PROPHET

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Prophet: Defined

One who speaks/sings by divine inspiration & foretells events 

  • Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet1 to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 NKJV
  • All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord. 1 Samuel 3:20 NASB
  • prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21 NKJV
  • I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied2 1 Corinthians 14:5 NKJV
  • But if all prophesy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], and an unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted [of his sins] by all, and he is called to account by all [because he can understand what is being said] 1 Corinthians 14:24 AMP

Prophetic Levels

  1. Prophet: All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord. 1 Samuel 3:20 NASB
  2. Prophetic Gift: earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts [to be used by believers for the benefit of the church], but especially that you may prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people]. 1 Corinthians 14:1 AMP
  3. One off Prophesy: Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied Luke 1:67 BSB

How Prophets Receive Messages

1. Revelation

  • Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation3&4 comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop. 1 Corinthians 14:29-30 BSB
  • In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will prepare [a prayer and a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart]. Psalm 5:3 AMP

2. Seeing

  • Amos: The words of Amos, who was among the sheepbreeders of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. Amos 1:1 NKJV
  • Habakkak: The prophesy which the prophet Habakkuk saw. Habakkuk 1:1 NKJV
  • Micah: The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. Micah 1:1 NKJV

3. Hearing

  • Isaiah: He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple [as One who is taught]. The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. Isaiah 50:4-5 AMP
  • King David: Sacrifice and meal offering You do not desire, nor do You delight in them; You have opened my ears and given me the capacity to hear [and obey Your word] Psalm 4:6 AMP
  • Agabus: And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” Acts 21:10-11 NKJV

4. Seeing & Hearing

  • And He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord will make Myself known to him in a vision And I will speak to him in a dream. “But it is not so with My servant Moses; He is entrusted and faithful in all My house. “With him I speak mouth to mouth [directly], Clearly and openly and not in riddles; And he beholds the form of the Lord. Numbers 12:6-8 AMP

Examples

  • Balaam: Then he took up his oracle and said: “The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, The utterance of the man whose eyes are opened, The utterance of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open Numbers 24:3-4 NKJV
  • Micaiah: And Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak.” … Then he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’ ” 2 Chronicles 18:13&16 NKJV

Start prophesying when

1. In the presence of other Prophets

  • King Saul: After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying. Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be transformed into a different person… When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.1 Samuel 10:5-6 BSB & 1 Samuel  10:10 NKJV
  • King Saul’s messengers: When Saul was told that David was at Naioth in Ramah, he sent messengers to capture him. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon them, and Saul’s messengers also began to prophesy. 1 Samuel 19:19-20 BSB
  • King Saul’s other messengers: when Saul was told, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. Then Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. 1 Samuel 19:21 NKJV

2. When filled with or when they receive the Holy Spirit

  • Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied Luke 1:67 BSB
  • Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 1 Samuel 10:6 NKJV

  • Two men, however, had remained in the camp—one named Eldad and the other Medad—and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those listed, but they had not gone out to the tent, and they prophesied in the camp. Numbers 11:26 BSB

3. Laying on of hands by Anointed

  • when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Acts 19:6 NKJV

4. Transferred from a Prophet

  • Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and He took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and placed that Spirit on the seventy elders. As the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but they never did so again. Numbers 11:25 BSB

GOD's Confidantes

  • Certainly the Lord GOD does nothing Unless He reveals His secret plan To His servants the prophets. Amos 3:7 NASB

God does not do anything major without revealing it to His prophets. See example below

  • So now return the man’s wife, for he5 is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. Genesis 20:7 AMP
  • The LORD said, “Shall I keep secret from Abraham [My friend and servant] what I am going to do Genesis 18:17 AMP

How long it takes to become a Prophet

  • Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: “I was no prophet, Nor was I a son of a prophet, But I was a sheepbreeder And a tender of sycamore fruit. Amos 7:14 NKJV
  • Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him… So all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD. And the LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, because there He revealed Himself to Samuel by His word. 1 Samuel 3:7 NASB 1 Sam 3:20-21 BSB
God can make you a Prophet overnight.

Who becomes a Prophet?

  • The secret [of the wise counsel] of the LORD is for those who fear Him, And He will let them know His covenant and reveal to them [through His word] its [deep, inner] meaning. Psalm 25:14 AMP

How the received Word is to a Prophet

  • Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not. Jeremiah 20:9 NKJV
Other versions
 
  •  But if I say, “I will not remember Him Nor speak anymore in His name,” Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am tired of holding it in, And I cannot endure it. Jeremiah 20:9 NASB

God would have us all become Prophets or at least Prophesy

  • Then Moses said to him, “Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!” Numbers 11:29 NKJV
  • earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts [to be used by believers for the benefit of the church], but especially that you may prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people]. 1 Corinthians 14:1 AMP
  • 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 14:5 NKJV

Everyone is capable of Prophesying

  • But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all 1 Corinthians 14:24 BSB
  • For you are all able to prophesy one by one, so that all may learn, and all may be exhorted. 1 Corinthians 14:31 BLB
Other versions
 
  • But if all prophesy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], and an unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted [of his sins] by all, and he is called to account by all [because he can understand what is being said] 1 Corinthians 14:24 AMP

Children shall prophesy

  • it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young6 men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. Acts 2:17 NKJV
See example (these were not just prophesying they were actual Prophetsesses)
 
  • Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. Acts 21:9 NASB

Do Prophets only Prophesy?

  • Healing: the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman’s wife. Then she said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.” 2 Kings 5:2-3 NKJV
  • Miracles: So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. 2 Kings 6:6 NKJV
A Prophet may do more than Prophesy.

Prophetic Facts

Prophesying

In the context of the prophetic, whether you get to prophesy through the gift of prophesy or by being a Prophet, once given the gift or made a Prophet, God does not take away the ability to prophesy.

Do Prophets see the future Only?

  • PAST: Samuel: As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them, for they have been found. 1 Samuel 9:20 BSB
  • PRESENT: Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 2 Kings 6:12 NKJV

  • PAST & PRESENT: The Lord Jesus: The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. John 4:17-19 NKJV

Prophets can know the past and the present; not just the future.

Prophets can prophesy at will

  • the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets [the prophecy is under the speaker’s control, and he can stop speaking] 1 Corinthians 14:32 AMP
  • Now Samuel grew; and the LORD was with him and He let none of his words fail [to be fulfilled]. 1 Samuel 3:19 AMP
  • He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! … So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Ezekiel 37:4, 7 NKJV
  • he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.” Revelation 10:11 NKJV

Footnotes

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  1. Strongs 5030 נביא [nâbîy'] \naw-bee'\ From 5012; a prophet or (generally) inspired man: - {prophecy} that {prophesy} prophet.
    5012 נבא [nâbâ'] \naw-baw'\ A primitive root; to {prophesy} that {is} speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse): - prophesy (-ing) make self a prophet.
  2. Strongs 4395 προφητεύω [PROFHTEU/W] {prophēteúō} \prof-ate-yoo'-o\ from 4396; to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office:--prophesy.
  3. 601 ἀποκαλύπτω [A)POKALU/PTW] {apokalýptō} \ap-ok-al-oop'-to\ from 575 and 2572; to take off the cover, i.e. disclose:--reveal.
  4. Revelation could mean something known (internally), heard or seen.
  5. GOD here is talking about Abraham
  6. 3495 νεανίσκος [NEANI/SKOS] {neanískos} \neh-an-is'-kos\
    from the same as 3494; a youth (under forty):--young man.