a) Old Testament:- A Prophetic oracle or message to be delivered to the people was conceived of as a “burden” on the soul of the prophet until he could utter it.
(Prov 30:1 31:1)
b) New Testament:- Refers to prophetic activity or prophesying (Rev 11:6) to the gift of prophesying or prophecy (Rom 12:6)(1Cor 12:10)(1 Cor 13:2,8,9) (1 Cor 14:1-6) and to prophetic utterances (Math 13:14) (1Thess 5:20) (1 Tim 1:18).
Functions of Prophecy:-
1. Forthtelling: The prophets were first of all forth tellers and spokesmen for God. Abraham received and announced the covenant which God had made with his concerning his seed. (Gen 12:1-3 / 15:1 / 22:15) Moses received the word directly from Gods mouth and passed it on to Aaron who was to be his spokesman. (Ex 7:1-2) It is in this sense that the New Testament believer may prophecy when directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit. In the designation of the Old Testament as the Law and the prophets (Math 11:13 / 22:40)(Luk 16:16) the writers of all the books subsequent to the Pentateuch are classified as “Prophets,” in the sense that they recounted history, manifested Gods glory in praise and song revealed His wisdom, and delivered His warnings of judgment and promises of restoration, all as Gods inspired spokesmen.
2. Foretelling: Though not all foretold the future, many prophets did so. Abraham, as the first man named a prophet, was both a forth teller and a foreteller. He delivered to Isaac and his descendants a prophecy concerning Israel which revealed the promise of the first coming of Christ as the seed. (Gal 3:8,16) and also the setting up of a Kingdom.
Throughout the Old Testament, 3 lines of prophecy were developed:
a. Concerning the suffering, sacrificial Messiah and Christ first coming. (Gen 3:15)
b. Concerning the reigning Messiah and Christ’s second coming as promised in
(2 Sam 7).
c. The 3rd intervenes with the prophecies of the first and second coming of Christ. It has to do with certain historical events which are not connected to the 1st and 2nd coming of Christ, but are prophecies of particular historical events given to steady Gods people in times of great trial and distress. (Gen 15:13).
3. Ethical and Social teaching:- This ministry of the prophet has been all too often ignored. Moses first attempt to help his brethren was in the social sphere (Ex 2:11). Later he was guided of God to set up the great theocratic principles of social and economic justice found especially in (Exod. Duet). Jesus fulfilled this responsibility particularly in the Sermon on the Mount and in some of His parables.
4. Political Influence:- This is also often overlooked. Moses received a commission to demand the release of Israel by Pharaoh (Ex 6:11 / 9:13) Nathan was to appear before David (2 Sam 12). Isaiah confronted King Ahaz and advised Hezekiah (Isa 7:37) Jeremiah was commanded to appear before the King. (Jer 22:1 / 34:2 / 37:7) Daniel appeared before Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. (Dan 2:19,25 and 5:17). Amos message reached the King through one of his ministers. (Amos 5:15-17)
5. A Soteriology Message:- The most important ministry performed by the prophet was that of giving a message of Salvation. Constantly the prophets warned the people of their sins and urged them to repent. Joshua calling on Israel to choose whom they would serve. (Josh 24:15) Moses gave the blessings and the cursings, followed by a plea to repent. Jonah called on Nineveh to repent within 40 days. (Jonah 3:4) Ezra prayed for those who had returned from the Exile, to confess their sins and put away their foreign wives. (Ezra 9:5 / 10:11) John the Baptist exhorted Israel to prepare a highway in their hearts for the coming of their King. (Luke 3:4-6)
Modes of Communication:-
1. Direct Proclamation: The prophet proclaimed in simple, bold language (Jonah 3:4) the message which God had given him. It was either mouth to mouth, face to face, or through a dream or vision, but always by direct inspiration of God, so that the prophets could write, “Thus saith the Lord.”
2. Figurative Language: The main reasons of figurative language are two:
a) to convey more effectively and expressively some fact or truth (Isa 66:12-13)
(Amos 9:13)
b) to express a knowledge of future events in such a form that it could not be fathomed by the believer through careful study
3. Dramatic Presentation: Sometimes the Lord directed the prophet to dramatize the message. Jeremiah was to make yokes and put them on his neck. (Jer 27:2) Ezekiel to set up a drawing of the city on a tile and lay siege to it. (Eze 4:1) God called upon Hosea to marry a harlotrous woman and redeem her from slavery as a picture of His undying love for Israel.
The School of the Prophets:
It appears that Samuel started the School of the Prophets, which died out, only to be revived again by Elijah and Elisha. (2 Kings 2:3) during the time of Apostasy and Idolatry in the Northern Kingdom (1 Kings 18:18). It was to be expected that great spiritual leaders, such as Samuel and Elijah, would attract to themselves young men who would follow in their footsteps.
NB!! The Priests represented the people before God, so the Prophet represented God before the people.
Divine Inspiration:-
(Job 32:8) But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the almighty giveth them understanding. (2 Pet 1:20,21) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation, for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (1 Cor 14:29-33) Let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the other judge. If anything be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first one, that all many learn, and all may be confronted, And the “spirits of the prophets” are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
The Ministry of a Prophet:
To constitute the office of a prophet, a man is first to receive the calling of God upon his life. Second, he must have at least two of the revelation Gifts plus prophecy operating in his ministry. i.e.: The word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, and for the discerning of spirits. A prophet is one who sees and knows things supernaturally. He is one who has visions and revelations and dreams. The prophet when moved
upon by God, shall be walking after the Spirit, i.e.: wheresoever the Spirit leadeth, shall be abiding in the shall be walking in Love, shall be upright and holy before the Lord, shall be sensitive to the heart beat of God through intercession, then shall he speak as the oracles of God. When prophecy is given by the unction of the Holy Spirit, and two other prophets judge and discern what is said, they do not judge the prophecy, but the prophet. Whether he speaketh by power of the Holy Spirit, or whether he speaketh by the voice of his own conscience
i.e.: (Flesh). If they discern that the prophecy is of man, or of a familiar
spirit, then that prophet should hold his peace and the discerning prophet should speak.
Spiritual Discernment:-
(1 Kings 3:9) Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil: for who is able to judge this thy so great people. (Isa 7:15) (Isa 11:3) and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears. (1 Cor 2:14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (Heb 5:14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
The Accuracy of Prophecy:-
1. The Holy Spirit dwelling in believers:
a. (Eze 36:27) And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
b. (John 14:17) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world can not receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: by ye know Him; for He dwelleth in you, and shall be in you.
c. (Rom 8:9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you; Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is not of His.
d. (1Cor 3:16) Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Cor 6:19)(2 Tim 1:14)
2. Spiritual Adoption of Believers:
a. (Rom 8:16) The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.
b. (Gal 4:6) And because ye are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba, Father.
c. (1 John 3:24) And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him, and hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.
d. (1 John 4:13) Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit.
e. (1 John 5:6) This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
3. The Teacher the Holy Spirit:-
a. (Neh 9:20) Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.
b. (Luk 12:12) For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
c. (John 14:26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my Name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
d. (1 Cor 2:13) Which things also we speak, not in the words of mans wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual.
e. (1 John 2:27) But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as that same anointing teacheth you of al things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.
4. Promise of an Outpouring of the Holy Spirit:
(Joel 2:28) And is shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. (Zec 12:10)
The Character of the Holy Spirit:-
NB!! (Isaiah 11:2) And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding the Spirit of Counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
The Value of Prophecy:-
Prophecy leads to a conviction of ones sinful condition, a judgment or examination, and a manifestation of the secrets of the heart. The result is worship, the true object of all ministry.