But who are God’s prophets today? And what does men shall dream dreams.

prophesying have to do with being a Christian? And on my menservants

[men] and on My
In a letter that the apostle Paul wrote to Christians at Corinth, maidservants [women] I will
pour out My Spirit in those
Who Should after emphasizing to them the all important role of love and
how spiritual gifts can be made more effective through it (I days and they shall
PROPHESY." Acts 2:17-
Corinthians 12 and 13), he brought them back to the basics 2:17-18
of why we need spiritual gifts from God. He wrote:

Prophesy?
Here we can learn that prophesying was a phenomenon that
"Pursue love, and desire accompanied the giving of the Holy Spirit and is very much
spiritual gifts, but specially a sign of God’s people. Those who heard the words of
that you may prophesy." apostle Peter obviously understood his meaning and saw its
fulfillment or they wouldn’t have believed him and be
I Corinthians 14:1 baptized on that very same day. The record says three
thousand people were immediately added to the church (Acts
2:41) and daring feats were made by them as we can read in
In verse 31, Paul says that all of us can actually prophesy. succeeding verses and chapters of the book of Acts.
He wrote:
In a letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul noted that
"For you can ALL prophesy one by one, that all may be prophets and prophesying are part of a five-fold ministry that
encouraged." God equips His church:

Later in the same chapter, in verse 39 he again emphasized "And He Himself gave some
and wrote down, "Therefore, brethren, DESIRE earnestly to to be apostles, some
prophesy…" In the authorized version (KJV) it reads, "Covet prophets, some evangelists,
to prophesy." and some pastors and
teachers for the equipping of
How should one recognize a “prophet from God” today? Will What did Paul mean by the above verses, specifically pointing the saints for the work of
we be able to recognize him? What is this thing called out that we must all "covet" or "desire earnestly" to ministry, for the edifying of
“prophecy” or “prophesying”? Should Christians prophesy prophesy? Is there something in prophesying that, like the the body of Christ,…"
today? early Christians at Corinth, we still do not understand? Ephesians 4:11-
4:11-12

Let’s have some background. Hence, the church is built on these foundations as Paul
affirmed earlier (Ephesians 2: 20-22).
In the book of Acts during the day of Pentecost, the apostle
When we think of a prophet and prophecy, we normally
Peter declared before thousands of gatherings, the following As Paul also explained in I Corinthians 12, prophecy is one
associate the words with the great prophets of old in the
words (quoting the prophecies of Joel): of the nine gifts (or manifestations) that the Holy Spirit gave
Bible. We think of rough, mountain men like Elijah and John
the Baptist. We recall the vivid and very colorful prophecies to every believer:
of Daniel and Ezekiel. We learn from the Bible that God "And it shall come to pass
actually raised up a prophet from the royal line who was in the last days, says God, "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one…
educated, and who would use his literary talents to write that I will pour out of My
prophecies, like Isaiah. And, God even chose a prophet while Spirit on all flesh; Your sons the word of WISDOM…word
he was still in his mother’s womb, like the prophet Jeremiah. and your daughters shall of
prophesy, Your young men KNOWLEDGE…FAITH…gift
shall see vision; your old
 s of HEALING…workings of
MIRACLES…PROPHECY…
DISCERNING of
Spirits…different kinds of
TONGUES…INTERPRETATI
ON of tongues.
I Corinthians 12:7-
12:7-11
But the question now is: Can we all receive the same gifts?
Can one man take to himself an inventory of these gifts and
use them as he wills?
In concluding the same chapter, Paul asked the question: "Are
all apostles? Are all prophets?… Do all have gifts of
healings? Do all speak with tongues?" (I Cor. 12:29-30) The
implication of his questions was that all these gifts are not
for one man or woman alone but that these gifts are given in
different measures so all will profit and learn from one
another so that the whole body (Church) will be edified
(12:26). These are enabling gifts not for the individual but for
the church. But then he says that we should "earnestly desire
the best gifts." What did he mean?
In I Corinthians 13, Paul gave us the proper motivation for
gifts to be exercised properly—and to the fullest. Contrary to
what some believe that Paul talked about the "greatest gift" in
this chapter and by that, they mean love, Paul actually viewed
love (Gk: agape) as "the fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22;
Ephesians 5:9) which is present and must grow in each
individual and without it, spiritual gifts would be
misdirected—thus, would amount to nothing (I Cor. 13:1-10).
In earnestly desiring the best gift Paul showed them "a more
excellent way" which is the exercise of spiritual gift through
love. Consequently, love should be the stirring factor in all
spiritual gifts. And, Paul’s emphasis should be viewed in the
light of what he said in chapter fourteen, when he asserted,
"Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but specially that you
may PROPHESY."
So, why? What does that mean?
First, notice what he said in that same chapter:
"For we know in part and we prophesy in part." But how is this done? How can one prophesy? Paul’s answers
to these can be found in the immediate verse of I Corinthian
I Corinthians 13:8 14, he wrote:
Prophesying therefore is something that is present in us. We "But he who prophesies
all have it, it is part of God’s earnest upon receiving the speaks edification, and
Holy Spirit. Just like the disciples in Acts 2, they were given exhortation and comfort to
utterances and prophesied as they were filled with the Holy men." Verse 3.3
Spirit. Each one who receives the Holy Spirit have that spirit
of prophecy. And, what is this "spirit of prophecy"? Thus, this is the emphasis of Paul. To prophesy is to be able
to exhort and give comfort for "he who prophesies edifies the
Let us read from what the apostle John heard and recorded: church" (verse 4). As he continues:
"And I [John] fell at his "How it is then brethren?
[angel] feet to worship him. Whenever you come together,
But he said to me, ‘See that each one of you has a
you do not do that! I am psalm, has a teaching, has a
your fellow servant, and of tongue, has a revelation, has
your brethren who have the an interpretation. Let all
testimony of Jesus. Worship thing be done for
God! For the testimony of edification…For you can all
Jesus is the spirit of prophesy one by one, that all
prophecy.’" Revelation 19:10 may be encouraged." I
Corinthians 26, 31
So, something must by clear by now in what Paul is trying
to explain. Revelation 19:10 says, that the SPIRIT of Contrary to what some people believe that prophesying always
prophecy is the "TESTIMONY of Jesus Christ." To have the refers to foretelling or forecasting of future events, the
testimony [Gk: martureo from which the word ‘martyr’ was meaning refers to a witnessing testimony of God’s words and
derived] means to bear witness or have a witnessing evidence of His Son, or forth telling (or declaring of something ‘from
or proof of His Words (Psalm 19:7; John 21:24). This is what this day onward’).
Paul meant when he wrote early on to the Corinthian brethren
that, "…you were enriched in everything by Him in all The spirit of prophecy is God’s testimony of what He and
utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ His Son are doing and will be accomplishing in our lives.
was confirmed in you so that you come short in no gift…" (I And we are duty bound to make this testimony known to
Cor. 1:5-7). Again, he said, "I…did not come with excellence others (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47-48). We
of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of are to bear witness and our lives should be a testimony to
God." (I Cor. 2:1) This comment is interesting in the light of that.
what he said in I Corinthians 13:8 and 14:1. Every Christian
who has the testimony of Jesus Christ has the spirit of Notice how the apostle John understood and used the
prophecy. Though we can’t all be prophets (i.e, "office" of testimony that he heard:
the Prophet) but because we have the testimony of Jesus
Christ, we can prophesy "in part", said Paul. "He who believes in the Son
of God has a witness in
himself; he who does not
 believe God has made
himself a liar, because he
has not believed the
testimony that God has given
to His Son. And this is the
testimony: that God has given
us eternal life, and this life
is in His Son." I John 5:10-
5:10-
11
Prophesying is therefore something that can be despised or This call is for every Christian today and as believers we can
frowned at. It can be quenched, suppressed and even all edify, exhort and give comfort to one another.
neglected through non-use. This also holds true in quenching
the gift of someone who is trying very hard to do something
and accomplish a great service to God. We shouldn’t "throw
cold water" on these people! It is important that it should
Distributed by:
prophesying be shown, expressed and encouraged in the
church. The church in turn should validate prophecies for
proper edification (I Cor. 14:29,32).

The spirit of prophesying as Paul used the word refers to: In the same analogy Paul wrote to Timothy and says:
Edification (Rom.14:19;15:2, I Thes.5:11), Exhortation (I Tim.
Mustard Seed Evangelistic Work (MSEW)
4:13; Titus 1:9;,15; Heb.3:13) and to be able to give Comfort "Let no one despise your Raul Hipe
(I Thes.4:18; Eph.6:22). youth, but be example to the For Inquiries and Free Additional Literature
believers in word…Do not
e-mail: mseedwork@yahoo.com
Studying further, the word ‘prophet’ and ‘prophesy’ were neglect the gift that is in
derived from the original Hebrew word "naba" (Strong’s you, which was given to you
5012) which means to bubble or pour forth words, to flow, to by prophecy with laying on
gush; "i.e. to prophesy, speak (or sing) by inspiration". of hands of the eldership.
Anyone therefore who ‘bubbles forth’ the words of God—or Meditate on these things;
speaks, sing songs/hymns, exhorts—prophesies (doing the give yourself entirely to
spirit/work of a prophet) in the original sense of the word. them, that your progress may
The word "prophetes" -which is a classical Greek word, be evident to all. Take heed
means in the New Testament one who speaks for another, an to yourself and to the
‘interpreter’; an inspired speaker. doctrine. Continue in them,
for in doing this you will
Anyone who has God’s Holy Spirit dwelling in him can save yourself and those who
interpret, speak with inspiration, sings, exhort, witness, and hear you." I Timothy 4:12-
4:12-16
can make testimony for God. This is not just the role of the
teachers, pastors, evangelists, and even prophets. Christians are Prophesying, as for all other gifts of God, should be prayed
called to be "Ambassadors for Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:20) for, nourished, and, for it to be evident, should be used and
and as ambassadors we have the God given rights and exercised.
enabling Spirit to speak in behalf of the One we represent.
The New Testament is replete with these examples, of Finally, as Paul wrote:
‘ordinary’ people—not appointed to the office, i.e. apostle,
prophet—who made exploits for God and preached the Gospel "Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy…" I
(Acts 6:4-7;8:5-6;26-40;18;26;21:9). Corinthians 14:39

On the other hand, Paul wrote in Thessalonians: To desire means that we must cultivate our want to prophesy.
It means to be "zealous for"—literally, to be a zealot. To
"Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies." I minister effectively in the gift of prophecy all of us should
Thessalonians 5:19
5:19-20 have that burning desire in us. And as he added, we must
"follow the way of love (NIV)" for we can "ALL prophesy
one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged."