Prophecy: Spiritual Gifts Definitions, Scriptures, and Ways to Serve
[If you have not already done so, please take a moment now to take this free spiritual gifts assessment. Once you have your results, come back to this and the corresponding 22 blog posts for a detailed description of each of the gifts, focusing on your own as well as becoming familiar with all of them so you can spot and call them out in others.]
Prophecy
Prophecy is the gift that God uses to convict His people of sin and their need for repentance. Prophecy today is the Holy-Spirit-empowered ability to speak God’s Word—truth—into a situation, calling people to turn back to God, warning of the consequences of not doing so, and reminding people of God’s promises and of His justice and judgment. Knowing the right timing to speak a word from God depends on the person with the gift of prophecy being prayerful and sensitive to the Spirit’s leading.
Scriptures that reference Prophecy or show someone exhibiting this gift:
Exodus 15 (Miriam);1 and 2 Samuel (Samuel); 2 Kings 22 (Huldah); Joel (sons and daughters);Acts 2 (David); Acts 11 (Agabus); Acts 13 (Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen, Saul);Acts 15 (Judas Barsabbas, Silas); Acts 21 (Philip’s four daughters);Acts 27 (Paul); 1 Corinthians 12-14;Ephesians 4; 2 Peter 1 (Peter).
Questions on the assessment that pertain to Prophecy:
I often say things that people in the church need to hear, even though it may make them uncomfortable.
God sometimes leads me to ask difficult questions and point out inconvenient truths.
God uses me to point out his plans and purposes when others may be straying from the path.
Some words that describe people with this gift:
Revealer
Exposes
Challenger
Bold
Warns
Discerning
Potential negatives to this gift:
Sometimes people with this gift deliver the message harshly.
People with this gift can get frustrated that listeners don’t hear God’s message and repent.
People with this gift can feel rejected and be tempted to either stop speaking or to leave the church.
Some possible ways to serve using this gift:
Adult Education teacher/Bible Study leader/assistant/Sunday School teacher
Elder/preacher/worship leader
Prayer team member/coordinator
Prison ministry
Spiritual gifts advisor/mentor/coach/counseling ministry
Youth leader
Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, DIOS. DONES. TÚ.: Tu llamado y diseño único (Spanish Edition), and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with hundreds of faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and executive leaders in a diversity of fields for four decades. She currently serves as Catalyst for Equipping at her church.
Photo © Shirley Giles Davis.
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