Acts 2:17‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on allmankind; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams;'
1 Cor. 12:10and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
Prophecy a Superior Gift
1 Corinthians14:1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
14:3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.
14:4 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.
14:6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching?
14:22 So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe.
14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all;
14:31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted;
14:39 Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.
1Thess. 5:20 do not despise prophetic utterances.
Rom. 12:6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
NASB Translation
Prophets and Personal Prophecy by Dr. Bill Hamon
Putting Personal Prophecy in Perspective
Christian ministers and church members are faced with making decisions all of their lives. Dedicated Christians want to make their decisions in the will of God. They want every action and attitude in perfect harmony with heaven. (Chapter 7, par. 1)
the Bible gives clear direction for the general directions and standards for our lives. But how do we make decisions about a particular matters for which the Bible cannot gives us specific guidance. (Chapter 7, par. 2)
Personal prophecy can play an important role in helping believers make decisions. You may ask, "But is it proper - is it scripture - for an individual Christian to go to a prophet and expect to receive a specific prophetic word of direction, instruction, or confirmation?" The answer is yes. The Bible provides numerous examples of people, especially those in leadership, going to a prophet and asking for a "thus saith the Lord" about a particular situation (Chapter 7, par 3).
God approves of this practice as long as we do not allow personal prophecy to become a substitute for our seeking God for ourselves through prayer, fasting, and searching the scriptures. The prophet and personal prophecy is not to take the place of the inner voice of the Holy Spirit within New Testament saints. Instead they are the extension of the Holy Spirit ministry of communicating the mind of Christ to individual members of the body of Christ. (page 72 par 2)
If you would like more information on the book, Prophets and Personal Prophecy, and Dr. Bill Hamon, go to Christian International
Work Cited: Hamon, Bill. Prophets and Personal Prophecy. Destiny Image, 1987.