2 Chronicles 20:20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem: believe in Jehovah your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

The prophetic voice and vision the prophet brought forth as a spokesman for God were taken seriously when destruction was imminent within a nation. Life and death depended on following the instructions of the prophet who had inquired of God. The Lord’s clear directions came down to deliver some and destroy others. Hopefully, those needing God’s help were delivered from the calamity surrounding them. God rarely, if ever, did anything among His people without first revealing His plans to the prophet. Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets. God gives revelation, knowledge and instructions to the prophet, and the prophet in turn gives the people warnings, instructions, and admonitions. With this method of interaction, Almighty God could meet the people’s needs and direct their lives in the will of God.

We can see this ordered relationship taking place when God is going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Gen. 18:17 Then the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? The judgment that is planned for Sodom and Gomorrah is explained to Abraham, and Abraham begins to reason with God as to whether destroying the righteous along with the sinful population is the right thing to do. Sadly, the only righteousness found in the city was Lot and, by default, his family. The conclusion that this interaction with Abraham leaves with us demonstrates that had there been a few righteous souls in these two locations, God would have had mercy and spared them. Gen. 18:20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous.

The prophet’s word was not always welcomed. The people did not always appreciate nor want to believe the prophetic Word of God when the prophet expounded upon God’s warnings. King Zedekiah wanted Jeremiah to prophesy nice and favourable outcomes for himself and the lives of the Judeans. As if God were subject to the prophet. Jeremiah ended up incarcerated because he was obeying God and telling the king and the people exactly what God said was going to happen. Jer. 32:3 Now Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him there, saying, “Why do you prophesy as you do? You say, ‘This is what the LORD says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it. 4 Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape the Babylonians but will certainly be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and will speak with him face to face and see him with his own eyes. It was not uncommon for the people to take their anger toward the Lord and lash out at the prophet conveying God’s testament.

A surprising amount of people do not like it when the word of a prophetic utterance brings convicting truth to a heart. The result of this word can hurt immensely when a person’s heart is set on a particular path or desire, and God brings a different instruction for them to follow in their life. We should be grateful that God is directing our lives for our good, but it is still our choice whether we will despise or obey the word. The prophetic instruction is not always comfortable to obey, but it is needed if we are going to grow in the maturity of our faith. 1Thes. 5:20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt, 21 but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.

We who live in the dispensation of the New Testament have received through our new birth in Christ the prophetic abilities of Jesus. Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord have received Christ’s prophetic gifts that live and can be discerned within our souls. It may not always seem apparent because we are seeing through a dark lens, as the Apostle Paul describes it, but nonetheless, we still have the light and insight of the Holy Spirit’s prophetic understanding available to us. I believe this is why we are admonished to covet the gift of prophecy. We can prophesy words that bring healing and uplift the spirit within the hearts of mankind 1Cor. 14:1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

When Jesus ministered as a prophet, He brought life and direction. John 1:48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Jesus ministered to people’s hearts by bringing a prophetic insight into the depths of a person’s soul. He could touch the spot within a heart that, when healed, would change their lives. This was the case with the Samaritan woman Jesus met at the well. She was looking for fulfilment through the men she had lived with, but found no solution to her deep longings. However, just one encounter with the Lord’s loving grace and He met her need. John 4:18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true. The prophetic insight hit her heart. John 4:19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Not only was her life changed, but the people of the town were also changed. John 4:40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. This one prophetic word in season brought about a two-day revival of faith in God. John 4:41 And because of his words many more became believers.

Jesus foretold the fall and destruction of the temple. Mark 13:2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” According to the historian Josephus, the temple was captured and destroyed a generation later. Jesus used His gift of prophecy as well as His office as a prophet. We need to discern between the office of a prophet and the gift of prophecy. Just because I have a few prophetic insights into what the Lord is teaching me on a particular subject does not mean I have been called to the office of a prophet over a nation, state or country. The gift of prophecy is for all believers in Christ. Because of our salvation through Christ, we must protect the prophetic voice of the Spirit that arises within us. This puts a whole new seriousness on the words we speak to ourselves and each other. May we covet the gift of prophecy, and may we use this gift to wash one another in the healing words of the Lord.