I Corinthians 14v1

Num. 12v6. "When a prophet of the Lord is among you, I reveal Myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams."

I Sam. 10v9ff. "a procession of prophets met him (Saul); the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he joined in their prophesying. When all those who had formerly known him saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, 'What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?' ..... After Saul stopped prophesying, he went to the high place."

I Kings 18v4. "While Jezebel was killing off the Lord's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water."

2 Chron. 20v20. "Jehoshaphat said, 'Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in His prophets and you will be successful'".

2 Chron. 36v15. "The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through His messengers again and again, because He had pity on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked God's messengers, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of the Lord was roused against His people and there was no remedy."

Ps. 74v9. "We are given no miraculous signs; no prophets are left, and none of us knows how long this will be."

Ps. 105v15. "Do not touch My anointed ones; do My prophets no harm."

Amos 3v7. "Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plans to His servants the prophets."

b) Named prophets in the Old Testament.

Aaron Ex. 7v1 Abraham Gen. 20v7

Ahijah 1 Ki. 11v29 Amos Am. 1v1

Balaam Nu. 22v5 Daniel Matt. 24v15

David Mk. 12v36 Eldad Num. 11v26

Elijah 1 Ki. 18v36 Elisha 1 Ki. 19v16

Ezekiel Ez. 1v3 Gad 1 Sam. 22v5

Habakkuk Hab. 1v1 Haggai Ezra 5v1

Hananiah Jer. 28v17 Hosea Hos. 1v1

Iddo 2 Chr. 13v22 Isaiah 2 Ki. 19v2

Jehu 1 Ki. 16v7 Jeremiah Jer. 1v5

Joel Joel 1v1 Joshua 1 Ki. 16v34

Jonah 2 Ki. 14v25 Malachi Mal. 1v1

Medad Num. 11v26 Micah Jer. 26v18

Micaiah 1 Ki. 22v8 Moses Dt. 34v10

Nahum Na. 1v1 Nathan 2 Sam. 7v2

Obadiah Ob. 1 Oded 2 Chr. 28v9

Samuel 1 Sam. 3v20 Shemaiah 2 Chr.12v5

Zechariah Zec. 1v1 Zephaniah Zep. 1v1

Ju. 6v8 "When the Israelites called to the Lord because of Midian, He sent a prophet, who said, 'This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says.....'"

1 Kings 13v11ff

1 Kings 20v35 "By the word of the Lord one of the sons of the prophet said .... so the prophet said."

2 Kings 2v3ff "The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha"

d ) Groups of prophets on the Old Testament.

2 Kings 2v5 "The company of the prophets at Jericho....."

2 Kings 4v38 "While the company of prophets was meeting with him...."

2 Kings 6v1 "The company of the prophets said to Elisha....."

1 Sam. 9v9 "... because the prophet of today used to be called seer."

2 Sam. 24v11 "... the word of the Lord had come to Gad the prophet, David's seer."

1 Chr. 29v29 "As for the events of King David's reign from beginning to end, they are written in the records of Samuel the seer, the records of Nathan the prophet, and the records of Gad the seer....."

 f) Prophetesses in the Old Testament.

Miriam Ex. 15v20

Deborah Jdg. 4v4

Huldah 2 Kings 22v14

Noadiah Neh. 6v14

The priests brought sacrifices from the people to open the way to God.

The prophets brought God's word to the people.

Joel 1v1 "The word of the Lord that came to Joel"

Amos 1v3 "This is what the Lord says...."

Obad. 1v1 "This is what the Sovereign Lord says...."

Jon. 1v1 "The word of the Lord came to Jonah...."

Micah 1v1; Micah 6v1; Nahum 1v12; Habbakuk 1v1; Zeph. 1v1; Haggai 1v3; Zech. 1v1; Malachi 1v1

2 Kings 24v 2

2 Chron. 36v21

2 Kings 24v2

Jer. 36v1ff; 38v17ff; 46ff; 25ff

Is. 62 etc

Jer. 25

Is. 45

2 Chr. 26v21

Ez. 1v1

Gen. 3v15; 22v18; 49v10

Dt. 18v15

Ps. 2; 16v10; 45v2; 68v18; 69v21; 110v1; 118v22; 132v11

Is 2v4; 7v14; 9v6; 11v1; 28v16; 42v1; 53; 59v16; 1v1; 63v1

Jer. 23v5

Dan 9v25 Mic. 5v2

Hag. 2v7

Zec. 3v8; 6v12; 9v9; 11v12; 12v10; 13v7

Mal. 3v1

Joel 2v28ff

Is. 65v17 - Rev. 21v1

Ez. 33v7 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from Me"

Ez. 37v1ff The valley of dry bones.

Deut. 18v17ff

Deut. 13v1ff

Jer. 14v14ff; 23v15ff

Ez. 13v2

Zec. 13v3

Dt. 13v5; 18v22; Is. 9v15; Jer. 2v8; 5v31; 14v14; 23v16; Ez. 13v2; 22v28; Hos. 9v7; Mic. 3v5; Zep. 3v4; Zec. 13v3

The Old Testament times were noted for men and women who were recognised as a having the prophetic office. Very few people prophesied in the period before the Pentecost. It was at Pentecost that the prophecy of Joel was realised and all believers became able to exercise the manifestation of "prophecy". Although it is described as being a gift it is not a gift of permeancy but is given when it is required.

Agabus Acts 21v10

Anna Lk. 2v36

John Lk. 7v26

Zechariah Lk. 1v67

Philip's daughters Acts 21v9

General Acts 11v27; 31v1; 1 Cor. 12v28; 14v29; Eph. 4v11

cf Acts 21v10ff and 30ff

I Cor. 14v1. "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy".

The context in which prophecy generally operates is that of I Cor. 12-14. Chapter 12 speaks about God's gifts to the church (v1ff) and that prophecy is one of them (v10). All of the gifts are given by the Holy Spirit (v11). The rest of the chapter describes the church as being a living body in which everyone has a part to play (v27). Within the church God has appointed some to have particular offices, of which the prophet is one (v28,29).

Chapter 13 emphasises the importance of the gifts being used in an attitude and atmosphere of love - I can still prophesy if I have not got love, but the words get lost between my lips and the heart of the recipient. Love is eternal, but prophecy will not be needed when Christ reappears at the second coming (the true definition of verse 10). Verse 9 points out that prophecy in the NT church will not be infallible (v9), nor will it necessarily contain all that God is saying at a given time.

This is a point of major difference between OT and NT prophecy. In the OT the prophet had to get it right or he/she was put to death, but in the NT with God's act of opening up prophecy to all, he is gracious to them when they get it wrong. THIS IS NO EXCUSE TO BE SLOPPY OR CARELESS.

Chapter 14 describes the reasons for tongues and prophecy, and the differences between them (v1-25), and how they are to be used in the church (v26ff).

It is not a replacement for, or an extension to Scripture. It is God's word to the church now, but it never contradicts what is either explicitly or implicitly stated in Scripture. Scripture is for all people for all time, prophecy is to a limited group of people for a particular time.

I Cor. 14v3 "But anyone who prophesies, speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. ....he who prophesies edifies the church."

I Cor. 14v31 "For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged."

Predictive Acts 11v27ff; 21v10ff; I Tim. 4v14; Revelation.

I Cor. 14v29 "Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said".

I Thess. 5v19ff "Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good."

How do you test prophecy ? The implications of I Cor. 14v29 is that it is the responsibility of the prophets in the church. What if there are none (or only one ) ? It would be in general accordance with the NT emphasis on rule in the church that the Elders should have that responsibility, but all should be capable of recognising if a word is highly suspect.

Simple tests:-

Remember that we prophesy in part. Often it is part God and part man. Seek to recognise the difference. Accept what is of God, and lovingly forget what is from man.

What do you do if someone is always getting it wrong? The elders should advise him/her that their gifting is probably elsewhere and they should prayerfully seek what God has for them to give to the body.

i) Humbly offer yourself to God as a living sacrifice for Him to use in whatever way He wants to.

ii) Earnestly desire the gift of prophecy - I Cor. 14v1.

iii) Seek to live a prayerful, holy, fruitful Christian life.

iv) Seek God regularly for yourself. Be a person of prayer and of the Word. Remember that you must check for yourself that the words that you bring are in accordance with the written word.

v) Be open to God. If He speaks to you recognise if it is for you personally or for the church (or part of it).

vi) It is normally best until you are recognised as normally being right (both regarding content and timing) to check the word out with an elder or home group leader (if they are qualified).

vii) When you speak the word out remember that it is to be tested. If you are not willing for this to be done keep quiet and let God speak through someone else.

viii) Be natural. Often the Lord will give you simple words of encouragement to bring to the church. Do not try to speak in King James language if you do not normally do so! Avoid stating "Thus saith the Lord" or phrases that impress your authority on the word. Be humble enough to say "I think that God may be saying" and leave room for others to weigh the word.

ix) You do not have to be learned or clever to bring a word from God. It is those who spend time in His courts with whom He shares His heart.

Prophecy in the church. Martin Scott. Word books.

The gift of prophecy. Wayne Grudem. Kingsway.

The Holy Spirit and you. Dennis and Rita Bennett. Kingsway.

I believe in the Holy Spirit. Michael Green. Hodder and Stoughton.

Prophecy: a gift for the Body of Christ. Logos.

Prophecy. Timothy Pain. Kingsway.

Keep in step with the Spirit. Jim Packer. IVP.

Prophecy in the local church. David Pytches. Hodder and Stoughton.

Prophecy. Alex Buchanan. Sovereign World International Booklet.

School for Prophecy - John Wimber.

Church Growth Leadership - The Kingdom of God in the 90's - John Wimber et al.