The Gift of Prophecy: A Complete Guide for Believers

Part 1 of 3 by Don Bell | ⏱️ 14 minute read

Welcome to this series on the gift of prophecy, one of the most powerful yet often misunderstood spiritual gifts bestowed upon Believers by the Holy Spirit. This divine ability to speak God's heart directly to His people has the power to strengthen faith, transform lives, and build up the Body of Christ in remarkable ways.

Whether you're new to the prophetic realm or seeking to deepen your understanding, this foundational article serves as the central hub for this in-depth series on prophecy. By examining the essentials of prophecy from its basic definition to practical application, you'll clear away common misconceptions to learn how this remarkable gift of prophecy truly operates.

This three-part series is designed to take you on a complete journey: from understanding what prophecy truly is, to discerning authentic prophetic words, to confidently stepping out and prophesying yourself. From here, after exploring the detailed guides on "How to Test Prophecy" followed by "How to Prophesy," you'll be equipped to step out in faith and deliver God's messages of edification, exhortation, and comfort to others.

What Is the Gift of Prophecy? A Biblical Definition

Conceptual Image for the Gift of ProphecyDesire Earnestly to Prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:39)
Source: ©BatkovaElena/Depositphtos.com

What is the gift of prophecy? Here's my definition of this marvelous gift of the Holy Spirit:

The gift of prophecy is the God-given ability to prophesy (speak) at will a message directly from God to individuals in a language they understand. This message is spontaneous, not premeditated, and it's intended to edify those who hear it.

7 Common Myths That Hinder the Prophetic

Prophecy Vs Prophesy

The two words are often confused. Prophecy is the prophetic message whereas prophesy with an "S" is the action of Speaking the prophetic message.

Understanding the true nature of the gift of prophecy empowers us to use it effectively. Let's explore what distinguishes genuine prophecy from common misconceptions:

  • It is NOT preaching or public speaking.
  • It is NOT the product of our human intellect.
  • It is NOT premeditated, as it's born of the Holy Spirit.
  • It is NOT divination or the ability to predict the future (see Part 2 for the example of Paul discerning the slave girl's spirit of divination).
  • It is NOT self-fulfilling prophecy.
  • It is NOT given by proxy, as it's only meant for the hearer.
  • It is NOT the ability to rebuke or judge people.

Now that we've cleared away these common misconceptions, you have a clearer picture of what genuine prophecy looks like. But, how do we know when a prophetic word is truly from God? While we'll explore the full biblical framework for testing prophecy in Part 2 of this series, let's first understand how prophecy actually works according to Paul's teaching.

How Prophecy Works: Paul's Teaching in 1 Corinthians

Understanding the gift of prophecy requires examining Paul's clear distinction between speaking in tongues and prophetic utterances:

"Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but TO GOD, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort TO MEN" (1 Corinthians 14:1–3, emphasis added).

So, those who speak a message in tongues are speaking to God whereas those who prophesy are speaking to people. Paul goes on to say:

"He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, UNLESS indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification" (1 Corinthians 14:4–5, emphasis added).

When someone prophesies or speaks a message in tongues and gives its interpretation, what's spoken must be characterized by any of these three essential qualities (1 Corinthians 14:3):

  • Edification: To build up and strengthen individuals spiritually and emotionally. This involves providing insight, wisdom, and encouragement to help people grow in their faith and personal development.
  • Exhortation: To offer powerful, motivational encouragement that inspires action, renewed commitment, and spiritual growth. This goes beyond simple comfort, actively challenging and supporting individuals to reach their full potential.
  • Comfort: To bring peace, healing, and reassurance to those experiencing challenges, doubt, or emotional distress. This aspect of prophecy provides a sense of divine understanding and support.

A genuine prophecy must leave those who hear it in a better physical, mental, or spiritual state than before. Once we understand that LOVE, a fruit of the Spirit, is its foundation and motivator (1 Corinthians 13:2), we can embrace our prophetic gift with faith and confidence, and our desire to prophesy naturally increases.

The Purpose of Prophecy in the Modern Church

Tel Aviv Israel SeashoreExplore the Purpose of Prophecy
(Source: © Mahara/Depositphotos.com)

Edification: Its Meaning

The Greek word οἰκοδομή (oikodomē) translated as "edification" means building up and promoting growth in oneself and others.

Paul states, "Therefore, brethren, DESIRE EARNESTLY to prophesy" (1 Corinthians 14:39, emphasis added). There's no mistake that in Paul's view, prophecy is not an option; it's a vital tool to guide, encourage, and strengthen the Church.

Through prophetic utterances, God works in harmony with other gifts of the Holy Spirit to edify, exhort, and comfort believers while providing a powerful tool for service that bears true witness to the power and presence of God, and ultimately points people to Christ. Here are several ways that the gift of prophecy blesses the Church, the Body of Christ:

Prophecy That Strengthens and Unites Believers

Paul encourages, "For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged" (1 Corinthians 14:31). This inclusive language reminds us that prophecy is a gift available to every believer.

During times of difficulty, prophetic utterances can provide much-needed comfort, reminding the faithful of God's presence and promises. By addressing specific needs within the congregation, prophecy strengthens the Body of Christ and fosters a greater sense of unity and purpose.

A Wake-Up Call: Prophecy for Spiritual Restoration

Prophetic messages can serve as a wake-up call, urging people to turn from their apathy, spiritual weariness, or wrongdoing, and return to the will of God.

Ezekiel prophesies, "'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'" (Ezekiel 33:11).

These divine exhortations can be both convicting and transformative, leading individuals and assemblies to experience spiritual renewal and revival.

Navigating Life: Prophecy for Guidance and Confirmation

Prophecy provides guidance, direction, and confirmation to help believers navigate life's challenges and make decisions in accordance with God's will. Through prophetic words, God often provides specific guidance, warnings, or corrections to individuals, and groups.

Paul encourages Timothy by saying, "This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare" (1 Timothy 1:18).

God can also communicate His plans and purposes to His people through prophecy, and offer them confirmation when needed.

A Personal Anecdote

The church we attended welcomed a Southern pastor from Georgia as a frequent guest speaker. The man of God had a prophet's anointing, and I confess that I felt nervous when the Holy Spirit prompted me to prophesy over him.

After the evening's meeting, people surrounded him with their goodbyes, so I needed to wait. As soon as he was alone, I quickly walked forward in faith before I could talk myself out of it.

He knew me, so I simply said, "The Lord has a message for you." He nodded, and I placed my hand on his shoulder and prophesied. However, the words I spoke were unlike any prophecy I had ever delivered.

It was to be my first prophecy given in rhyme. Know that I am not a fan of poetry; it's just not my thing. However, for whatever reason, God gave me the following words:

I'm holding your heart with My cords of love,
Your strength to stand, it comes from above.

While walking forward, don't fear, don't fret,
For I hold the future, it's not over yet.

I'll push and prod you, I'll bring it all to pass,
You may even need to fall off an ass.

For it's My plan you see, it's all written down,
You, my son, will take your town.

And don't even think you'll be stopping there,
For I'm going to put you on the air.

You'll reach many souls, many will be blessed,
And you'll do it all walking in My rest.

The line "You may even need to fall off an ass" refers to the Prophet Balaam whose donkey prevented him from missing God's will (2 Peter 2:15, 16). I believe it was meant to caution the man of trying times and difficult choices preceding the fulfillment of God's plan.

At the time, "I'm going to put you on the air" suggested radio or television to our natural way of thinking. However, within four years he was in a jet flying "on the air" to pastor a church in Europe where he reached and blessed many souls, fulfilling the prophecy.

Sometimes, there's a cryptic meaning to a word of prophecy, and it's only after an event unfolds that it can be understood as a confirmation.

Prophecy can offer confirmation and reassurance to those who are seeking direction or questioning their current choices.

A Powerful Witness: Pointing People to Jesus

The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10). Therefore, the ultimate purpose of prophecy is to point people to Jesus and affirm His identity as their Messiah and King.

Paul says, "If all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed [to him]; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you" (1 Corinthians 14:24, 25).

Prophetic words can convince and convict the hearts of not only unbelievers, but also believers who are uninformed and not walking in the truth. They come to realize that God knows them intimately and cares deeply about them. Never fear… God won't reveal "secrets" we don't want revealed, except for those that relate to our spiritual condition.

Understanding these purposes helps us appreciate why Paul urged believers to "desire earnestly to prophesy." Yet with this powerful gift comes responsibility. We must learn to discern the genuine from the counterfeit. In Part 2, we'll explore the biblical principles for testing prophecy, but first, let's examine how the prophetic message actually flows from God's heart to your mouth.

The Supernatural Flow: From God's Heart to Your Mouth

Prophesying a message you've never heard before requires taking a supernatural step of faith. It's NOT a learned skill such as inspirational teaching or preaching.

For instance, if you know ahead of time what you're going to say, you are not bringing a prophecy by faith. Therefore, the prophetic message cannot consist of something you've memorized or meditated upon beforehand. It must be 100% inspired by God.

The following drawing illustrates what happens when the Holy Spirit prompts you to prophesy, and you step out in faith using the gift of prophecy.

The Gift of Prophecy IllustratedThe Process of Prophesying
Source: ©Don Bell

When a believer prophesies, the Holy Spirit communicates with their spirit, which in turn instructs their brain to speak words of the prophecy in their known language, as the Holy Spirit supplies them.

Since a prophecy is "inspired" and NOT "revealed" all at once in the way words of knowledge and wisdom are revealed, it's impossible to know the content of the prophetic message before its delivery. The prophecy flows supernaturally as you speak; we'll explore the mechanics of this phrase-by-phrase delivery in detail in Part 3..

It's possible that prophecies might contain Scripture. Suppose while prophesying, you hear yourself speaking a small portion of Scripture either word for word or paraphrased. How is that possible?

Since you've read and studied the Bible, that's made it possible for you to recognize the Scripture when you mightn't have otherwise, but since you didn't premeditate or rehearse what you were going to prophesy, the Scripture is a valid part of the prophetic message.

God's Timeless View: Prophecy for Past, Present & Future

A prophecy can relate to past, present, or future events. It's not always speaking of the future as some might think. A prophetic word can bring comfort by reminding somebody of a past event, clarify something that's happening in the present, or provide hope for the future.

A Personal Anecdote

Knowing that I walked in the gifts of the Spirit, a Christian counselor had asked me to monitor a session and share any insight the Holy Spirit might offer. His client was an unmarried career woman who spoke of her prolonged feelings of sadness and her deep desire to lead a happy and fulfilled life.

While she and the counselor were talking, the Holy Spirit gave me a word of knowledge, and in my mind's eye, I saw the image of an old-fashioned walkway gate. It was of dark green metal, and it had a row of ivy leaves in its design.

When it had come my turn to share, I described the old gate and its design, and the Holy Spirit then prompted me to prophesy the following:

"As you leaned on the gate when leaving home, know that I was with you. Lean on Me now knowing that you are greatly loved. You are not alone, for I am your heavenly Father. I am with you always."

She began to cry and through tears related that being a country girl, the ties to her home and family were strong, and it broke her heart when she had to leave for the city. One of her saddest memories was of leaning on that green metal gate the day she left, knowing how homesick she would be.

Drying her eyes, she shared that she now felt a difference. She no longer felt the loneliness. The presence of the Holy Spirit was healing the hurt, and realizing that God had been with her at the gate, she now felt the Father's abiding love deep within her being and hope for the future.

Words of knowledge and the gift of prophecy will often work hand in hand to comfort and encourage those in need.

The Scripture reveals, "'I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,' says the Lord, 'who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty'" (Revelation 1:8).

Picture a parade passing through the streets of a city and consider the difference between a street-level view and an aerial view. We have the street-level view, and God has the aerial view whereby He simultaneously views the entire parade from its beginning to its end.

Conceptual Illustration Showing How Prophecy Relates to TimeRelationship of Prophecy to Past, Present, or Future Events
Source: Leonardo | ©Don Bell

Imagine that you are standing with friends on the sidewalk watching the parade of colorful floats passing by. You can only view float B in front of you, and though you may have recollections of others that passed by earlier, you have no knowledge of the floats yet to appear. However…

  • God can tell you about float A that has already passed your vantage point. It's in your past.
  • God can tell you about float B that is at your vantage point. It's in your present.
  • God can just as easily tell you about float C that has yet to reach your vantage point. It's in your future.

God can give you a prophetic word for people needing to relate to an event in their past, present, or future. You simply step out in faith and prophesy His words to the people. Isn't God amazing?

A Personal Anecdote

I was leading a Catholic Charismatic retreat in Ontario's Ottawa Valley, and the group had chosen to end the Saturday by attending the evening Mass at Our Lady of the Angels, a small country church nearby at Brudenell.

One of the ladies was reluctant to go, as she was expecting a phone call. Her son and his wife were 330 km away in a Toronto hospital expecting their first baby, and their doctor was concerned since the birth was long overdue.

However, being a woman of faith, she placed the situation in God's hands, and we all drove to the church. We entered and while waking down the aisle, I sensed the Holy Spirit prompting me to prophesy.

The lady had seated herself in the pew in front of me, so I tapped her on the shoulder and whispered a brief prophetic word to trust in the Lord, that the baby was soon to be born in perfect health, and that God had a special plan for the baby's life. SHE would be His ROSE of Sharon!

It was one of those times when you listen to what you're saying and pray you've heard the Holy Spirit clearly. The promise of a healthy baby granddaughter is not to be made lightly! And why the Rose of Sharon?

Moments after our return to the retreat house, there was a phone call from her son. The baby had just been born, and both the mother and baby DAUGHTER were in perfect health.

And, get this: the Jewish mother had decided to name their newborn ROSE. I love it when God confirms His prophetic word.

An inspired prophetic word can offer peace of mind and confirmation that God holds the future to people facing life's situations and concerns. God is so good!

Conditional Prophecy: Your Role in God's Plan

Most individuals don't realize that prophecies often come with conditions, some clearly stated, others implied. The fact that a prophecy is divinely inspired doesn't automatically guarantee its fulfillment. The Old Testament provides us with clear examples of this principle.

When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here." Then David said, "O LORD God of Israel, Your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake. Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I pray, tell Your servant."

And the LORD said, "He will come down."

Then David said, "Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?" And the LORD said, "They will deliver you."

So David and his men, about six hundred, arose and departed from Keilah and went wherever they could go. Then it was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah; so he halted the expedition. (1 Samuel 23:9–13)

Although God had said, "They will deliver you," David and his men chose NOT to remain in Keilah, so they were NOT delivered to Saul, and their lives were spared. If they had fulfilled the prophecy's condition by remaining in Keilah, they would have been Saul's prisoners.

A passage from The Book of Jeremiah helps describe how conditional prophecy works:

The word of the LORD came to me, saying: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the LORD. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it" (Jeremiah 18:5–10).

The gift of prophecy operates within a framework of divine-human cooperation, where our responses to God's words can influence their fulfillment. Want an example? Let's suppose a young believer receives a prophetic word that God will use their musical talents to bless many people; it's crucial to recognize the believer's active participation. Bringing the prophecy to fruition will require their dedicated music study, consistent practice, and intentionally seeking opportunities to perform.

We can't passively wait for prophecy to manifest without meeting its built-in conditions as that can lead to unfulfilled expectations, requiring God to redirect His intended plan for us.

Prophecy is meant to motivate our current behavior: if it speaks of potential trouble, it encourages repentance; if it speaks of potential blessing, it encourages perseverance in following God's direction.

Continuing Your Journey in the Prophetic

Every journey begins with small steps, and God is patient as we learn to listen to the Holy Spirit's prompting, and then step out in obedience. Remember, the gift of prophecy isn't reserved for a select few; it's available to every Believer wanting to be used by God in this way. The Holy Spirit has given YOU this supernatural ability to encourage fellow believers and build up the Body of Christ.

You've now built a solid foundation for understanding the gift of prophecy: its definition, purpose, and supernatural operation. But before you step out to prophesy, there's a crucial skill every believer must develop: the ability to test and discern prophetic words.

In Part 2, How to Test Prophecy, we'll explore the biblical principles for weighing prophetic messages, protecting both yourself and others from error. Then in Part 3, How to Prophesy, you'll receive practical, step-by-step guidance for confidently delivering God's messages.

Continue your prophetic journey and discover how God desires to speak through you today

In This Series


About the Author

Don Bell of Kingdom Anointing

Don Bell is the creator of the Kingdom Anointing website, and a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ. He shares insights from his spiritual journey to encourage ordinary believers to seek God's Kingdom and lead extraordinary lives in the Holy Spirit.


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