Are you gifted as a Prophet?

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Has the Holy Spirit given you the ministry gift of Prophet? It is a gift to communicate God’s revealed truth.

 

IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

 

Romans 12:6. Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us PROPHESY according to the proportion of our faith.

The Greek word is προφητείαν (“prophēteian”).

 

1 Corinthians 12:10. and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages.

The Greek word is προφητεία (“prophēteia”).

 

1 Corinthians 12:28. God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.

prophets. The Greek word is προφήτας (“prophētas”).

 

1 Corinthians 13:2. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing.

I am nothing. If we are not motivated by love, the mighty gift of prophecy will be worth nothing.

 

1 Corinthians 13:8. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with.

prophecies … will be done away with. In the realm of eternity, there will be no need for the Gift of Prophecy.

 

1 Corinthians 14:1. Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

earnestly desire spiritual gifts. We should desire more and more spiritual gifts.

The fact that Paul urges us to desire more of them implies something. It implies that you can receive more and more gifts.

especially that you may prophesy. Of the many Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Paul favors the gift of prophet.

A prophet is an interpreter or a forth-teller of God’s will. They speak forth under inspiration from God, and tell us the mind of God for a particular situation. Many of the Old Testament prophets exhibited this gift.

The word “prophet” can also mean a person who is gifted at expositing divine truth.

 

Ephesians 4:11. He gave some to be apostles; and some, PROPHETS; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers.

The Greek word is προφήτας (“prophētas”).

 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

 

All those Greek words for Prophet are about the gift of communicating revealed truth. A Prophet communicates God’s revealed truth.

That makes the gift of Prophet especially useful for the ministries of Evangelism, Discipleship, Apologetics, Ecumenism, and Interreligious Dialogue. If you don’t have the Gift of Prophet, you can still do those ministries. The Gift simply makes you more effective.

 

FOUR TYPES OF PROPHETS

1. Evangelizing. When we speak of Jesus Christ with non-Christians, we are acting as a prophet of Jesus Christ.

2. Preaching. When a minister speaks of Jesus Christ before the assembly, that’s another type of prophecy: Jesus is spoken of, clearly and convincingly, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Divine truth is being exposited.

3. Seeing. A prophet experiences inspiration and speaks with conviction about the mind of God for a particular situation. Think of the Old Testament prophets. Recall the person who humbly told you the will of God for your situation.

4. Forth-telling. A prophet experiences inspiration and speaks with conviction about the future. And it turns out that they were correct. Think of the Old Testament prophets.

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Do you have a passion for communicating with others about Jesus Christ and the Bible? Are you able to explain divine revelation? Have you ever interpreted God’s will for someone else, or forth-told a the future event?

If so, you may well have this gift!

Now it is time to try it out »

 

NOTES

Is the Holy Spirit in your life?

How does a prophet know whether a message is truly from God or just from themselves? Here are the most popular theories »

Sirach 44:3. Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, And were men renowned for their power, Giving counsel by their understanding, Such as have brought tidings in prophecies:

Isaiah 6:9. He said, “Go, and tell this people, ‘You hear indeed, but don’t understand. You see indeed, but don’t perceive.’

Lamentations 2:9. Her gates have sunk into the ground. He has destroyed and broken her bars. Her king and her princes are among the nations where the law is not. Yes, her prophets find no vision from the LORD.

 


Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.