Biblical Attributes Of Prophets

Some people in the Christian church, today, use the title prophet but do not operate as outlined in the Bible. They have learned church lingo that sounds spiritual but they are not truly hearing from the Lord. These individuals will say slogans like' "I declare and decree" or "I speak such and such over you." When someone starts out saying I,I, I, me, myself and I, this is a red flag because Biblical prophets only said what the Lord told them to relay to His people. Some Christians believe prophets were done away with or there are no women prophets but scripture indicates otherwise regarding both.

Ephesians 4:11-16 (KJV)

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Acts chapter 11

27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

Acts chapter 21

10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus.

11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

Agabus predicted a famine and that Paul would be incarcerated if he went to Jerusalem and both prophecies came to pass.

In the Old Testament, there was Deborah, (Judges 4) Hulda, (2 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 34.) Anna in the New Testament (Luke 2) and Phillip's daughters were female prophets.

Acts 21:8-9 King James Version (KJV)

8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

True prophets do not live a life of one, two, skip a few. Everything they say that came from the Lord comes to pass.

The Bible says that anyone who claims to be a prophet speaking on behalf of the Lord will accurately foretell the future. If their words do not come to pass you know they are not a prophet of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 18:22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

Ezekiel 33:33 And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.

Amos 3:7 (KJV)

7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Lamentations 3:37-38 (KJV)

37 Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

38 Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

This scripture indicates that no one can speak a thing and have it come to pass unless the Lord has ordained it and that good and evil come out of the mouth of the Lord. If a Christian brother or sister you know sees tragedy that takes place they are not speaking negative or operating in witchcraft. If they are operating by the Holy Spirit they are simply seeing the truth. Biblical prophets revealed when the Lord was going to deal with other prophets, priests, kings and the nation of Israel. In today’s culture if someone says God is about to deal with a pastor they may be told they are putting their tongue in the anointing because pastors are considered the leaders of the sheep. This conflict of interest may lead to the prophet being ostracized but will not stop their words from coming to pass.

Biblical prophets had to tell the truth as the Lord gave it to them and they were not popular. Consider Jeremiah chapter 20.

7 O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived; thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.

8 For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.

9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

Jeremiah told the Israelites exactly what the Lord said and it was never anything good. The people were tired of his prophesying bad things because they always happened. Jeremiah said he tried to hold in what the Lord was showing him but it became like a fire in his bones and he had no choice but to tell the people what thus sayeth the Lord. Jewish history records that Jeremiah was taken to Egypt after the Babylonians captured Jerusalem. He continued prophesying what his fellow Israelites considered as negative and they were so tired of it that they stoned him to death.

I Corinthians 12

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Prophets are those born with the spiritual gift of knowledge, which gives insight into things a person ordinarily would not know.

They may be told they are psychic, clairvoyant, have ESP, second sight, a sixth sense, or a third eye. They might also hear that they were born with “the gif, or born with a veil over theur face. Some with this gift dabble in witchcraft, use tarot cards, Quija boards, crystal balls or consult with evil spirits. If you are a believer in Christ and have the ability to see or sense things before they happen, please submit your gift to The Holy Spirit. If you truly are prophetic, people may treat you like Jeremiah. Your gift will intimidate and loved ones may say, "You think you know everything." They may call you negative because you see death and destruction. You may have to watch some things take place because no one will listen to you.

Just remember Mark 6:4 KJV

But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. Expect to be rejected, especially if you are seeing God's wrath regarding spiritual leaders. Biblical prophets walked right up to other prophets, priests and kings and told them what was coming. Nathan told King David his baby was going to die. ( 2 Samuel 12:1-25.)

Samuel told Eli his sons would die because of their wickedness. (I Samuel 4:8-32.) The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth (John 15:13). He shows you what is real and that's not negative.