The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity

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2. Prophecy was not intended to be used as a basis for exercising church discipline.
Some have been accused of sin and expelled from the church on the basis of a prophetic
utterance, but this practice is wrong. Paul taught that such accusations should not even be
considered without the supporting evidence of at least two witnesses (I Cor. 13:1; I Tim. 5:19;
see also Mt. 18:15-17).
3. Prophecy was not intended to be a standard means of obtaining guidance from the
Lord. The Word of God is our guide—illuminated by the indwelling Holy Spirit, who is to lead us
into all truth (John 14:26; 16:13-15).
4. Prophecy was not intended to be our means of interpreting Scripture. Prophetic
utterances are themselves to be judged (I Cor. 14:29). Apart from the uniquely inspired canonical
writers, prophets are not divinely authoritative interpreters of Scripture. Rather, they are to be
judged by the Scriptures.
5. The gift of prophecy does not produce infallible utterances. The idea of infallible
contemporary prophecy has confused many people. Some have considered it sinful to question
what they believe to be the voice of the Holy Spirit, but such a reaction is wrong. The functioning
of spiritual gifts involves a cooperation between the divine and the human. The presence of the
human element makes it necessary for us to examine and evaluate or judge these things
(I Cor. 14:29; I Thess. 5: 20-21). 11
Example of prophecy in the New Testament:
Acts 11:27-28; 21:10-11 Agabus predicting the future.
Acts 19:1-6
The twelve disciples of John the Baptist spoke in tongues and
prophesied
Acts 21:9
Philip’s daughters prophesied.
I Cor. 11:4-5 Both men and women prophesied.
Acts 2:17-18 Peter quotes Joel 2:28-31 predicting that sons and daughters of
Israel will engage in prophesying.
Christianity has stood divided on the question of whether the gift of prophecy (and also other
supernatural gifts) was intended to be a permanent or a temporary gift.
Another closely related issue is the relationship between the functioning of New Testament
prophets and that of the gift of prophecy. Are all characteristics of New Testament prophets
involved in manifestations of the gift of prophecy?