The prophet's handbook

apparent presbytery of prophets was summoned by the king to advise him on an impending military campaign. A similar example is seen with Ahab and Micaiah in 1 Kings 22, and Paul spoke of a prophesying presbytery in 1 Timothy 4:14. Question #10: What are the means of receiving personal prophecy? Aside from gaining audience with a prophet or encountering one with the gift of prophecy, other ways of receiving prophecy include dreams, visions, prayer, Scripture study, and casual conversation with highly spiritual or especially wise people. Most notable among these is the conscientious intercessor. A last and most typical way to receive a prophetic word from the Lord is through the manifestation of the Holy Spirit, taught in 1 Corinthians 12:7–11. This action is not the same as one exercising the gift of prophecy. The manifestation is as the Spirit wills; exercising one’s gift of prophecy is not dependent upon the Holy Spirit’s initiatives. Question #11: What about false prophecy? Of the more than five hundred times the word prophet appears in Scripture, there are only about twenty-one mentions of false prophets, perhaps because less than 10 percent of the prophetic actions recorded were false. Of the more than thirty prophets identified in Scripture, including major and minor prophets, only a handful of false prophets are named: Jezebel, Noadiah, Jannes and Jambres, and Balaam, to name a few. That is not to say that there were no others, but it implies that false prophets and false prophecy were less of a threat than today’s popular teachings communicate. Divination, the word for false prophecy, is in the Old Testament about twelve times. While false prophecy is a concern, more damage is done by uneducated or overly sensual prophets such as those given little opportunity to perfect their skill before now. For those who believe the Old and New Testaments are separate with different rules, here is a thought. Jesus relied on ancient prophets and prophecies for His ministry. So, if part of the Old Testament applied to the New, then—except for the ritual laws abolished by His cross—it applies equally today, especially in relation to prophecy. Otherwise, where and how do we draw the line?