What comes to mind when you hear the word prophecy? Do you immediately think of foretelling the future? Do you think of prophets from the Old Testament? Have you considered there are New Testament prophets? Have you considered there may be prophets today?
If we are regular readers of God’s Word, we likely have some definition in our minds for prophecy and who a prophet is. Unfortunately, our definition may not be complete. A prophet is someone who receives a message from God and speaks that message to others.
Prophecy is the message given by God through the prophet. The message may include admonition, correction, direction, and foretelling the future. We often think of prophecy as solely foretelling the future. We see many references in the New Testament to prophecy in the Old Testament foretelling the coming of the Messiah.
The definition in the basic sense indicates to us that the entire Bible is prophecy, the inspired Word of God. However, we narrow it a bit to those passages that specifically provide God’s guidance and foretelling of events to come. Yet, by the generic definition, those who preach God’s Word today can be considered prophets, since they are generally inspired by God to share a message from his Word with the congregation.
Jesus was considered a prophet by many who heard Him, and rightfully so. Yet, He is much more than a prophet. The key to being a prophet and sharing prophecy is being inspired by God. The message cannot be human generated, but God inspired. The Holy Spirit is at work in the individual. This means the person is listening for and repeating the message the Holy Spirit is relaying to them.
I pray we all understand what it means to be a prophet. I pray we know that prophecy is the inspired Word of God. I pray each one of us identify those who are filled with the Holy Spirit and relaying God’s message. Identify a prophet. Identify prophecy. Listen for the Holy Spirit to speak through others.
2 Peter 1:20-21 First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Marty Pressey 