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.