24/08/2026
SCHOOL OF PROPHECY — LESSON 1
UNDERSTANDING THE PROPHETIC
Main Scripture
1 Corinthians 14:1 — New King James Version
> “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”
Lesson Objective
By the end of today's class, students should understand:
1. What prophecy means.
2. What a prophet is.
3. The difference between prophecy and personal opinion.
4. Why God gives prophetic gifts.
5. How to recognize God's voice.
6. Why character is more important than spiritual gifts.
7. Why every prophetic word must be tested.
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1. WHAT IS PROPHECY?
Prophecy is when a person receives a message from God and communicates that message according to God's purpose.
It is not simply telling somebody their future.
Many people think prophecy means:
> “I see your future.”
No.
Prophecy can involve encouragement, correction, warning, direction, revelation, or foretelling, depending on what God is communicating.
1 Corinthians 14:3 — NKJV
> “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.”
So prophecy should help people.
It should build them.
It should encourage them.
It should bring correction when God requires correction.
It should point people toward God.
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2. PROPHECY IS NOT MAGIC
This is very important.
The prophetic is not magic.
A prophet is not a magician.
A prophet does not control God.
A prophet does not force God to speak.
We don't say:
> “God, you must show me something.”
God is sovereign.
He decides what He reveals, when He reveals it, and to whom He reveals it.
Deuteronomy 29:29 — NKJV
> “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
Therefore, don't try to manufacture revelation.
Never invent what God has not said.
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3. WHO IS A PROPHET?
A prophet is a person called and empowered by God to represent His message to people.
A prophet is not simply somebody who can see visions.
A person may have dreams.
A person may have visions.
A person may receive words of knowledge.
A person may have strong spiritual discernment.
But these things alone do not automatically mean the person is a prophet.
Jeremiah 1:5 — NKJV
> “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
The prophetic calling comes from God.
You don't become a prophet because you bought a microphone.
You don't become a prophet because people call you “Prophet.”
You don't become a prophet because you can predict somebody's phone number.
The calling comes from God.
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4. PROPHECY AND THE OFFICE OF A PROPHET ARE NOT EXACTLY THE SAME
This is something every student must understand.
The Bible teaches believers to desire prophecy.
1 Corinthians 14:31 — NKJV
> “For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.”
But Scripture also speaks about prophets as ministers and offices.
Ephesians 4:11 — NKJV
> “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.”
So we should not automatically say:
“Because I prophesied once, I am now a prophet.”
A prophetic experience and the prophetic office are not automatically the same thing.
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5. WHY DOES GOD GIVE PROPHECY?
A. TO EDIFY
To build people up.
B. TO EXHORT
To encourage people to do what is right.
C. TO COMFORT
To strengthen people when they are passing through difficult situations.
Again:
1 Corinthians 14:3 — NKJV
> “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.”
Prophecy should not be used to destroy people.
It should not be used to manipulate people.
It should not be used to frighten people unnecessarily.
It should not be used to control people's money, marriages, decisions, or lives.
The prophet is God's messenger, not God's replacement.
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6. HOW DOES GOD SPEAK?
God can communicate in different ways.
Through Scripture
The Bible is the foundation.
Through dreams
God can use dreams to communicate.
Job 33:14–15 — NKJV
> “For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men...”
Through visions
God can give spiritual visions.
Through an inner impression
Sometimes you may have a strong inward prompting.
Through other people
God can use another believer to communicate something.
Through circumstances
God can use circumstances, although circumstances must not replace Scripture.
Through the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit guides believers.
John 16:13 — NKJV
> “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.”
But remember:
Not every thought in your mind is God's voice.
That is why spiritual maturity is necessary.
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7. HOW DO I KNOW WHETHER IT IS GOD?
This is one of the most important lessons in prophetic ministry.
Don't believe every spiritual experience immediately.
1 John 4:1 — NKJV
> “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God.”
The Bible says:
TEST IT.
Ask:
Does it agree with Scripture?
Does it point people toward Christ?
Does it produce godly fruit?
Is it consistent with God's character?
Is it coming from God, from my own emotions, or from another influence?
Am I interpreting what I received correctly?
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8. NEVER PROPHESY FROM YOUR EMOTIONS
This is where many people make mistakes.
Someone may come to you crying.
You feel sorry for them.
Then you begin saying:
> “I see that God will give you this...”
But perhaps God never showed you anything.
You were simply reacting emotionally.
A prophetic person must learn to separate:
What I feel
from
What God is saying.
Sometimes you may feel something strongly and still be wrong.
Therefore, don't say:
> “God said...”
when you only mean:
> “I feel...”
There is a difference.
When you are not sure, be humble.
You can say:
> “I believe I may be sensing something; please pray about it and test it.”
That is safer than falsely saying, “God said.”
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9. CHARACTER MUST COME BEFORE GIFT
A person can have a spiritual gift and still have serious character problems.
That is why students of prophecy must not focus only on visions.
Focus on:
Character.
Prayer.
The Word.
Humility.
Holiness.
Love.
Obedience.
Galatians 5:22–23 — NKJV
> “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
Your gift may attract people.
But your character will determine whether you can be trusted with influence.
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10. LOVE MUST GUIDE PROPHECY
Before 1 Corinthians 14 teaches us to desire prophecy, 1 Corinthians 13 teaches us about love.
1 Corinthians 13:2 — NKJV
> “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge... but have not love, I am nothing.”
This is powerful.
You can have prophecy.
You can have knowledge.
You can understand mysteries.
But without love, you are nothing.
Therefore:
Never use prophecy to show that you are powerful.
Use prophecy to serve God's people.
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11. NEVER USE PROPHECY TO CONTROL PEOPLE
This must be a major rule in our School of Prophecy.
Never tell someone:
> “God said you must marry this person.”
Never manipulate somebody by saying:
> “God said you must give me money.”
Never threaten somebody with:
> “If you don't obey me, something bad will happen.”
That is dangerous and spiritually abusive.
Prophecy should never become a tool for controlling people.
People still have responsibility before God.
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12. THE PROPHET MUST KNOW HOW TO SAY “I DON'T KNOW”
This is one of the signs of maturity.
Immature prophetic people want to answer everything.
Mature prophetic people know when to remain silent.
You don't have to know everything.
You don't have to see everything.
You don't have to answer every question.
Sometimes the correct answer is:
> “I don't know.”
There is nothing wrong with that.
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13. PROPHECY MUST BE TESTED
1 Thessalonians 5:19–21 — NKJV
> “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.”
Notice the balance.
The Bible doesn't say:
Reject every prophecy.
Neither does it say:
Believe every prophecy.
It says:
TEST ALL THINGS.
That is the attitude of a mature prophetic person.
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14. DON'T CHASE PROPHECY — CHASE GOD
This is perhaps the most important statement for today's class.
Don't become addicted to seeing visions.
Don't become addicted to people saying:
> “Prophet, tell me what you see.”
Don't build your ministry around people coming every day for revelations.
Your first pursuit must be God Himself.
Psalm 42:1 — NKJV
> “As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.”
The prophetic gift is not supposed to replace your relationship with God.
Seek the Giver, not only the gift.
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CLASSROOM DISCUSSION
Ask your students these questions:
Question 1
What is prophecy?
Allow them to answer.
Question 2
Does everybody who prophesies automatically become a prophet?
Discuss 1 Corinthians 14:31 and Ephesians 4:11.
Question 3
How can we know whether a prophetic message is from God?
Discuss Scripture, testing, prayer, character and spiritual discernment.
Question 4
Can a person have a gift and still have character problems?
Discuss why spiritual gifts must never replace godly character.
Question 5
Why should we never use prophecy to control people?
Let the students give examples.
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PRACTICAL EXERCISE FOR TODAY
Tell every student:
“Do not try to prophesy to another student today.”
Instead, give them this exercise.
Spend 15–20 minutes quietly before God.
1. Put away your phone.
2. Pray.
3. Read 1 Corinthians 14.
4. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you become sensitive to God's voice.
5. Write down any thoughts, impressions, scriptures, dreams, or pictures that come to your mind.
6. Don't immediately call everything “God said.”
7. Test what you received against Scripture.
8. Bring your questions to the next class.
The purpose is not to make them excited.
The purpose is to teach them discipline and discernment.
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HOMEWORK
Ask every student to study these Scriptures before the next class:
1 Corinthians 12
1 Corinthians 13
1 Corinthians 14
Ephesians 4:11–13
1 Thessalonians 5:19–22
1 John 4:1–6
And ask them to write down:
> “What is the difference between having a prophetic gift and being called to the office of a prophet?”
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CLOSING CHARGE
My students, remember this:
The prophetic is not about showing people that you can see.
It is about helping people see God.
Don't chase fame.
Don't chase titles.
Don't chase crowds.
Don't chase people who will call you powerful.
Chase God.
Build your prayer life.
Study the Word.
Develop character.
Walk in love.
Learn discernment.
Learn when to speak.
Learn when to keep quiet.
And above everything:
NEVER SAY “GOD SAID” WHEN GOD DID NOT SAY IT.
A prophetic person must fear God.
Because when you speak in the name of God, people are not only hearing you.
They believe you are representing God.
Therefore, let your life be clean.
Let your heart be humble.
Let your words be truthful.
And let Jesus Christ remain at the center of your prophetic ministry.
FINAL SCRIPTURE
1 Corinthians 14:1 — NKJV
> “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”
School of Prophecy — Lesson 1 complete.
Next lesson: “HOW TO HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD — Learning to Recognize God's Voice.” :::
