I. THE GIFT OF PROPHECY

 A. WHAT IT IS NOT

  1. NOT FORTUNE TELLING

Several years ago a book was written about Jeanne Dixon entitled, "THE GIFT OF PROPHECY."  It claimed that her supposed ability to tell the future was the gift of prophecy.  Anyone who has followed her predictions knows that she is more apt to be wrong than right. However, even if she could have accurately fortold the future 100% of the time, this would still not be any reason to follow her according to Deut.13:1-4. One of  the accusations which the Lord brought against the evil King Mannaseh was that he used fortune tellers.  2 Ki 21:6 says concerning Mannaseh: "...He practiced black magic and used fortune-telling, and patronized mediums and wizards. So the Lord was very angry..." (TLB)  Then there were false prophets or supposed fortune tellers in Jeremiah's day.  God said concerning them:
8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.
9 For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the LORD," (Jer 29:8-9) (NKJ).

Pastor John MacArthur (a popular preacher on many radio stations) claims that the gift of prophecy is merely the gift of being able to preach the gospel.  However, to preach means to proclaim, to announce, to cry to tell.  Prophecy is not simple oratorical ability.  Many politicians, lawyers, and teachers have oratorical ability even though they have never received the Holy Spirit.  There is nothing supernatural about oratorical ability. Oratorical ability can come through education and training, but prophecy only comes through the Holy Ghost.  Prophecy is a supernatural gift, whereas oratorical ability is a natural gift at best.

Scripture quotes may be a part of prophecy but the gift of prophecy should not be confused with the natural ability some people have to remember and quote Scripture.  Even the devil can quote Scriptures.

At some charismatic prayer meetings they practice a routine of going around laying hands on everyone and then saying whatever comes to mind.  They have been taught that this is the gift of prophecy.  From what I have seen of this, I would say it is more along the lines of empty hands on empty heads. It is not the Holy Spirit's gift of prophecy.  At one of these meetings, a certain woman was told that her husband was running around on her.  The rest of the group was so sure about this that they even conjectured who he was running around with.  When the angry wife went home and confronted her husband concerning this supposed sin in his life, it almost destroyed their marriage.  He was totally innocent, but it took a great deal of prayer, counsel, and explanation to convince his wife of his innocence.  At another such meeting, a woman was told that her mother was going to die, but she hasn't died yet.  They "prophesy" a lot of things which never come true at such meetings, and often people are hurt emotionally and spiritually.  It is not the Biblical gift of prophecy.

1Thes 5:20 "Despise not prophesyings." (KJV)

  1. DEFINITION

Prophecy is a vocal miracle of speech in one's own language.  It is speaking under the inspiration of God for "edification, exhortation, and comfort."  The Hebrew word for "prophecy" means "to flow forth or to spring forth."  It also carries the thought of bubbling forth like a fountain, or to tumble forth." The Greek word for "prophecy" means to "speak for another."  It means to be the spokesman for someone else.  Literally it means to speak for God or to be His mouthpiece.

Sometimes there is an element of prophecy in preaching when one is anointed by the Spirit and is inspired to say things which come from the spirit rather than just from the mind, but that is only one of many ways in which prophecy is expressed.  Sometimes a Spirit-filled believer may be witnessing to someone when the Lord suddenly anoints the witness to say things which he or she didn't plan on saying. They are inspired by the Holy Spirit to say it, and it causes the person to break or to repent.  That is another way the gift of prophecy is applied in our Christian walk.  Prophesy always exalts Jesus as the only Savior of men (Rev 19:10).  It is for women as well as for men (1Cor 11; Acts 2:15-16).  It is to be "desired" (1Cor 14:1).  It always agrees with God's Word.

1 Cor 14:3 "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." (KJV)

            To prophecy is to speak for God as His mouthpiece. It is probably better to speak in the
            second or third person when one prophecies so that it can be more easily judged by those
            who are sitting by (1Cor 14:29).  It is also preferable that the person who prophecies
            should stand up in reverance to God when he or she is prophesying.  Prophecy is for
            women as well as men according to the Scriptures.  It is for all spirit-filled believers
            (1Cor 11, Acts 2:15-16, Joel 2, Luke 1, 1Cor 14:1,24,31).

 C. BIBLE EXAMPLES

  1. OLD TESTAMENT EXAMPLES

            The Spirit of God came upon Eldad and Medad in Numbers 11 and they prophesied
            Numbers 11:25-29
            25  And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit
            that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when
            the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
            26  But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and
            the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that
            were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp.
            27  And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy
            in the camp.
            28  And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered
            and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.
            29  And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S
            people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!

            The Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul (who was later to become king) and he prophesied
            while he was still just a farm boy. 1 Sam 10:9-11
            9  And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him
            another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
            10  And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and
            the spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
            11  And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he
            prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that
            is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?

            Moses was a prophet, King David was also a prophet, there were numerous prophets
            in the Old Testament, there were so many that there is not room enough here to list all
            of them and their deeds.  Elijah and Elisha were powerful prophets of God who did
            mighty exploits for Him.  Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel were all prophets of God
            who wrote the books which bear their names.  Then there were also 12 minor prophets
            who's writings make up the last 12 books of the O.T. from Hosea to Malachi.

  2. NEW TESTAMENT EXAMPLES
 
            This is not an exhaustive list of New Testament examples of prophecy.  I am merely
            pointing out a few which show the prevalence of this gift in the New Testament church.

            After Paul preached Jesus unto some former disciples of John the Baptist, they were
            water baptized.  Then Paul laid hands on them and they began to speak in tonuges and
            prophesy. Acts 19:4-6
            4  Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the
            people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ
            Jesus.
            5  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
            6  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they
            spake with tongues, and prophesied.

            Philip had four daughters who prophesied. Acts 21:8-9
            8  And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea:
            and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and
            abode with him.
            9  And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

            It seems that none of the above mentioned prophesies were foretelling the future, but they
            all magnified the Lord and comforted the people of God.