The spiritual gift of the prophet is the deliverance of God’s will to the Body of Christ through the Holy Spirit. The prophet must bring to life the truth in himself and in others. As a bellwether of right and wrong, the prophet will go to great lengths to communicate and illustrate that purpose, even to the detriment of his/her own situation. The prophet is an encourager with a very strong desire to push the Body in the right direction that God has set forth.
But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort.” (1 Corinthians 14:3 NIV)
“[Prophecy] did not unravel the future for man’s gaze, but it revealed the will of God for man’s present duty.” (Laurin, 210)
The word “Prophet” derives from the Greek word meaning “Public Expounder”. (Graham, 176)
Do not confuse the gift of prophecy with other gifts such as teacher and pastor. Those with the gift of prophecy are decision makers, acting quickly, with little patience or inclination to have lengthy discussions or lessons on matters. They do not lecture or instruct but instead are direct, bold, and anxious to get their point across which they deeply feel comes from God. This must be done with love and humility, however, or the gift could be misused or perceived as self-serving.
A Sign for Believers
The gift of prophecy is a sign for believers and means nothing to those that are outside of the Body. Someone claiming to be a prophet that is not using the gift within the Body of Christ should be discerned with a great deal of caution. The Bible warns on numerous occasions that false prophets are in the world. A person with this gift will live by example, allowing the truths of God to control his own life. If this key attribute is missing from someone who claims to have the gift then they are a false prophet.
Martin Luther on the Spiritual Gift of Prophet
Martin Luther had a complex view on the spiritual gift of prophecy. On the one hand, he affirmed the biblical teaching that God continues to speak through his people, including through prophetic messages. On the other hand, he was skeptical of claims of prophecy that went beyond the clear teaching of Scripture.
Luther believed that the gift of prophecy was primarily concerned with the preaching of God’s word and the proclamation of the gospel. He emphasized the importance of faithful preaching and teaching, and believed that God could use prophets to communicate his message to the church and to the world.
However, Luther was also wary of those who claimed to receive direct revelation from God that contradicted or added to the teachings of Scripture. He believed that such claims were often the result of spiritual pride or deception, and that they could lead people away from the truth of the gospel.
Overall, Luther saw the gift of prophecy as an important aspect of the life of the church, but he emphasized the need for it to be exercised in accordance with the clear teaching of Scripture and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
John Wesley on the Spiritual Gift of Prophet
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, believed in the spiritual gift of prophecy. He understood prophecy as a gift of the Holy Spirit that enabled believers to speak forth a message from God for the edification, encouragement, and exhortation of the Church.
Wesley believed that the gift of prophecy was not limited to predicting future events or foretelling the end times, but was primarily concerned with proclaiming God’s truth and will in the present moment. He saw prophets as individuals who were called to speak truth to power, to challenge the status quo, and to call the Church back to its foundational values.
Wesley also believed that the gift of prophecy was not limited to a select few individuals, but could be manifested in various ways among the faithful. He encouraged believers to cultivate a spirit of discernment, to test all things according to the Scriptures, and to listen to the prophetic voices within the Church.
However, Wesley also cautioned that the gift of prophecy should be exercised with humility, accountability, and love. He warned against the dangers of false prophets, who would use their gift for personal gain or to promote their own agendas, and emphasized the importance of submitting to the authority of Scripture and the Church’s leaders.
The Catholic Church on the Spiritual Gift of Prophet
The Catholic Church also recognizes the spiritual gift of prophecy, but with some distinctions from the Protestant understanding of the term.
In Catholic theology, prophecy is understood primarily as a gift of the Holy Spirit that enables believers to discern and communicate God’s message for the benefit of the Church. This message may involve a call to repentance, a warning of impending judgment, an exhortation to faithfulness, or a proclamation of God’s mercy and love.
However, Catholic theology emphasizes that the gift of prophecy must be exercised in communion with the Church’s teaching authority and tradition. This means that prophetic messages should not contradict the doctrines or moral teachings of the Church, but should be in harmony with them and submitted to them.
In addition, the Catholic Church recognizes that the gift of prophecy can be manifested in various ways, such as in preaching, teaching, counseling, or personal witness. However, it also emphasizes the importance of discernment in distinguishing between true and false prophets, and of accountability to the Church’s leaders in exercising the gift of prophecy.
People with this Gift:
- Present God’s truths through careful study
- Understand the Word of God and apply it with extraordinary depth of understanding for the benefit of the body
- God does not reveal new doctrine through those with this gift, but He does reveal direction and guidance
- Provides clarity to situations and relation to God’s will in order to build up the body
- Bold and direct speech; persuasive in their arguments
- More concerned about the “right and wrong” of a situation than anything else
- Fear of God should he or she not speak up when prompted to do so by the Holy Spirit
Bible References
| Bible Reference | Notes |
| Matthew 13:11-15 | Knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you |
| Acts 15:22-35 | Judas and Silas go to Antioch and encourage the church there |
| Acts 21:9-14 | Prophet Agabus warns Paul |
| Romans 12:6 | Paul mentions the gift of prophecy |
| 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28 | Paul mentions the gift of prophecy |
| 1 Corinthians 13:2, 8-12 | Gift of prophecy without love means nothing |
| 1 Corinthians 14 | Paul’s discussion on prophecy |
| Ephesians 4:11-13 | Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 | Do not treat prophecies with contempt |
| 2 Peter 1:20-21 | No prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things |
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- Zondervan, 1174
- Stanley, 20-28
- Graham, 176-180
- Wesley, 569
- Laurin, 209-210
- Bryant, 131-134
Other Greater Gifts
- Spiritual Gift of Apostle
- Spiritual Gift of Evangelist
- Spiritual Gift of Shepherd/Pastor
- Spiritual Gift of Teacher
