THE GIFT OF PROPHECY:
I Corinthians 12:7-11 NKJV
[7] But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: [8] for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, [10] to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. [11] But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
The gift of prophecy is the supernatural ability, utterance, given to a Spirit filled Believer to deliver divine messages in a known language, to the people present. This gift, especially, releases the manifestation of God’s presence to shift and change the atmosphere of meetings, positively. This gift often acts as a channel for all the other gifts to flow through. That is one can prophecy a word of knowledge or word of wisdom, for example.
The purposes of New Testament Prophecy are edification, exhortation, and comfort of the Believers (1 Corinthians 14:3) and for the conviction and convincing of non-believers (1 Corinthians 14:24-25). It also stirs up the people present to learn to open their spirits to hear God’s voice and step up in their faith to activate and move in their spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:31).
It is important that we notice these purposes of the gift of prophecy that limits and differentiates the use of this gift through a Believer from that of the ministry of a Prophet. The ministry of the Prophet is more revealing, directional, instructive, and more authoritative than the simple gift of prophecy. Many have erred into assuming the office of a Prophet when they only have this simple gift of prophecy and a few other gifts flowing through their lives. One needs to be called and appointed by God to become a Prophet (Acts 13:1-3).
Do you want to be used greatly by God to edify, exhort, and comfort the church? Pursue love and desire to prophesy! This is one gift that we can all have as Spirit filled Believers in Christ. We can be used by God to release the manifest presence of God in our meetings, and release faith to empower us to step out into powerful ministry to others and to one another.