The prophetic ministry carries the sacred responsibility of communicating God’s heart clearly to the Body of Christ in every generation through accurate, Spirit-led utterances. However, in recent times, this noble calling has been clouded by excesses and misrepresentations, making it imperative for prophetism to be re-examined and re-aligned with the authority of Scripture.
Biblically, prophecy is a divine and inspirational message from God, given to encourage, strengthen, and comfort His people (1 Corinthians 14:3). From the Old Testament to the New Testament Church, God raised prophets as His mouthpieces to convey messages of repentance, warning, direction, and hope. While individuals like Abraham and Moses operated in prophetic grace, the formal prophetic office was firmly established in the days of Samuel, at a time when the word of the Lord was rare in Israel (1 Samuel 3:1, 20). From then, God spoke through prophets in diverse ways, as affirmed in Hebrews 1:1 and Amos 3:7.
The prophetic ministry has always been significant in God’s redemptive plan. Yet Scripture also makes it clear that the purpose of every ministry gift, including that of the prophet, is to equip the saints and build up the Body of Christ toward maturity in Christ (Ephesians 4:11–13). Any prophetic ministry that deviates from this Christ-centred purpose raises serious concern.
Central to genuine prophecy is the work of the Holy Spirit. Prophecy does not originate from human will but from men and women who speak as they are carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). Throughout Scripture, the Spirit inspired prophetic utterances through diverse means – speech, song, prayer, and revelation – always to glorify God and edify His people.
Sadly, the rise of false prophets in our time has led many astray. Jesus Himself warned against such deception (Matthew 7:15; 24:11). Scripture provides a clear test: if a prophecy does not come to pass, it is not from the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:22). Believers are therefore admonished to be vigilant, grounded in God’s Word, which itself is prophetic, and firmly anchored in Christ, the greatest Prophet of all (John 4:19).
May God grant the Church discernment in these end times to uphold true prophetism and reject all forms of deception.
Written by Elder David Gyamfi, PIWC West Hills
