WHAT IS PROPHECY?

Simply expressed, prophecy can be defined as hearing the voice of God and speaking what He says. This gift is commonly experienced in two ways through seeing words or pictures or through hearing/sensing words and scriptures.

As we exercise the gift of prophecy, it is for the purpose of edification, exhortation and comfort as recorded in 1 Corinthians 12:10, 14:3 which states…

He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. …the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging, and comfort.

Not everyone who prophesies is a prophet as defined in the five-fold ministry; however, scripture reveals that we can all prophesy (1 Cor. 14:1, 31). Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives--especially the ability to prophesy. In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged.

Prophetic ministry is a ministry that is done through the use of prophetic gifts. It is speaking God’s mind and heart to edify, encourage, and exhort both believers and unbelievers--- for strengthening, encouraging, and comforting; for building up, stirring up, and cheering up. It is to hear from God and then speak what we hear so that we might all understand the things freely given to us by God. (1 Corinthians 2:9-16).