The Gift of Prophecy

The gift of prophecy is one of the most powerful yet misunderstood spiritual gifts bestowed upon believers by the Holy Spirit. This divine ability to communicate God's heart directly to His people transforms lives, strengthens faith, and builds up the Body of Christ.

Whether you're new to the prophetic or seeking to deepen your understanding, this comprehensive series will walk you through the essentials of prophecy — from its basic definition to practical application.

Let's explore how this remarkable gift operates, debunk common misconceptions, and discover how you can step out in faith to deliver God's messages of edification, exhortation, and comfort to others.

Understanding the Gift of Prophecy: A Simple Definition

Part 1 of 4 by Don Bell | ⏱️ 12 minute read

Conceptual Image for the Gift of ProphecyDesire Earnestly to Prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:39)
Source: ©BatkovaElena/Depositphtos.com

What is the gift of prophecy? Here's my definition of this marvelous gift of the Holy Spirit:

The gift of prophecy is the God-given ability to prophesy (speak) at will a message directly from God to individuals in a language they understand. This message is spontaneous, not premeditated, and it's intended to edify those who hear it.

How Prophecy Works: Biblical Insights

Paul explains the key differences between the gift of tongues and prophecy in the following Scripture:

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but TO GOD, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort TO MEN. (1 Corinthians 14:1–3, emphasis added).

Therefore, those who speak a message in tongues are speaking to God whereas those who prophesy are speaking to people.

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, UNLESS indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification (1 Corinthians 14:4–5, emphasis added).

Those who prophesy edify the Church, whereas those who speak in tongues edify themselves UNLESS the tongue is interpreted so its meaning can edify the Church.

When someone prophesies, they deliver a message characterized by three essential qualities (1 Corinthians 14:3):

  • Edification: To build up and strengthen individuals spiritually and emotionally. This involves providing insight, wisdom, and encouragement to help people grow in their faith and personal development.
  • Exhortation: To offer powerful, motivational encouragement that inspires action, renewed commitment, and spiritual growth. This goes beyond simple comfort, actively challenging and supporting individuals to reach their full potential.
  • Comfort: To bring peace, healing, and reassurance to those experiencing challenges, doubt, or emotional distress. This aspect of prophecy provides a sense of divine understanding and support.

A genuine prophetic message must meet these three criteria, leaving the recipient in a better physical, mental, or spiritual state than before.

Common Myths About Prophecy Debunked

Prophecy Vs Prophesy

The two words are often confused. Prophecy is the prophetic message whereas prophesy with an "S" is the action of Speaking the prophetic message.

It's important to make clear what the gift of prophecy isn't.

  • It is NOT preaching or public speaking.
  • It is NOT the product of our human intellect.
  • It is NOT premeditated, as it's born of the Holy Spirit.
  • It is NOT divination or the ability to predict the future.
  • It is NOT self-fulfilling prophecy
  • It is NOT given by proxy, as it's only meant for the hearer.
  • It is NOT the ability to rebuke or judge people.

Clearing up misconceptions and gaining a good understanding of the gift of prophecy helps you to use the gift effectively. You'll be able to edify believers by delivering an inspired message from the heart of God.

Believers should know the true nature of prophecy to avoid becoming deceived and distancing themselves from the truth.

Step-by-Step: How Prophecy Flows Through You

Prophesying a message you've never heard before requires taking a supernatural step of faith. It's NOT a learned skill such as inspirational teaching or preaching.

For instance, if you know ahead of time what you're going to say, you are not bringing a prophecy by faith. Therefore, the prophetic message cannot consist of something you've memorized or meditated upon beforehand. It must be 100% inspired by God.

The following drawing illustrates what happens when you step out in faith and prophesy using the gift of prophecy.

The Gift of Prophecy IllustratedThe Process of Prophesying
Source: ©Don Bell

When a believer prophesies, the Holy Spirit communicates with their spirit, which in turn instructs their brain to speak words of the prophecy in their known language, as the Holy Spirit supplies them.

Since a prophecy is "inspired" and NOT "revealed" all at once in the way words of knowledge and wisdom are revealed, it's impossible to know the content of the prophetic message before its delivery. The prophecy is received phrase by phrase as it's formed on your tongue and spoken by faith.

The prophecy is one the person has never heard before, so their mind has no prior knowledge of the words being formed on their tongue. Similarly, its hearers have never heard the prophecy before either.

When Scripture Meets Prophecy

It's possible that prophecies might contain a portion of Scripture. Suppose while prophesying, you hear yourself speaking a portion of Scripture either word for word or paraphrased. How is that possible?

Since you've studied the Bible, that's made it possible to recognize the Scripture, but since you didn't premeditate or rehearse what you were going to prophesy, the Scripture is a valid part of the prophetic message.

Prophecy Beyond Time: Past, Present, and Future

A prophecy can relate to past, present, or future events. It's not always speaking of the future as some might think. A prophetic word can bring comfort by reminding somebody of a past event, clarify something that's happening in the present, or provide hope for the future.

Don Bell

Knowing that I walked in the gifts of the Spirit, a Christian councelor had asked me to monitor a session and share any insight the Holy Spirit might offer. His client was an unmarried career woman who spoke of her prolonged feelings of sadness and her deep desire to lead a happy and fulfilled life.

While she and the councelor were talking, the Holy Spirit gave me a word of knowledge, and in my mind's eye, I saw the image of an old-fashioned walkway gate. It was of dark green metal, and it had a row of tiny leaves in its design.

When it had come my turn to share, I described the old gate and its design, and the Holy Spirit then prompted me to prophesy the following:

"As you leaned on the gate when leaving home, know that I was with you. Lean on Me now knowing that you are greatly loved. You are not alone, for I am your heavenly Father. I am with you always."

She began to cry and through tears related that being a country girl, the ties to her home and family were strong, and it broke her heart when she had to leave for the city. One of her saddest memories was of leaning on that green metal gate the day she left, knowing how homesick she would be.

Drying her eyes, she shared that she now felt a difference. She no longer felt the loneliness. The presence of the Holy Spirit was healing the hurt, and realizing that God had been with her at the gate, she now felt the Father's abiding love deep within her being.

Words of knowledge and prophecy will often work hand in hand to comfort and encourage those in need.

The Scripture reveals, “'I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,' says the Lord, 'who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty'" (Revelation 1:8).

Picture a parade passing through the streets of a city and consider the difference between a street-level view and an aerial view. We have the street-level view, and God has the aerial view whereby He simultaneously views the entire parade from its beginning to its end.

Conceptual Illustration Showing How Prophecy Relates to TimeRelationship of Prophecy to Past, Present, or Future Events
Source: DALL-E 3 | ©Don Bell

As you stand with friends on the sidewalk watching the parade of colorful floats passing by, you can only view float B in front of you, though you may have recollections of others that passed by earlier. You have no knowledge of the floats yet to appear. However…

  • God can tell you about float A that has already passed your vantage point. It's in your past.
  • God can tell you about float B that is at your vantage point. It's in your present.
  • God can just as easily tell you about float C that has yet to reach your vantage point. It's in your future.

God can give you a prophetic word for people needing to relate to an event in their past, present, or future. You simply step out in faith and prophesy His words to the people. Isn't God amazing?

Don Bell

I was leading a Catholic Charismatic retreat in central Ontario, and the group had chosen to end the Saturday by attending the evening Mass at Our Lady of the Angels, a small country church nearby at Brudenell.

One of the ladies was reluctant to go, as she was expecting a phone call. Her son and his wife were 200 miles away in a Toronto hospital expecting their first baby, and their doctor was concerned since the birth was long overdue.

However, being a woman of faith, she placed the situation in God's hands, and we all drove to the church. We entered and while waking down the aisle, I sensed the Holy Spirit prompting me to prophesy.

The lady had seated herself in the pew in front of me, so I tapped her on the shoulder and whispered a brief prophetic word to trust in the Lord, that the baby was soon to be born in perfect health, and that God had a special plan for the baby's life. SHE would be His ROSE of Sharon!

It was one of those times when you listen to what you're saying and pray you've heard the Holy Spirit clearly. The promise of a healthy baby granddaughter is not to be made lightly! And why the Rose of Sharon?

Moments after our return to the retreat house, there was a phone call from her son. The baby had just been born, and both the mother and baby DAUGHTER were in perfect health.

And, get this: the Jewish mother had decided to name their newborn ROSE. I love it when God confirms His prophetic word.

An inspired prophetic word can offer peace of mind and confirmation that God holds the future to people facing life's situations and concerns. God is so good!

The Dynamic Nature of Prophecy: Understanding Conditions

Most individuals don't realize that prophecies often come with conditions — some clearly stated, others implied. The fact that a prophecy is divinely inspired doesn't automatically guarantee its fulfillment. The Old Testament provides us with clear examples of this principle.

When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here." Then David said, "O LORD God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake. Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant."

And the LORD said, "He will come down."

Then David said, "Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?" And the LORD said, "They will deliver you."

So David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah and went wherever they could go. Then it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah; so he halted the expedition. (1 Samuel 23:9–13)

Although God had said, "They will deliver you," David and his men chose NOT to remain in Keilah, so they were NOT delivered to Saul, and their lives were spared. If they had fulfilled the prophecy's condition by remaining in Keilah, they would have been Saul's prisoners.

A passage from The Book of Jeremiah helps describe how conditional prophecy works:

The word of the LORD came to me, saying: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the LORD. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it" (Jeremiah 18:5–10).

Understanding how prophecy works can significantly enrich our faith journey. For instance, when receiving a prophetic word, like a young believer learning that God will use their musical talents to reach many people for the Lord, it's crucial to recognize the believer's active participation. In this scenario, bringing the prophecy to fruition will require dedicated music study, consistent practice, and intentionally seeking performance opportunities.

Prophecy is a collaborative journey between divine guidance and our faithful response. By actively participating in God's promises, we align ourselves to witness their fulfillment and prevent potential disappointment.

Passively waiting for prophecy to manifest without meeting its inherent conditions can lead to unfulfilled expectations, potentially requiring God to redirect His intended path for us.

Predictive prophecies describe what's in God's plan conditional upon our actions. Such prophecy is meant to motivate our current behavior: if it speaks of potential trouble, it encourages repentance; if it speaks of potential blessing, it encourages perseverance in following God's will.

Growing in Prophecy

While the Holy Spirit has given every believer the gift of prophecy, there are observable levels of prophecy depending on the believer's experience and calling.

As a beginner, your prophecies will be general in nature, serving to offer edification, exhortation, and comfort to the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit rarely prompts beginners to deliver personal prophecies, and directive prophecies are not for novices. Even experienced prophets must exercise caution.

Build your faith by prophesying as often as the Holy Spirit prompts you within the safety of your believers' group, remaining open to correction. As you and your fellow believers practice, the Body of Christ becomes stronger and more encouraged.

With experience and confirmation from others that your prophecies are Spirit-inspired, the Holy Spirit will entrust you with prophetic words that are deeper and at times directive. Allow your prophesying to mature under His guidance. Before delivering personal, directive prophecies, seek confirmation from leadership experienced in prophecy to ensure your words effectively serve and encourage.

The Holy Spirit prompts established prophets, elders, and those experienced in the faith to prophesy at both beginner and intermediate levels to groups and individuals. Their prophecies become deeper, more directive, and increasingly accurate, depending on their prophetic calling.

Your Next Step in Prophetic Ministry

Scripture encourages, "Therefore, brethren, DESIRE EARNESTLY to prophesy…" (1 Corinthians 14:39, emphasis added). The Holy Spirit has given YOU the gift of prophecy to encourage fellow believers and build up the Body of Christ!

Discover More in This 4-Part Series

Continue this journey through the remaining articles, where you'll discover how to step confidently into your prophetic gift. Learn the divine purposes behind prophecy, gain wisdom in testing prophetic words, and receive practical guidance for delivering God's messages with boldness and clarity:

Part 2: The Purpose of Prophecy

Part 3: How to Test Prophecy

Part 4: How to Prophesy


About the Author

Don Bell of Kingdom Anointing

Don Bell is the creator of the Kingdom Anointing website, and a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ. He shares insights from his spiritual journey to encourage ordinary believers to seek God's Kingdom and lead extraordinary lives in the Holy Spirit.


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