Let’s Define (and Demystify Prophesying first –

One of the best definitions of prophesy comes from Strong’s Concordance, which defines it as:

“To utter forth, declare a thing which can only be known by divine revelation“.

Building on that, here is a simple definition for this course:
“Prophecy is hearing God’s heart for someone and speaking those words of encouragement to them, pointing them back to Jesus.”

While prophecy can sometimes include revelation about the future, in the New Testament its primary purpose is to strengthen people in their walk with Christ.

What Does Healthy New Testament Prophecy Look Like?

1 Cor 14:3-4
But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

Paul teaches that prophecy is given to:

• Edify – to build up and strengthen.
• Exhort – to encourage, urge forward, and inspire.
• Comfort – to bring hope, peace, and consolation.

As you begin learning to minister prophetically, ask yourself these questions:

• Does what I’m about to share build this person up?
• Does it encourage them toward Christ?
• Does it bring comfort, hope, or strengthening?

If your words consistently point people toward Jesus and accomplish these purposes, you’re operating in the heart of New Testament prophecy.

But can I hear God?

So how do we hear God?

In Lesson 1 of Prophetic Life, we explored the four primary ways we perceive God’s voice. But at its foundation, hearing God isn’t reserved for a select few—it is part of being one of His followers.

So let’s return to the original question – who can prophesy?

Acts 2:17-18
And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.

Notice who Peter says will prophesy:

• Sons and daughters.
• Young and old.
• Men and women.
• Everyone upon whom the Holy Spirit is poured out.

Now ask yourself:

• Are you one of His sheep?
• Have you received His Holy Spirit?
• Are you one of the people Peter is describing?

Then this promise is for you.
God desires to speak through ordinary believers to encourage, strengthen, and comfort others. As you hear His heart for someone and faithfully share it with humility and love, you are participating in one of the ways the Holy Spirit builds His Church.

“Prophecy is not reserved for a gifted few—it is a gift the Holy Spirit desires to use through every willing believer.”

Not everyone will minister prophetically in the same way or with the same frequency, but every believer filled with the Holy Spirit can learn to hear God’s voice and encourage others as He leads.

How can I prophesy?

– Three Guidelines for Healthy New Testament Prophecy

These are not simply good ideas—they are biblical safeguards that help us minister in a way that reflects the heart of Jesus.

Love is Everything !

1Co 13:2 –
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

His Word says without love “I am nothing”. The heart of prophesy is motivated by love for the person we are speaking to. We get a glimpse of God’s love for that person and desire to share it.

That means our motivation should never be to impress, to prove ourselves, or to demonstrate spiritual maturity. Our motivation is simply to love people well.

Have you ever noticed that 1 Corinthians 13, often called the chapter of love, is intentionally placed between 1 Corinthians 12 and 1 Corinthians 14, the two great chapters on spiritual gifts?

That is no accident.

Paul reminds us that love must always govern the exercise of spiritual gifts.

After all,

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son...” (John 3:16)

Everything God does flows from love.

If you find it difficult to love someone, don’t force yourself to manufacture it.

Instead, ask the Holy Spirit:

“Show me how You see this person. Let me love them with Your heart.”

Humility is the safeguard!

1Co 13:9 –
For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

Humility frees us to obey.

It reminds us that we are not required to be perfect—we are simply called to be faithful.

Humility allows us to:

• step out even when we feel unsure,
• accept that we may only have part of the picture,
• resist the need to appear impressive,
• receive correction if we misunderstand,
• trust God even when we never see the outcome.

Humility also protects us from pride and manipulation.

Earlier in this course we studied the Hebrew word Shema.

Shema means far more than simply hearing.

It means to hear, to understand, and to obey.

That was the heart of Deuteronomy 30:19–20 as we learned to Choose Life.

True obedience always grows out of humility.

A genuinely prophetic person is not someone who simply hears God’s voice well.

A genuinely prophetic person is someone who humbly obeys what they have heard.

A true prophetic word is never delivered through pride, control, or manipulation.

Those are not the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

They are signs of an unhealthy tree.

We’ll explore discernment, deception, and fruit in much greater depth during Lesson 4.

Faith is the posture!

Rom 12:6 –
We have gifts that differ according to the grace that was given to us – if prophecy in proportion to our faith;

We prophesy according to the measure of faith God has given us.

Faith doesn’t require certainty about the outcome.

Faith simply obeys.

When you share a prophetic encouragement, you are planting a seed or watering one that God has already planted.

Growth belongs to Him.

Sometimes you’ll immediately see the impact.

Sometimes you never will.

Either way, your responsibility is the same:

Be faithful.

Trust that God loves the person you’re speaking to far more than you ever could.

Trust that He knows exactly what they need.

Trust that if He prompted you to encourage them, He is already at work in their life.

The results belong to Him.

Remember the Purpose

As we move into the next section of Lesson 3, we’ll explore the impact prophecy has on the Church.

But before we do, keep Paul’s simple framework in mind.

Healthy New Testament prophecy seeks to:

• Edify — build people up.
• Exhort — encourage them forward.
• Comfort — strengthen and console them.

As you continue learning to hear God’s voice, ask yourself one simple question before you speak:

Will these words build this person up, encourage them toward Jesus, or bring comfort to their heart?

If your motivation is love, your attitude is humility, and your posture is faith, you’re already standing on a strong biblical foundation for ministering prophetically.