I want to first say that I don't know that my understanding is correct here. But I want to say this for others to consider and also to discuss if this may be a possibility.
1 Corinthians 14
1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.
Revelation 19
10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he *said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
Someone else posted a scripture, which is that we are not to despise prophecy. And to say we don't have that gift today would be in error. I believe those who want nothing to do with prophecy is because they've only seen false prophecies happening within the church.
A teacher once said that we are all prophets? Are we? Maybe that has some validity to it.
And then he quoted the scripture in Revelation 19:10 above. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
That got my attention! Because Paul was saying to the Corinthian church to eagerly seek to prophecy.
So what does the one that prophecies do, what does he say, what's his purpose or role in the church?
He is to edify the church, exhort the church and bring consolation, comfort to the church. How are we built up in the faith, encouraged, corrected and comforted in Jesus?
It reminds me of this scripture; 2 Timothy 3 16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
It looks pretty similar to the gift of prophecy. Which begs the question, according to Revelation where the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, aren't we all prophesying when we speak of the gospel of Jesus Christ as a testimony unto Him?
20 Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In the Law it is written, “By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,” says the Lord. 22 So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.
26 What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
So look at Paul's conclusion. When we come together, whoever has a psalm, sing and lead the others in praising God, if someone has a teaching, teach, if someone has been given revelation, share it, whoever has a tongue, give it if there's an interpretation. Let everything be done for the edifying and building up of the body of Christ.
And those who are prophesying, what are they doing? Look at verse 24. The unbeliever is convicted by all when we prophecy. Why? Because we are giving to him the testimony of Jesus, the gospel that saves and convicts of sin and the need for change; repentance. The man falls on his face in worship of God declaring that God is certainly among you.
Anyway, in all my experience in local churches or through reading books or listening to cassettes, (yes I'm old) all those prophecies that go on in churches, I can't say that I could give you even one man that I believe is a prophet of God in the sense that they use it.
I'm speaking of NAR, IHOP, TBN and all of those who claim to be prophets of God. I'm not saying there aren't some, I just haven't had the experience of hearing one or meeting one that wasn't seriously off scripturally. If anyone can say they know of one, I’d like to hear it.
Paul seems to be describing a different type of gifting than those groups. Also, Jesus warned us of false prophets and teachers. Who are they? I think we could list quite a few well knowns that would fall into that category.
