There are two prophetic gifts. One is the special gift of being a prophet. The other is the
speaking gift of prophecy. In general, prophecy refers to speaking under the special inspiration
of God. It is the special ability to receive and communicate an immediate message of God to His
people through a divinely-anointed utterance. To this point, the definition applies to the special
leadership gift of a prophet as well as the speaking gift of prophecy.
But a person is not a prophet just because he prophesies. Paul told the whole church to desire the
gift of prophecy:
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may
prophesy. (I Corinthians 14:1)For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be
comforted. (I Corinthians 14:31)But Paul indicated that not everyone was a prophet. He asked:
Are all prophets? (I Corinthians 12:29)The difference between a prophet and prophesying is apparent in the following passage:
And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto
Caesarea; and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was
one of the seven; and abode with him.And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain
prophet, named Agabus. (Acts 21:8-11)Philip's daughters had the speaking gift of prophesy. But Agabus was a prophet who not only
gave prophetic messages but held a leadership position in the church. God used him in a
leadership role regarding Paul's ministry. Agabus gave Paul spiritual direction regarding what
would happen in Jerusalem (Acts 21:11).
Those with the special gift of being a prophet do not just speak under the inspiration of God.
They also hold an office of authority and leadership in the church. This is confirmed in Acts
13:1-4 where prophets and teachers were used in a leadership capacity to guide Barnabas and
Saul into the special ministry to which God had called them.
In the Old Testament people went to prophets for guidance. The gift of Holy Spirit infilling was
not yet given. The presence of God was shut up in the Holy of Holies. Because of the death and