THE GIFT OF PROPHECY VERSUS THE FIVE FOLD MINISTRY GIFT OF A PROPHET.
The gift of prophecy is not the same as being a prophet. Prophecy is a gift of the Holy Spirit. It is one of the three utterances or vocal gifts(1 Cor 12:10, Rom 12:6).
Written By Ben Ndobe
As a gift of the Spirit, the operation of a gift of prophecy is to bring forth an inspired utterance. That is, the Holy Spirit reveals the heart and the mind of God through the believer.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE GIFT OF PROPHECY?
1Co 14:3,4 “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men [to] edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in a [unknown] tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.”According to this passage of Scripture, the purpose of the gift of prophecy is THREEFOLD:
- TO EDIFY,
- TO EXHORT,
- TO COMFORT.
The gift of prophecy is to encourage the church. The primary purpose of the gift of prophecy is not to direct or correct the body of Christ, but rather to encourage the church. This is the realm in which the gift of prophecy can go.
The Gift of Prophecy is not a word of knowledge or a word of wisdom! It does not rebuke or bring correction.
The Bible is clear that every believer can prophesy(1 Cor 14:31). In fact, the Bible encourages the believer to covet the gift of prophecy(1 Cor 14:1-3,5,39).
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| The Office Of A Prophet As Opposed To The Gift Of Prophecy |
THERE’S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GIFT OF PROPHECY AND THE OFFICE OF A PROPHET.
The apostle Paul taught that not every believer is a prophet (1 Corinthians 12:19), but also said that all believers can prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:31). What then is the difference between being a believer who can prophesy and being a prophet?
THE OFFICE OF A PROPHET.
The gift Of prophecy is for all believers, but being called to the ministry as a prophet of God (or into the office of a prophet) is to be called to be a part of the five-fold ministry. This is detailed in Ephesians 4:11-12. The office of a prophet is very different from operating in the gift of prophecy.
1. Prophets are not a gift of the Holy Spirit like the gift of prophecy; instead, Prophets are Christ’s gift to the church (Eph 4:8,11). They are not just gifted people but they are the gift. The gift they are to the church creates a call in their life to fulfil the responsibility of the office of the prophet.
The Prophet is part of the five-fold team(Eph 4:11). The office of prophet is one of the leading offices in the body of Christ that exists to “equip the saints for the work of the ministry” (Ephesians 4:11-12). Not all believers are called to such a leadership office, but the prophet is.
2. To be a Prophet is a calling. To minister in prophecy is a gift. When a person ministers in the gift of prophecy, the gift is the ability to prophesy. The words themselves are the gift. When a person is a prophet, they themselves are the gift.
3. As the name “prophet” suggests, prophesying will be the dominant feature of a prophet’s ministry. To prophesy simply means to speak forth a revelation we have personally received from God (the Greek word literally means to “speak forth”). Whereas all believers can prophesy, prophecy will not necessarily be the dominant feature of that believer’s ministry.
Prophets are continuously speaking forth revelations that they have received from God (e.g. Acts 11:27-28).
There is a different realm of responsibility and authority. Not everybody that prophesies is a prophet, but every prophet prophesies.
4. As opposed to the ordinary gift of prophecy, the office of a prophet not only has the gift of prophecy operating regularly but also has, in addition, two if not all three of revelation gifts (word of knowledge, word of wisdom and discerning of spirits) in operation. Also, The office of a prophet can rebuke, correct or give direction by the Spirit of God, something that one operating in a gift of prophecy is not authorized to do.
CONCLUSION: There is a difference between a five-fold ministry gift of a prophet and the gift of prophecy. Whilst every believer can prophesy, that doesn’t make them a prophet. Everyone can prophesy, but only God calls prophets into ministry.
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