Does the gift of prophecy include preaching?

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Marcelo

Senior Member
Feb 4, 2016
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#1
Paul wanted all Christians to prophesy because the one who prophesies builds up the church. What was he mainly talking about? Prediction of future events; revelation of unknown information; or preaching, teaching and exhorting?
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
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#2
I will take door number three, please :)
 

G00WZ

Senior Member
May 16, 2014
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#3
Paul wanted all Christians to prophesy because the one who prophesies builds up the church. What was he mainly talking about? Prediction of future events; revelation of unknown information; or preaching, teaching and exhorting?
You kind of answered the question in the first line, to build the up the church (spiritually), but not just by one person doing it, all should have some part in it. Prophecy can include future events, in depth teachings on scripture, or simply just a move of God speaking through that person, with the perfect words at the perfect time.
 
Nov 22, 2015
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#4
What does preaching mean?

Paul said that prophesying manifests itself in these 3 things:

1 Corinthians 14:3 (NASB)
[SUP]3 [/SUP] But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.
 

Dan_473

Senior Member
Mar 11, 2014
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#5
Paul wanted all Christians to prophesy because the one who prophesies builds up the church. What was he mainly talking about? Prediction of future events; revelation of unknown information; or preaching, teaching and exhorting?
I'd go with preaching, teaching and exhorting

I think too, comforting, praying for someone

especially if you're relying on God's help for what to say
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
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#6
The gift of prophesy is to encourage build up and to strengthen the body to help lead and guide them the right way to go to uphold uplift and to when needed rebuke and so in this way preacher must have the gift of prophecy. but the gift of prophecy also works in other ways and the main way that is so often spoken of is the prophetic dreams and visions however what is often less spoken of is that the gift of prophecy also allows one to be able to have insight and understanding of prophecy to be keen to know what prophecy is how it works and to be able to understand the prophetic scriptures.

However just because one preaches doesn't mean they have the gift there are many pastors who are not fit to be pastors and are the blind leading the blind. Which is why if one is a pastor they should consider the words they speak because the more so than anyone will be judged for what they teach and preach.
 

88

Senior Member
Nov 14, 2016
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#7
All of the above---- main focus of the prophetic---- exhortation, comfort, & building up....
 

jb

Senior Member
Feb 27, 2010
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#8
Paul wanted all Christians to prophesy because the one who prophesies builds up the church. What was he mainly talking about? Prediction of future events; revelation of unknown information; or preaching, teaching and exhorting?
You can find a study on the nine gifts of the Spirit Here, the gift of prophecy is number 7 in the list!
 
P

pottersclay

Guest
#9
Could the gift of prophecy also include unraveling the mystery of hidden messages in the word?
 
P

pottersclay

Guest
#10
I will take door number three, please :)
Johnny show us what's there....a new car..(audience goes bananas)..it's a 2017 magenta classic style....loaded with magenta extras....it runs on high octane magenta fuel. Pluuuuussss. A magenta get away, (audience goes oooooh)
All inclusive all magenta......if the price is right.....back to you o.p.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
55,247
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#12
Johnny show us what's there....a new car..(audience goes bananas)..it's a 2017 magenta classic style....loaded with magenta extras....it runs on high octane magenta fuel. Pluuuuussss. A magenta get away, (audience goes oooooh)
All inclusive all magenta......if the price is right.....back to you o.p.
Yay!
 

88

Senior Member
Nov 14, 2016
3,517
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#13
It includes all of it--- there is prophetic preaching--- this is a special anointed Word while preaching---- even witnessing can be prophetic---- while talking you get "revelation" to help someone---- my wife would start witnessing to someone and know their name supernaturally--- ect... Future Events are more rare----I was visiting a ministry recently----the man of God knew about 9-11 almost 2 years before it happened---- pray for it to be stopped---- the Lord showed him the judgment could not be averted but the loss of life lessened...
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,177
2,539
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#14
It includes all of it--- there is prophetic preaching--- this is a special anointed Word while preaching---- even witnessing can be prophetic---- while talking you get "revelation" to help someone---- my wife would start witnessing to someone and know their name supernaturally--- ect... Future Events are more rare----I was visiting a ministry recently----the man of God knew about 9-11 almost 2 years before it happened---- pray for it to be stopped---- the Lord showed him the judgment could not be averted but the loss of life lessened...
I have never known a persons name like that but often times when I chat on Christian chat I will experience a moment when something seems to take over my heart is just moved strongly to post it and sometimes people will pm me and express how my words moved them so deeply and of course I let them know I cannot take credit but there are also times when I encounter people here and almost always it's a person going through a serious storm or is hurting inside.

When I speak to them I can feel God's love in a way I normally don't it's much richer much stronger it's as if I can read their hearts like I feel what they feel and I don't know how he does it but because I simply write what he places on my heart I have seen peoples hearts being mended and they feel as if someone finally understands. Again I can never take any credit but regardless if you call this a special anointing or a word of encouragement or a word of knowledge the impact he makes on peoples hearts they way they were so moved by him speaking through me like that is what inspired me to be the kind of person I seek to be and is what helped me find my calling.

There are many ways God uses the prophetic and seeing and knowing the future is only one of them
 

88

Senior Member
Nov 14, 2016
3,517
77
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#15
There are prophetic songs also---- they are sung without preparation or knowledge of the words or melody---- they come from the heart of God---- there is prophetic intercession---- praying prayers that come within and burst fourth with power...
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
9,081
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#16
Speaking as Moved by the Holy Ghost
Peter described what prophecies of old time were like, holy men spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The New Testament uses the same word for 'prophecy' to describe what Old Testament prophets did that it uses to describe prophecy in the church. So we should not assume the word has been redefined.

'Speaking as moved by the Holy Ghost' is a good rule-of-thumb definition. The Bible also mentions prophesying on musical instruments and shows prophets doing what some have called 'sign acts', where an act conveys, like wearing a yoke, a dirty old belt, or walking around naked with buttocks bared, conveys part of a prophetic message. It may be that some prophecies are sung, if we consider the Psalms. Peter called David a prophet.

Quoting God
A typical 'format' in which prophecy is conveyed is as a first person quote from God. We see this throughout the writings of the prophets. The prophet might start with 'Thus saith the LORD.' In the New Testament, Agabus starts a prophecy with 'Thus saith the Holy Ghost.' So we should not consider prophesying to be something completely different in the church from what it was in the Old Testament.

A Distinction between Prophesying, Teaching, and Evangelism
In Romans 12, Paul lists prophesying, teaching, and exhortation as separate charismata, gifts. Toward the end of I Corinthians 12, prophets and teachers are listed as different ministries. In Ephesians 4:11, prophets and evangelists are different. Prophets are a different ministry from pastors and teachers in this passage as well.

'Preaching' in the typical New Testament usage of proclaiming the Gospel to those who have not believed it yet, which usually occurred outside of the Christian 'church' is not the same thing as prophesying. Teaching is not the same thing of prophesying.

In the Old Testaments, prophets prophesied and the priests were to teach. The prophet got a fresh message from God, quoting what God said. He might receive dreams, visions, or 'dark sayings.' The priest who taught might expound upon existing prophecies, what Moses prophesied many centuries before, for example.

Prophesying is Revelatory
It is ironic that the Bible never commands us to hear a pastor preach a long sermon and sit quietly by. There is no command that we must sing three hymns and skip the third or fourth stanza. Rather, the one lengthy chapter that tells us what to do in church is about how regular believers in the assembly can take turns using their gifts to edify one another in an orderly manner according to the order Paul describes.

I Corinthians 14
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

Notice the commandments of the Lord regarding what to do about prophesying indicate that prophecy is revealed. Here, it is revealed on the spot, while the individual is sitting by. He didn't prep it as a sermon.

Content of Prophecies: Predicting the Future?
The 'secular' definition of 'prophesy' is to predict the future. A newspaperman or blogger who wants to wax poetic might call a sports prediction a prophecy. That is not the Biblical definition. Prophesying in the Bible is speaking as the Spirit moves. We often read that the prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, claiming God gave him the message to say. It wasn't a learned message from another prophet, but a message directly from heaven.

Can prophesying be prediction? Clearly yes. There are many examples of this in the Bible. In the New Testament, we see that the prophet Agabus prophesied both a famine that was to come and that Paul would be bound. But prophecies do not have to be predictions. God can say whatever He wants to. If the Spirit of God wants to talk about something coming in the future, He may. If He wants to talk about something in the present, He may. If He wants to say something that other people may not naturally know, He may. If He wants to say something that seems mundane, He may. A prophecy could convey information that we might know if we read the Bible. It might tell us something that we might think should be obvious to us, but that the Spirit wants to say and remind us of, if this is what the Holy Spirit wishes to say.

Revealing the Secrets of One's Heart?
I Corinthians 14
23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

One of the fascinating things about prophesying for those who have experienced it enough, is that some prophecies contain information about the hearer receiving the prophecy that the one giving the prophecy should not naturally know. Just imagine the shock the woman at the well must have felt when Jesus, a stranger, knew about her five husbands.

Can Preaching Be Prophesying, Teaching, Etc.

Caiaphas prophesied, probably without realizing it and without saying 'Thus saith the Lord' or words that revealed directly that he was prophesying. I think there may be occasions where someone is teaching the congregation, 'preaching a sermon' where the Spirit may move him to say something, and he prophesies without saying 'Thus saith the Lord'.

There have been preachers who called out the secrets of individuals in the congregation while they preached. Spurgeon was known to have done such things, even if he may have ironically held to some cessationist leanings.

Covet to Prophesy.
I Corinthians 14 commands believers to covet to prophesy. Paul, writing to the Thessalonians says to quench not the Spirit, despise not prophesyings. Prove all things. Hold fast to that which is good.

It is possible to understand what 'prophesying' means if we really study out the issue in the Bible.
 

presidente

Senior Member
May 29, 2013
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#17
Historical Distortions of the Definition of Prophesying

Reformed Preaching as Prophesying
One misunderstanding of the word 'prophecy' has been promulgated through the Reformed movement. John Calvin, based on his writings, was not the first to promote the idea, based on his comments in his commentaries. But he considered at least some preaching to be prophesying.

Many Reformed preachers echo this idea, that good, accurate pulpit preaching is prophesying. The Bible does not teach this. See my previous message for contrasts between teaching and prophesying.

I actually read a sermon where a preacher said that's what he did on Sunday mornings in the pulpit, prophesy. The man is a dedicated cessationist. Most Pentecostal and Charismatic preachers probably wouldn't make such a brazen claim. If preaching is prophesying and you are wrong about something when you preach, does that make you a false prophet?

WOF Prophesying to the Situation
I can't really take more than a few minutes of Kenneth Copeland. He was on the TV at the Baptist Student Center when i was in college and I think that was when I overheard him talking about prophesying to the situation. He took the story of the valley of dry bones. He said Ezekiel prophesied to the dry bones, and the sinew and skin formed on them and they came to life. (This was in a vision.) His point was when you look at a situation, you can 'prophesy' to it and declare what you believed to happen, kind of like speaking to the mountain.

Of course, if you read Ezekiel, what he prophesied was a 'Thus saith the LORD' prophecy. The LORD had actually given him the words to say. This was a prophecy where he was actually given the words to say. He wasn't thinking up what he wanted to happen, and declaring for it to happen, trying to believe to make it happen.

So redefining the word 'prophesy' to mean speaking to the mountain or the situation in faith isn't justified from this text. If you decree something to happen, say you are 'prophesying' to the situation, and it doesn't happen, is that false prophecy?

Go speak to the mountain if you want to, but why redefine a word to mean something other than it does in the Bible and leave yourself open to the charge of false prophesying for no reason?
 
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Marcelo

Senior Member
Feb 4, 2016
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#18
In Romans 12, Paul lists prophesying, teaching, and exhortation as separate charismata, gifts. Toward the end of I Corinthians 12, prophets and teachers are listed as different ministries. In Ephesians 4:11, prophets and evangelists are different. Prophets are a different ministry from pastors and teachers in this passage as well.
Good remark! It is important to make a distinction between PROPHECY as a ministry and PROPHECY as a gift.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
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#19
Rev 19:10 And I fell down before his feet to worship him. And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren that hold the testimony of Jesus: worship God; for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

It would seem entirely resonable to say, yes being a prophet includes preaching the Word in that if bearing witness (testimony) to Jesus Christ as the Only Begotten Son of the Living God and the Firstborn of the dead needs to be executed by talking.

The Spirit of Prophecy incites us to praise God, to have faith in Jesus Christ, to love, to share and much much more. Prophecy is not predicting coming events, though it can me, the Spirit of Prohecy is salvation in action. God bless all in Jesus Christ and all who will come to Him, amen.