valuing prophetic ministry
The #1 reason we value prophetic ministry and input is that God gave it to us. It is a remarkable, comforting, encouraging and dynamic gift that brings and inspires fresh hope when it is used properly
The gift of prophecy edifies, exhorts, and comforts (1 Corinthians 14:3); helps us build up or strengthen; and should lead us to the Word of God. It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to convict of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment to come (John 16:8-11).
Prophecy is divinely inspired and anointed utterance; a supernatural proclamation in a known language. It is the manifestation of the Spirit of God – not of intellect (1 Corinthians 12:7), and it may be possessed and operated by all who have the infilling of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:31)
Intellect, faith, and will are operative in this gift, but its exercise is not intellectually based. It is calling forth words from the Spirit of God. The gift of prophecy operates when there is high worship (1 Samuel 10:5-6), when others prophets are present (1 Samuel 10:9-10), and when hands are laid on you by ministers (Acts 19:1-6).
There is a ministry of the prophet, but not everyone is a prophet. You may prophesy, but operating in the simple gift of prophecy does not qualify you to stand in the office of a prophet, you must be gifted. Some people say that to stand in the office of a prophet, one must have a consistent manifestation of at least two of the revelation gifts (of knowledge, or discerning of spirits) plus prophecy.
Prophecy is not the same thing as preaching..
The words preach and prophesy come from two entirely different Greek words. To "preach" means to proclaim, announce, cry, or tell. Jesus said, "Go into all the world, and PREACH the gospel.." (Mark 16:15). Note that He didn’t say to prophesy the Gospel.
The word prophecy means to "bubble up, to flow forth, or to cause to drop like rain." Teaching and preaching are preplanned, but prophecy is not.
The Bible tells us that we are to "Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things." 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21. When a prophecy is given, we are to test it and hold on to what is good in it.