controlling, stand the test of time, be tested, be a sign to unbelievers, exhort and comfort others, and be given according to the speaker's faith. Prophecy should build up the body of Christ.

1. Characteristics of Prophesying
Prophecy is the act of speaking out
the mind of God, under Divine
inspiration.

2. There are some rules if you will that
prophecy needs to attach to, here a few:
• Prophecy will:
• Be in accordance with scriptures.
• 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)
• 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful
for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness,

3. Prophecy will:
Give glory to Jesus, The Son of God.
• 1 John 4:1-3 (NIV)
• 4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test
the spirits to see whether they are from God,
because many false prophets have gone out into
the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the
Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that
Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from
God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge
Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the
antichrist, which you have heard is coming and
even now is already in the world.

4. Prophecy will: Edify, not destroy.
• Build the Body, make it whole; not causing
division or strife.
• Ephesians 4:11-12 (NIV)
• 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the
prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and
teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of
service, so that the body of Christ may be built
up

5. Prophecy will:
Love the Sinner but hate sin.
• John 8:3-11 (NIV)
• 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees
brought in a woman caught in adultery. They
made her stand before the group 4 and said to
Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act
of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to
stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They
were using this question as a trap, in order to
have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent
down and started to write on the ground with his
finger.

6. Prophecy will:
Love the Sinner but hate sin.
• 7 When they kept on questioning him, he
straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of
you who is without sin be the first to throw a
stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote
on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began
to go away one at a time, the older ones first,
until only Jesus was left, with the woman still
standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked
her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one
condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then
neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go
now and leave your life of sin.”

7. Prophecy will:
Convict, but not condemn.
• John 3:17 (NIV)
• 17 For God did not send his Son into the
world to condemn the world, but to save the
world through him.

8. Prophecy will: Present The Lord as a
solution, if faces a problem.
• Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)
• 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably
more than all we ask or imagine, according to
his power that is at work within us, 21 to him
be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations, for ever and ever!
Amen.

9. Prophecy will:
Not be controlling.
• 2 Timothy 2:24 (NIV)
• 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be
quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone,
able to teach, not resentful.

10. Prophecy will:
Stand the test of time.
• Deuteronomy 18:20-21 (NIV)
• 20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my
name anything I have not commanded, or a
prophet who speaks in the name of other
gods, is to be put to death.” 21 You may say to
yourselves, “How can we know when a
message has not been spoken by the LORD?”

11. Prophecy will:
Be tested.
• 1 Corinthians 14:29 (NIV)
• 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the
others should weigh carefully what is said.

12. Prophecy will:
Be a sign to the unbeliever.
• 1 Corinthians 14:24-25 (NIV)
• 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in
while everyone is prophesying, they are
convicted of sin and are brought under
judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their
hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and
worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among
you!”

13. Prophecy will:
Exhort. Invite the person to grow.
• 1 Corinthians 14:3 (NIV)
• 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people
for their strengthening, encouraging and
comfort.

14. Prophecy will:
Comfort. It consoles and encourages.
• 1 Corinthians 14:3 (NIV)
• 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people
for their strengthening, encouraging and
comfort.

15. Prophecy will: Be given in proportion
to the Speaker’s faith.
• Romans 12:6 (NIV)
• 6 We have different gifts, according to the
grace given to each of us. If your gift is
prophesying, then prophesy in accordance
with your faith;

16. • Will continue next Thursday.