PROPHECY GUIDELINES | EXCEL IN GIFTS THAT EDIFY, EXHORT & COMFORT

1. Prophecy Guidelines

a) Here are some guidelines that many churches and ministries have found to be helpful in encouraging believers to move in this gift of prophecy - including prophecy, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits, and tongues and interpretation of tongues - in local fellowships.

b) The following principles for delivering and responding to personal prophecy in the local church have been adopted by many Bible believing Christian fellowships and ministries worldwide. These guidelines are merely suggestions for the operation of prophetic ministry within a local church or ministry, and should be weighed against Scripture.

c) With all we know from the Scripture about the gifts of the Spirit, we have to keep in mind that no prophetic utterance takes priority over the ministry of the Word of God itself. Prophecy must not displace preaching. People cannot live by “inspirationalism,” but only by the bread of God, the Word.

d) God has given to the church apostles, teachers, pastors, and evangelists - as well as prophets - to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Ephesians 4:11-13). The gifts of the Spirit are complementary to the Word.

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NKJV)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

2. Excel In Gifts That Edify, Exhort And Comfort

a) Perhaps the biggest misconception regarding personal prophetic ministry is that it should be spoken in judgmental, condemning, or rebuking ways. New Testament personal prophecy is always to be given for the purpose of edification, exhortation and comfort.

1 Corinthians 14:3-5 (NKJV)
3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 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. 

b) While prophets may occasionally speak of judgment, that ministry is reserved for the mature Christian who functions in the Office of the Prophet and who is recognized as an elder in the Body of Christ, under the oversight of the local pastor.

c) 2 Samuel 12:1 illustrates how “the Lord sent Nathan to David” to confront David with his sin. Nathan was a recognized prophet and a ministerial peer of David’s, not a novice or a “son of the prophet.” David received the word and repented of his sin. His response led to his restoration with God.

d) Likewise, New Testament saints should seek to restore the Body of Christ through congregational prophecy that edifies and encourages. Harshly spoken and condemning prophecies do not meet the biblical criteria of speaking (prophesying) the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and generally prove to be unfruitful. 

Ephesians 4:15 (NKJV)
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ.

e) Neither do they manifest the attributes of the wisdom from above (James 3:17).

James 3:17 (NKJV)
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

f) Saints should be eager to prophesy according to 1 Corinthians 14:39, for the church to be strengthened, encouraged and comforted.

1 Corinthians 14:39 (NKJV)
39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.