Psalms 105: 14-15 says “He suffered no man to do THEM wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my PROPHETS no harm.” Here God calls the whole camp of Israel in the wilderness Prophets and not just one man, because it was pointing to the corporate body of prophets under the New Covenant.
While God’s foreknowledge is like the Word of Knowledge; predestination is like Prophecy. Prophecy is an utterance of what you’re going to do in the future. A person can prophesy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a Prophet. The office of the Prophet is different than the gift of prophecy. The gift of prophecy can always flow out of the office of the Prophet; but the office does not flow out of the gift of prophecy. Prophecy is a gift that can be desired. The spirit of prophecy on the other hand can fall on a church that walks in a prophetic atmosphere, and a culture is produced from that atmosphere, this atmosphere being the Spirit of God moving in a house.
There are also levels to prophecy: The first being the spirit of prophecy. The second is the Gift of Prophecy. The third is Prophetic Presbytery. The fourth is Prophetic Preaching. And the fifth is the office of the Prophet.
1 Corinthians 14:24-25 (KJV)
“But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.”
Prophecy helps to bring:
1) conviction
2) examination of ones heart
3) repentance
4) worship towards God
5) acknowledging of the truth
Paul asked a rhetorical question in 1Corinthians 12: 29-30 which says “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?” And the obvious answer is no. But in 1Corinthians 14: 24 he says all can prophesy, and the same can be said of tongues. It is understood than as a gift not all can prophesy, but under the spirit of prophecy all can prophesy.
-Anthony D. Booker
The GATHERING Place 