What will happen tomorrow or predicting the events that would come to pass or foretelling things that will happen in the last days are all called prophecy. A Prophet is one who has a vision about the future. The number Seven has a spiritual meaning namely fullness. The gift of prophecy began with Enoch who was the seventh generation from Adam. He foretold the second coming of JESUS CHRIST. (Jude 1:14-15)

Old Testament Prophets: People were afraid of prophets and even the kings before going to battle would seek advice from the prophets. Those kings who failed to hear the word of God through the prophets were defeated in battle and killed and also these kings brought the wrath of God upon their people. Prophets of God will not be partial while prophesying whether it be the king or the ordinary citizen a prophet will dare to speak the truth. They would say only that which God asks them to reveal and the prophets of old were lion hearted and spoke boldly and point blank even before kings. Oh! if I prophecy like this, I may loose the offertory was never their concern. They never had a fear in their minds and neither did they prophecy according to situation. Oh! People have come to me to know something about their future. So let me say something that comes to my mind, these were far from the prophets of God. Prophets dared not to utter anything more than what God spoke to them. People came in search of Prophets to hear from them. Many prophets died as Martyrs when they had prophesied against the nation and the king.

“Of the Prophets: through faith many subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to fight the armies of the aliens and women received their dead raised to life again, and some others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others and trials of cruel mocking and scourging, yea, moreover or bonds and imprisonment. They were. Stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, and were slain with the sword, wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute afflicted, tormented, (of whom the world was not worthy) wandered, in desserts and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”(Heb 11:32-38)

The above verses clearly describe the lives of the Old Testament prophets. Let us examine ourselves in the light of the old testament prophets. Whether we are better than the old testament prophets or not. Have we received the Holy Spirit more than the old testament prophets or fallen short in anointing? People in the old testament who had the Holy Spirit in them were able to tear open the lions mouth. Whereas the present day believer is not even able to tear open hen’s mouth. Why? A complex of fear prevents him from even going near the lion. Have you achieved anything which the old testament prophets had accomplished. Let us think for a moment if we really possess the Holy Spirit or not.

The old testament prophets spend most of their time in prayer and their fervent prayers brought down the Lord God of Host in their midst. My dear readers let us shun vain talks and spend time in prayer and let us receive the Holy Spirit which come from the throne of God without measure and become a mighty prophet challenging nations as the prophets in the old testament did.

How am I to know the correct prophecy or not: “And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? 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 if presumptuously; thou shall not be afraid of him. (Deu 18: 21, 22) Prophecy from the Lord will certainly be fulfilled. “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent, hath he said, and shall he not to do it?” or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Num 23:19) JESUS said I am the truth. (John 14:6) Every prophecy in the Bible is getting fulfilled these days. In many places we come across false prophecy. False prophecy will never come to pass. It will divide the Church, break up families and lead many to resign their good secular jobs. And later on make them repent for having done so. Many wrong things will happen as a result of false prophecy. Let us not be afraid of the prophecy which is not from the Lord, when the prophecy comes from God you will feel a divine presence around you, Joy in your heart, mental peace and a faith within you attesting the prophecy. The fruits of the spirit will fill you when true prophecy comes.

When we hear a false prophecy there will be confusion in the mind, disturbance in the heart, Bible reading will go down, prayer time will fade away, fear will creep in and finally lead us into a dull life. Will prophecy come only two days a week i.e., Tuesday and Friday, No, never! Lord’s prophecy according to his will can come in all the seven days of the week.

Who have prophecised:- “ For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost”. (II Peter 1:21) only the Holy men prophecised in the Bible days. Isaiah cried out that I am a man of unclean lips. (Isaiah6:5) After his lips were cleansed he became a major prophet. No one can prophecy God’s word with unclean tongue. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouths.”(Eph 4:29) God’s word can come from only a cleansed mouth. It is not possible to prophecy and speak filthy words from the same mouth. “Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?”(James 3:11) Let us examine ourselves in the presence of God, surrender ourselves to God to make us Holy. Holiness in thought, word and deed is a must for a prophet. Only then our vision will be clean as we see it. Every word that proceeded out of the mouth of prophet Samuel was fulfilled (1 Sam 9:6).