My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. James 5:10

If you're looking for prestige and glory on earth, prophecy is not the gift for you. Despite having the greatest gift, the prophets were despised and persecuted.

Amaziah, the priest of the false shrine at Bethel, demanded that Amos stop prophesying.

14    Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: " I was no prophet, Nor was I a son of a prophet, But I was a sheepbreeder And a tender of sycamore fruit.
15     Then the LORD took me as I followed the flock, And the LORD said to me, ' Go, prophesy to My people Israel.'

I have seen Christians defend their unsuccessful use of power by citing their education and accomplishments. Actually, their education was often based on misunderstanding of Scripture, and their past success is a lot less than they admit.

Amos had a clear, rock solid call from God to do what he did. A spiritual weakling, a confused saint, or a misguided "legend in his own mind" cannot be a prophet.

Hosea 9: 7-8 tells us about a problem in ancient Israel. "The prophet is a fool, The spiritual man is insane, Because of the greatness of your iniquity and great enmity. The watchman of Ephraim is with my God; But the prophet is a fowler's snare in all his ways --- Enmity in the house of his God."

Without being a prophet, the watchman continued to tell the truth. The prophets and spiritual men had collapsed spiritually due to the wickedness around them, but the watchman stayed true.

Anyone can speak God's Word when it is easy and safe. Speaking God's Word when it is unpopular and dangerous is another matter. Christians with the gift of prophecy will be under more stress when things are bad, and they have to have strength from God to hold up under that stress.

Requirements for a Prophet

I need to make something very clear: the Bible does not list the requirements of a prophet. I can list some guidelines, but these are not absolutes.

The Old Testament tells us the bizarre story of Balaam, who was paid to curse Israel but was forced to bless them instead. In Numbers 24, a distraught Balaam explains why he couldn't curse Israel:

12    So Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not also speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying,
13    'If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD, to do good or bad of my own will. What the LORD says, that I must speak'?

If you want the gift of prophecy, you need to get something straight: you can only say what God tells you to say, whether you like it or not.

Is God willing to give YOU the gift of prophecy?

1 Corinthians 14:5 tells us  " I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied;"

Numbers 11:29 says "Then Moses said to him, "Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the LORD's people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!"

Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.

In Acts 15:32, we see that two prophets exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. And now we see why God doesn't just hand out the gift of prophecy lightly. Christians won't listen for long to incompetent speakers or to Christians with a bad testimony. A person who lacks knowledge, can't teach, uses the wrong words, or does not command respect can't perform a prophet's duties.

We're told to seek the better gifts, especially that we may prophesy. If you obey this command, you might find God working in your life before He gives you what you ask for.

Okay, today a prophet edifies, exhorts, and comforts. What else does a prophet do?

Ephesians 4:11-12 tells us what ALL spiritual offices do:

And He Himself gave some to be Apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

So a prophet equips saints for the work of the ministry in order to edify the body of Christ. Nothing crazy or fanatical there. You don't have to be afraid of the gift of prophecy.