Prophecy is declaring the purpose of God. The prophetic has three levels – the spirit of prophecy, the gift of prophecy, and the prophet’s ministry. It is usual for a person to start by moving by the spirit of prophecy, producing a hunger for the gift of prophecy.
Spirit of Prophecy – Entrance to the Gift of Prophecy
Any one May Prophesy
The spirit of prophecy is when the Holy Spirit comes upon a person, and they can prophesy. If they can prophesy the word of the Lord regularly without striving, then the gift of prophecy is upon them. On the first Pentecost, Peter quotes Joel:
ACTS 2:17-18 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 YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS AND ON MY MENSERVANTS AND ON MY MAIDSERVANTS I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT IN THOSE DAYS; AND THEY SHALL PROPHESY.
This scripture exemplifies the spirit of prophecy poured out upon anyone who desires it. We see that there is no limit on people’s ability to prophesy when the Holy Spirit comes upon them. Anyone who has received Holy Spirit baptism can prophesy. In the same way, anyone receiving Holy Spirit baptism can speak in a personal prayer language. When Paul lays hands on new believers, baptizing them in the Holy Spirit, they were immediately able to prophesy:
ACTS 19:6 AND WHEN PAUL HAD LAID HANDS ON THEM, THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME UPON THEM, AND THEY SPOKE WITH TONGUES AND PROPHESIED.
We see that Paul was a prophet in this passage, so it was easy for those present to prophesy.
Presence of a Prophet.
Another reason people can easily prophesy is when a prophet is present; their mantle provides a covering for those who accept and respect the mantle. A mantel is the Old Testament symbolic word for the anointing; as we see with Elijah and Elisha:
2 KINGS 2:8 NOW ELIJAH TOOK HIS MANTLE, ROLLED IT UP, AND STRUCK THE WATER; AND IT WAS DIVIDED THIS WAY AND THAT, SO THAT THE TWO OF THEM CROSSED OVER ON DRY GROUND.
The whirlwind takes Elijah up to heaven, so Elisha takes up the mantle, the prophetic anointing, and uses it in the same manner:
2 KINGS 2:13-14 HE ALSO TOOK UP THE MANTLE OF ELIJAH THAT HAD FALLEN FROM HIM, AND WENT BACK AND STOOD BY THE BANK OF THE JORDAN. THEN HE TOOK THE MANTLE OF ELIJAH THAT HAD FALLEN FROM HIM, AND STRUCK THE WATER, AND SAID, “WHERE IS THE LORD GOD OF ELIJAH?” AND WHEN HE ALSO HAD STRUCK THE WATER, IT WAS DIVIDED THIS WAY AND THAT; AND ELISHA CROSSED OVER.
Paul the Prophet
Paul, still at this point called Saul, is considered a prophet in Acts 13.
ACTS 13:1 NOW IN THE CHURCH THAT WAS AT ANTIOCH THERE WERE CERTAIN PROPHETS AND TEACHERS: BARNABAS, SIMEON WHO WAS CALLED NIGER, LUCIUS OF CYRENE, MANAEN WHO HAD BEEN BROUGHT UP WITH HEROD THE TETRARCH, AND SAUL.
Paul was a prophet and an apostle. Throughout the book of Acts, we see him operate in both gifts. Paul’s prophetic gift enabled him to foretell the shipwreck accurately:
ACTS 27:34 THEREFORE I URGE YOU TO TAKE NOURISHMENT, FOR THIS IS FOR YOUR SURVIVAL, SINCE NOT A HAIR WILL FALL FROM THE HEAD OF ANY OF YOU.”
So as a prophet, Paul was able to train people who were learning to prophesy. Those under his ministry could prophesy freely when in the presence of Paul. In the Old Testament, we see this happen with King Saul, the first king of Israel when he was in the company of the prophets:
1 SAMUEL 10:10-11 WHEN THEY CAME THERE TO THE HILL, THERE WAS A GROUP OF PROPHETS TO MEET HIM; THEN THE SPIRIT OF GOD CAME UPON HIM, AND HE PROPHESIED AMONG THEM. AND IT HAPPENED, WHEN ALL WHO KNEW HIM FORMERLY SAW THAT HE INDEED PROPHESIED AMONG THE PROPHETS, THAT THE PEOPLE SAID TO ONE ANOTHER, “WHAT IS THIS THAT HAS COME UPON THE SON OF KISH? IS SAUL ALSO AMONG THE PROPHETS?”
Testimony of Jesus
The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus:
REVELATION 19:10 AND I FELL AT HIS FEET TO WORSHIP HIM. BUT HE SAID TO ME, “SEE THAT YOU DO NOT DO THAT! I AM YOUR FELLOW SERVANT, AND OF YOUR BRETHREN WHO HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS. WORSHIP GOD! FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY.”
The Spirit of Prophecy will Glorify Jesus and Point People to Jesus. Prophesying lifts the faith level of the person to see Jesus’ work in their lives.
As we speak of how God has provided for us miraculously, the Holy Spirit is present in the room to release the same anointing and power for miracles. Once this happens, the faith level of the hearer grows. The hearer then spontaneously prays for the same miracle for their own needs.
For example, when we testify that we prayed for an infertile couple to have a child, and it comes to pass, it lifts the faith level of couples who need the same miracle. We can then easily pray for that miracle to happen again.
Now that we have looked at the spirit of prophecy, we can look at the next level, the gift of prophecy.
The Gift is a Grace
There is Nothing you can do to Earn it. The word for a gift in Greek is Charis, which means grace and gift.
A gift is a gift; there is nothing you can do to earn a gift.
Because it is a Gift, you can Operate it at Any Time
Presbytery is where a prophet’s gift is evident by prophesying over each person.
It does not require another Prophet’s Presence (or covering). Because it is a gift given by the Holy Spirit, a Prophet (we will see that the prophet’s ministry is a gift of Christ) does not need to be present for a person to operate in the gift.
It Comes from the Holy Spirit
When we look at the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to the church, we find that the gift of prophecy is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10 TO ANOTHER FAITH BY THE SAME SPIRIT, TO ANOTHER GIFTS OF HEALINGS BY THE SAME SPIRIT, 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.
Purpose of the Gift of Prophecy
The gift of prophecy is for building up the church.
1 CORINTHIANS 14:3 BUT HE WHO PROPHESIES SPEAKS EDIFICATION AND EXHORTATION AND COMFORT TO MEN
Coupled with Love
Paul encourages us to pursue love and especially desire the gift of prophecy more than any other gift of the Holy Spirit.
1 CORINTHIANS 14:1 PURSUE LOVE, AND DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS, BUT ESPECIALLY THAT YOU MAY PROPHESY.
Paul couples love ( a fruit of the spirit) with the gift of prophecy. There is a good reason for this combination. Without love, the truth of the insightful prophetic word spoken over a person may be too overwhelming for them to bear. Especially if the prophetic word is a correction, bringing conviction.
We cannot drive a ten-ton truck of truth over a plywood bridge of love.
Desiring the Gift of Prophecy
Many people could have the gift of prophecy if they were hungry enough.
The fear of man and timidity sometimes binds people. Neither of these is of the Father’s heart. He is looking for boldness and wisdom in a person so they may be effective in prophesying.
1 CORINTHIANS 14:1 PURSUE LOVE, AND DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS, BUT ESPECIALLY THAT YOU MAY PROPHESY.
Laying on of Hands
The gift of prophecy may or may not come by the laying on of hands.
The Gift of Prophecy coming through the Laying on of Hands
2 TIMOTHY 1:6 THEREFORE I REMIND YOU TO STIR UP THE GIFT OF GOD WHICH IS IN YOU THROUGH THE LAYING ON OF MY HANDS.
The Prophetic Gift May come Sovereignly.
The gift of prophecy comes from the Holy Spirit as a grace. It comes upon anyone who earnestly desires it. The purpose is to encourage the church. It must operate through the fruit of the spirit – love. It may come by laying on of hands or sovereignly as God wills.