A Word About Prophecy
Let me begin by saying that a person who prophesies is not necessarily a prophet. It could be said this way: the gift of prophecy (listed in 1 Corinthians 12) is not limited to, or manifested through the prophetic ministry only.
The gift of prophecy we’re talking about here could be defined simply as a divinely inspired utterance; something spoken, written or played musically while under the inspiration of, or influenced by the Holy Spirit to do so. Peter said that scripture came by this gift: “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21). I think this verse is pretty self explanatory. So we see that scripture came as these men of God were “moved by” (or influenced by) the Holy Spirit.
Another way this truth is brought out can be found in 2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture (is) given by inspiration of God…” It could be said that God used the vehicle of prophecy to get His mind, will and purpose over to His beloved creation: man. He did so through man as they were inspired, or influenced, by His Holy Spirit to speak or to write.
We find in the New Testament that this gift or vehicle has a much broader scope of use and is available to all who have received the gift of the Holy Spirit as spelled out in the book of Acts: “..Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit…And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied” (2:38 and 19:6) and 1 Corinthians 14: “Pursue love, and desire spiritual (gifts), but especially that you may prophesy…I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied” (verses 1 and 5).
Why would Paul, writing by the influence of the Holy Spirit, say these things about this gift of prophecy? Because “he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men” (verse 3). So we see that this gift will edify, exhort and comfort mankind. This thought is further expounded on in Ephesians 5:18-19: “And do not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”
Colossians 3:16 says something similar: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Notice that in both accounts the Word of God says to speak to one another — to the Lord. After all, we are the Body of Christ and He is the Head, so what we do to and for each other we do to Him!
A very important point I would like to make here is this gift being connected to the Word of Christ (or we could say the Word of God) dwelling in you richly. This agrees with Romans 12:6 which says: “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, (let us use them:) if prophecy, (let us prophesy) in proportion to our faith.” [For] “faith (comes) by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). So then the more of the Word of God that dwells in an individual the greater proportion of faith they’ll have to prophecy with. When this gift is influenced by the Holy Spirit, He will always lift up Jesus as Lord. [See 1 Kings 18:29 for the satanic imitation of this gift.]
Now let’s notice the response of the angel to the apostle John in the book of Revelation when he fell at his feet to worship him for showing him “the true sayings of God” (19:9). “See (that you do) not (do that!) I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (19:10).
1Corinthians 12:3 says that those who are speaking by the Spirit of God will say that Jesus is Lord. In other words, these two scriptures are saying the person who is operating in the gift of prophecy will magnify the Lordship of Jesus [who is the Word made flesh (John 1:1 & Rev. 19:13)].
Finally I would like to relate to the anointing. Jesus said in John’s Gospel account: “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” Then John expounds on what He was saying in the next verse: “But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet (given), because Jesus was not yet glorified” (7:38-39). I believe that these rivers spoken of here are listed in 1 Corinthians 12 which we have come to call the gifts of the Spirit. I further believe that each ‘river’ (gift) has many rivers (channels or branches) by which they are expressed (manifested).
We’ve already seen in this teaching that this gift of prophecy is manifested by speaking and/or writing by the influence of the Holy Spirit. We could call this “influence” as being anointed by the Holy Spirit. I said this gift is also used for playing a musical instrument. 1 Chronicles 25:1 says: “Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service (some) of the sons of Asaph, of Herman, and of Jeduthun, who (should) prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals.” I think this says it pretty plainly.
Let’s summarize all of this teaching by saying if somebody is either speaking, writing or playing musical instruments by the influence (anointing) of the Holy Spirit, they are operating in this gift of prophecy and Jesus will be exalted as Lord! If you have received Jesus as your Lord and have received the gift of the Holy Spirit, you, too, can (and should) prophecy. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly and go edify somebody (including yourself!).
(taken from “Prophecies and Poems Volume 1”)