What is the gift of prophecy?

Examples of prophecy, or the foretelling of the future, are found throughout the Word of God.  There are numerous Old Testament prophets as well as many books of the Old Testament written by prophets.  The New Testament includes many references about believers prophesying, to include listing it as a spiritual gift which the Apostle Paul ranks as greater importance than many of the other spiritual gifts.  What then is the gift of prophecy?

The Apostle Paul includes the gift of miracles in his letter to the Romans as well as the Corinthians.

“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many from one body, and each member belongs to the others.  We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.  If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.” (Romans 12:4-6 NIV)

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.  Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.  To one there is given though the Spirit the message of wisdom…to another prophecy…and to still another the interpretation of tongues.  All of these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. (I Corinthians 12:4-8, 10-11 NIV, italics added for emphasis)

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.  Are all apostles?  Are all prophets?  Are all teachers?  Do all work miracles?  Do all have gifts of healing?  Do all speak in tongues?  Do all interpret?  But eagerly desire the greater gifts? (I Corinthians 12:27-30 NIV, italics added for emphasis)

Basically, the spiritual gift of prophecy is when the Holy Spirit guides a believer to strengthen, encourage and comfort others by explaining how the sovereign providence of God impacts current as well as future events around our world.  On the surface, prophecy may have similarities to other spiritual gifts, such as teaching.  However, the Apostle Paul separates prophecy from the other spiritual gifts and ranks it as having greater importance than several of the other spiritual gifts, since it helps edify the church…not individual believers. (I Corinthians 14:5-6 NIV)

Overall, the spiritual gift of prophecy remains vitally important in churches today, especially with the ever-changing world events around us.  The gift of prophecy serves a distinctly unique purpose for the church in that it empowers believers to have a greater understanding of God’s intricate involvement in the world around us.  As a result, the Holy Spirit entrusts many believers with the gift of prophecy for the purpose of helping others understand God’s sovereign providence in relation to our lives and the ongoing world events.

What is the gift of miracles?

Throughout the Word of God you find numerous examples of miracles.  In the beginning of the Bible, you see God creating the earth and everything within it, Noah preparing an ark for the great flood, and Moses parting the Red Sea.  In the New Testament, you find Jesus Christ feeding the multitudes, changing water into wine, walking on water, along with many more wondrous acts.  There are many more examples of miracles.  What then is the spiritual gift of miracles?

The Apostle Paul includes the gift of miracles in his letter to the Corinthians.

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.  Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.  To one there is given though the Spirit the message of wisdom…to another miraculous powers…and to still another the interpretation of tongues.  All of these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. (I Corinthians 12:4-8, 10-11 NIV, italics added for emphasis)

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.  Are all apostles?  Are all prophets?  Are all teachers?  Do all work miracles?  Do all have gifts of healing?  Do all speak in tongues?  Do all interpret?  But eagerly desire the greater gifts? (I Corinthians 12:27-30 NIV, italics added for emphasis)

One common theme among miracles is how individuals entrusted with the spiritual gift of miracles will feel led by the Holy Spirit to turn ordinary events into awe-inspiring marvels for the purpose of validating servants of the Lord and for glorifying God.  In other words, the Holy Spirit guides believers to use supernatural powers to authenticate God’s providence.  However, miracles in themselves do not necessarily produce faith.

For example, Jesus Christ’s first disciples (Simon Peter, James and John) decided to follow him after they returned an unproductive night of fishing and Jesus demonstrated how they could miraculously catch a large amount of fish…just by casting their fishing nets to the other side and making a catch so large that caused both of their fishing boats to start sinking.  Jesus Christ later instructed the disciples, “Come, follow me…and I will make you fishers of men.” (Luke 5:1-11; Matthew 4:19 NIV)  On the contrary, Jesus Christ performed many miracles, with many who decided to put their faith in him, yet there were many people who still would not believe in him. (Matthew 11:20; John 11:45-46; 12:37)

 

So in a sense, miracles are not an end goal to meet all means for reaching people.  Rather, miracles are only a means of reaching the end goal of sharing the message of God’s love with others.  Thus, everyone does not have the same spiritual gift or gifts (i.e., miracles, healing, evangelism, etc.), since each spiritual gift serves a unique purpose towards the overall vision of the church.