Great post. In recognising prophets didn’t want to be prophets, we might also consider that the prophets today may be the people we don’t expect! Just because they don’t fit our idea of what a prophet might look like doesn’t mean God hasn’t called them.
I appreciate this post so much. I have been wrestling with this concept lately. However, I have a couple of questions.
- Is there a difference between the Old Testament prophet and the New? They seem to have different roles in the church. - What did Paul mean when he said in I Cor. 14:1 to seek the gift of prophecy. I started asking God for the gift of prophecy because we were told to ask. I am not sure I want to be disliked by all, like the prophets were. But I was told to seek that gift.
In light of the OT definition of prophet, how does this gift work in the church?
Those are really good questions, and honestly I think part of the confusion today comes from people throwing every use of the word “prophecy” into one giant spiritual blender and hitting purée. 😭
Because the OT prophets and prophetic gifting in the NT aren’t functioning the same, even if there’s continuity between them. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc. were covenant prosecutors speaking with national authority to Israel under Sinai covenant realities. These men were confronting kings, addressing covenant breach, announcing judgment, calling out injustice and idolatry. Jeremiah wasn’t starting “Jeremiah Ministries International” with a merch table and a YouTube intro. That man was crying in public and begging God to let him quit. 😭
In the NT, prophecy seems much more connected to the life of the believing community... encouragement, exhortation, discernment, warning, strengthening the body, occasionally revelation. And Paul specifically says prophecy is weighed and discerned communally. That matters to me ALOT because some modern prophetic culture acts like accountability quenches the Spirit, when Paul literally expected discernment to be part of the process.
And honestly, I think your hesitation about being disliked is healthier than somebody desperately wanting spiritual authority and recognition. Most of the biblical prophets were reluctant. Moses argued. Jeremiah protested. Jonah ran clear across the map. Meanwhile today everybody wants to be “Prophetess Shiloh Overflow - Apostle to the Nations” with Canva flyers and a very suspicious amount of uppercase letters. 😭. Sorry...still on my first cup of coffee so I am a bit salty LOL
When Paul says to desire prophecy, I don’t think he means every believer should view themselves as the next Jeremiah. I think he’s talking about Spirit-led speech that strengthens and edifies the body and bears witness to Yeshua.
Because in Scripture, the prophetic voice consistently points people back toward covenant faithfulness, repentance, truth, wisdom, encouragement, and ultimately toward God Himself and not toward obsession with the prophet’s platform, personality, or spiritual exclusivity.
That’s usually where I start side-eyeing modern prophetic culture a little bit. If everything centers the speaker instead of the faithfulness of God, something’s wrong.
Thank you for this excellent post. I might only add that it seems that prophets were not always solitary, there were prophetic communities (“schools of the prophets”) where presumably they taught each other how to better hear and discern the Word of the LORD. Thank you again for a lovely post.
Seriously though, I know the struggle of being called to something I didn't choose. It took me a year to finally obey, but that's the whole reason my publication exists.
I've said from the very beginning that I don't feel qualified. That there has to be someone better for this work. But He wouldn't let me let it go.
What I've learned is that our worldly concerns and our insecurities don't matter in the face of that. A life devoted to God means when He calls we obey.
I love that you asked that! I think there’s continuity, but not complete equivalence. The OT prophets were covenantal messengers to Israel, and they were often speaking with national authority to kings, priests, and the people on behalf of God.
In the NT, prophecy becomes one of several spiritual gifts distributed within the body through the Holy Spirit primarily for edification, exhortation, encouragement, and discernment. So the NT gift of prophecy participates in the prophetic work of the Spirit, but it doesn’t automatically make someone an Isaiah or Jeremiah. The NTalso consistently says prophetic words are to be weighed and discerned within the community.
Thank you 🙏🏼 I never know what to make of people who use prophet as a title (I’m pretty sure that is not scriptural.) But that does not mean I dismiss the calling. I’ve been present when it is practiced in churches and I don’t know what to make of that either in light of edification, exhortation, encouragement and discernment. We acknowledge that gift in our church heritage, but is rarely practiced.
My mission for God is the speak His heart. Which means that I carry the weight of His heart, because He has for some unknowable reason, to trust me with His heart.
As I read the Word, John the Baptist was asked and denied being a prophet. Jesus, to the contrary, said there was never a greater prophet than John. As you have said, God, not those individuals, reveals who is a prophet. It would seem that speakers, pastors, authors, who do not claim to be prophets, should at least be willing to be prophets if God should so designated, because God has given them the ears of the people.
Since you mentioned the courts with the prophets- I’ve recently learned of this Courts of Heaven theology by Robert Henderson. Have you heard of this? My discernment alarm bells go off when people mention it. But the premise is taken from Daniel 7. I’d love to know your thoughts.
I’ve heard of it, and honestly? I think your discernment is probably spot on.
Daniel 7 absolutely has courtroom imagery in it. So do Job, Zechariah, and parts of the Psalms. The divine court/heavenly council idea is a real biblical theme. That part isn’t strange to me at all.
What makes me cautious is when that courtroom imagery turns into an entire spiritual system with formulas, protocols, “legal rights,” and all this highly specialized language that starts feeling more mystical than biblical. Because in Scripture, those courtroom scenes are usually revealing something about God’s authority, justice, and sovereignty. Daniel isn’t being taught how to file motions in heaven. He’s seeing a vision of the Ancient of Days ruling over kingdoms and history.
And sometimes modern “Courts of Heaven” teachings starts feeling less like prayer and more like spiritual administration. Like believers need to learn heavenly legal procedures to get breakthrough. That’s where I start tilting my head a little. Or a lot!
Especially because the New Testament emphasis feels so different to me. Hebrews doesn’t present believers as people trying to master hidden courtroom strategies. The emphasis is that through Yeshua we already have bold access to the throne of grace. Already.
So for me, prayer in Scripture feels much more relational than procedural.
Not trying to figure out whether you forgot to submit Form 7B to the angels before making your request. 😭
And I think that’s my issue with it. The biblical imagery is real. But sometimes the modern systems built around it start sounding like heaven has some celestial HR department and Jesus is your attorney on retainer instead of your risen King and high priest.
That’s usually where I go, “Hmm… I don’t know about that.”
Thank you for this thorough response. It’s spot on with what I’ve felt in my Spirit. Makes you wonder what “spiritual realm” they are actually entertaining. 😵💫
Thank you for digging into this word! I have been thinking a lot about the difficult gift of prophecy and its presence (or lack thereof) in the church today. What do you think testing and humbling in the context of a prophetic message might look like?
That’s such a good question because Scripture treats prophecy with both openness and discernment. A prophetic word is never above being tested. Paul literally says, “test everything; hold fast to what is good” (1 Thess. 5:21). So if somebody acts like questioning them is questioning God… that’s already a problem.
The real question is does this actually reflect the character of God that is revealed in Scripture? Does it produce holiness, repentance, truth, and faithfulness? Or does it mostly produce hype, fear, dependency, and a personal fan club?
And honestly, humility matters. A LOT. The biblical prophets understood they were human beings, not untouchable spiritual celebrities. A healthy prophetic voice can be questioned or corrected without acting personally persecuted every five minutes.
The prophets in Scripture pointed beyond themselves. A lot of modern prophetic culture points directly at itself, and that difference matters.
Great post. In recognising prophets didn’t want to be prophets, we might also consider that the prophets today may be the people we don’t expect! Just because they don’t fit our idea of what a prophet might look like doesn’t mean God hasn’t called them.
Amen to that!!
And He still calls the unlikely ones.
He sure does David!!
Spot on. Thank you. 🙏
I appreciate this post so much. I have been wrestling with this concept lately. However, I have a couple of questions.
- Is there a difference between the Old Testament prophet and the New? They seem to have different roles in the church. - What did Paul mean when he said in I Cor. 14:1 to seek the gift of prophecy. I started asking God for the gift of prophecy because we were told to ask. I am not sure I want to be disliked by all, like the prophets were. But I was told to seek that gift.
In light of the OT definition of prophet, how does this gift work in the church?
Those are really good questions, and honestly I think part of the confusion today comes from people throwing every use of the word “prophecy” into one giant spiritual blender and hitting purée. 😭
Because the OT prophets and prophetic gifting in the NT aren’t functioning the same, even if there’s continuity between them. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc. were covenant prosecutors speaking with national authority to Israel under Sinai covenant realities. These men were confronting kings, addressing covenant breach, announcing judgment, calling out injustice and idolatry. Jeremiah wasn’t starting “Jeremiah Ministries International” with a merch table and a YouTube intro. That man was crying in public and begging God to let him quit. 😭
In the NT, prophecy seems much more connected to the life of the believing community... encouragement, exhortation, discernment, warning, strengthening the body, occasionally revelation. And Paul specifically says prophecy is weighed and discerned communally. That matters to me ALOT because some modern prophetic culture acts like accountability quenches the Spirit, when Paul literally expected discernment to be part of the process.
And honestly, I think your hesitation about being disliked is healthier than somebody desperately wanting spiritual authority and recognition. Most of the biblical prophets were reluctant. Moses argued. Jeremiah protested. Jonah ran clear across the map. Meanwhile today everybody wants to be “Prophetess Shiloh Overflow - Apostle to the Nations” with Canva flyers and a very suspicious amount of uppercase letters. 😭. Sorry...still on my first cup of coffee so I am a bit salty LOL
When Paul says to desire prophecy, I don’t think he means every believer should view themselves as the next Jeremiah. I think he’s talking about Spirit-led speech that strengthens and edifies the body and bears witness to Yeshua.
Because in Scripture, the prophetic voice consistently points people back toward covenant faithfulness, repentance, truth, wisdom, encouragement, and ultimately toward God Himself and not toward obsession with the prophet’s platform, personality, or spiritual exclusivity.
That’s usually where I start side-eyeing modern prophetic culture a little bit. If everything centers the speaker instead of the faithfulness of God, something’s wrong.
Thank you for this excellent post. I might only add that it seems that prophets were not always solitary, there were prophetic communities (“schools of the prophets”) where presumably they taught each other how to better hear and discern the Word of the LORD. Thank you again for a lovely post.
Yes you are correct! And thank you!!
Way to call me out, Diane!
Seriously though, I know the struggle of being called to something I didn't choose. It took me a year to finally obey, but that's the whole reason my publication exists.
I've said from the very beginning that I don't feel qualified. That there has to be someone better for this work. But He wouldn't let me let it go.
What I've learned is that our worldly concerns and our insecurities don't matter in the face of that. A life devoted to God means when He calls we obey.
Amen to that Kevin!!
I have a question- what is the relationship between prophets in the Old Testament and the spiritual gifts listed in the New Testament?
I love that you asked that! I think there’s continuity, but not complete equivalence. The OT prophets were covenantal messengers to Israel, and they were often speaking with national authority to kings, priests, and the people on behalf of God.
In the NT, prophecy becomes one of several spiritual gifts distributed within the body through the Holy Spirit primarily for edification, exhortation, encouragement, and discernment. So the NT gift of prophecy participates in the prophetic work of the Spirit, but it doesn’t automatically make someone an Isaiah or Jeremiah. The NTalso consistently says prophetic words are to be weighed and discerned within the community.
Thank you 🙏🏼 I never know what to make of people who use prophet as a title (I’m pretty sure that is not scriptural.) But that does not mean I dismiss the calling. I’ve been present when it is practiced in churches and I don’t know what to make of that either in light of edification, exhortation, encouragement and discernment. We acknowledge that gift in our church heritage, but is rarely practiced.
My mission for God is the speak His heart. Which means that I carry the weight of His heart, because He has for some unknowable reason, to trust me with His heart.
That’s it
Well said
thank you for your posts. It has given more insight through knowing the meaning of some of the Hebrew words
I am so glad you find them helpful!!
One word— AMAZING!
I try and tell people all the time that I NEVER ASKED for a prophetic gifting lol. In fact, I really don’t want it.
If people understood and knew the weight and pain that comes with hearing Gods heart, they wouldn’t want it either.
I hate it when people call themselves “prophetess ___”. Makes me want to roll my eyes.
100% of the time, prophetic people have to go through a deep deep crushing and wilderness season. There is nothing glamorous about it.
Prophetic people are meant to steward and share the heart of God.
Well said!
Please discuss the prophetess Deborah and any others of her ilk. Especially so in such a patriarchal society. Thanks!
I would love to talk about Deborah! In fact I have a pretty detailed blog post about her on my other site. https://www.worthbeyondrubies.com/deborah-in-the-bible-characteristics/
As I read the Word, John the Baptist was asked and denied being a prophet. Jesus, to the contrary, said there was never a greater prophet than John. As you have said, God, not those individuals, reveals who is a prophet. It would seem that speakers, pastors, authors, who do not claim to be prophets, should at least be willing to be prophets if God should so designated, because God has given them the ears of the people.
Well said!
Since you mentioned the courts with the prophets- I’ve recently learned of this Courts of Heaven theology by Robert Henderson. Have you heard of this? My discernment alarm bells go off when people mention it. But the premise is taken from Daniel 7. I’d love to know your thoughts.
I’ve heard of it, and honestly? I think your discernment is probably spot on.
Daniel 7 absolutely has courtroom imagery in it. So do Job, Zechariah, and parts of the Psalms. The divine court/heavenly council idea is a real biblical theme. That part isn’t strange to me at all.
What makes me cautious is when that courtroom imagery turns into an entire spiritual system with formulas, protocols, “legal rights,” and all this highly specialized language that starts feeling more mystical than biblical. Because in Scripture, those courtroom scenes are usually revealing something about God’s authority, justice, and sovereignty. Daniel isn’t being taught how to file motions in heaven. He’s seeing a vision of the Ancient of Days ruling over kingdoms and history.
And sometimes modern “Courts of Heaven” teachings starts feeling less like prayer and more like spiritual administration. Like believers need to learn heavenly legal procedures to get breakthrough. That’s where I start tilting my head a little. Or a lot!
Especially because the New Testament emphasis feels so different to me. Hebrews doesn’t present believers as people trying to master hidden courtroom strategies. The emphasis is that through Yeshua we already have bold access to the throne of grace. Already.
So for me, prayer in Scripture feels much more relational than procedural.
Not trying to figure out whether you forgot to submit Form 7B to the angels before making your request. 😭
And I think that’s my issue with it. The biblical imagery is real. But sometimes the modern systems built around it start sounding like heaven has some celestial HR department and Jesus is your attorney on retainer instead of your risen King and high priest.
That’s usually where I go, “Hmm… I don’t know about that.”
Thank you for this thorough response. It’s spot on with what I’ve felt in my Spirit. Makes you wonder what “spiritual realm” they are actually entertaining. 😵💫
Yeah I think when people start building a theology that is not centered in scripture, they are playing with fire.
Thank you for digging into this word! I have been thinking a lot about the difficult gift of prophecy and its presence (or lack thereof) in the church today. What do you think testing and humbling in the context of a prophetic message might look like?
That’s such a good question because Scripture treats prophecy with both openness and discernment. A prophetic word is never above being tested. Paul literally says, “test everything; hold fast to what is good” (1 Thess. 5:21). So if somebody acts like questioning them is questioning God… that’s already a problem.
The real question is does this actually reflect the character of God that is revealed in Scripture? Does it produce holiness, repentance, truth, and faithfulness? Or does it mostly produce hype, fear, dependency, and a personal fan club?
And honestly, humility matters. A LOT. The biblical prophets understood they were human beings, not untouchable spiritual celebrities. A healthy prophetic voice can be questioned or corrected without acting personally persecuted every five minutes.
The prophets in Scripture pointed beyond themselves. A lot of modern prophetic culture points directly at itself, and that difference matters.
I look forward to your word studies with anticipation. Thank you. Also, I trust that your migraine is better today.
I look forward to your word studies with anticipation. Thank you. Also, I trust that your migraine is better today.
Yes thank you so much Eric!
Interesting that another of my devotions today was Hebrews 3:7-15 "Today, if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts...."
That is awesome. I love when things come together like that!