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*Photo by Ben White on Unsplash 

Let’s jump right back in and unpack some more misconceptions!

3. Prophecy isn’t adding revelation to the Bible.

This one is a concern that comes up fairly often in discussions on prophecy. But I can assure you that sharing a word of prophetic encouragement is not in any way adding to what’s written in the Bible or denying the sufficiency of Scripture. I’m not aware of anyone who has tried to alter the canon of Scripture by printing the personal prophetic words they’ve shared with people into the Bible, are you?

Believing in the gift of prophecy is simply recognizing that God speaks personal messages to His people to build them up. Those personal words don’t need to be added to Scripture, they are not equal to Scripture, and we should not elevate them above the teaching of Scripture. God will never speak anything personally or subjectively to or through any person that contradicts His written Word. The Bible is the final authority on right belief and practice for all Christians. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

4. Prophecy isn’t only for some Christians.

“‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy… In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy.'” (Acts 2:17-18)

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit would only come upon certain individuals to empower them for a certain task and would then depart from them. And the prophets were the ones who could hear directly from God and share His words with people.

These Old Testament prophets were specific people chosen by God to speak on His behalf to His chosen people, the nation of Israel. Their job was to hold Israel accountable to the covenant God made with them as a nation for the sake of their own relationship with Him and for their role in His plan of salvation for the world.

That’s why you’ll see them pronouncing judgments on Israel for disobeying God’s law–the law of Moses, specifically. (Deuteronomy 28-30; Jeremiah 11) And that’s why you’ll see those prophets specifically held to a penalty of death if they prophesied wrongly/falsely, as the guys at Remnant Radio explain in this video. (Deuteronomy 13:1-5; 18:15-22) That particular role and expression of prophecy is unique to those prophets and to the old covenant.

In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit permanently lives in every person who has put their faith in Jesus. (John 14:16-18; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Corinthians 1:22) The gifts and power of the Holy Spirit are open to every believer, and all God’s sons and daughters can hear His voice and share it with others. In Acts 2, at the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church, God leveled the playing field.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 lists prophecy as one the manifestation gifts of the Spirit. These are spiritual gifts Holy Spirit stirs up in His people in the moment as needed so we can minister to one another and help each other. 

Now, this doesn’t mean that every Christian whom God uses in the spiritual gift of prophecy will be a prophet, in the sense that they have a consistent ministry and recognized role in the Church of receiving accurate and helpful words from God for the body of Christ. And it doesn’t necessarily mean that every Christian will exercise the gift of prophecy. Rather, Paul is communicating that it’s possible for God to use any Christian in this spiritual gift. That includes you and me.

**Read Part 3 to learn about discerning prophecy and whether getting a word incorrect makes some a false prophet. 

Recommended Resources:

• ARTICLES: Can Christians Still Prophesy? by Wayne Grudem // Prophets and Prophecy by Sam Storms
• BOOKS: Frequency by Robert Morris // The God I Never Knew by Robert Morris // Understanding Spiritual Gifts by Sam Storms // You May All Prophesy by Steve Thompson // The Gift of Prophecy by Wayne Grudem

Let’s Talk: Have you ever considered the idea that God could use you in the gift of prophecy? Discuss this post in the comments below.