In 2002 I had a dream in which I was looking at an object that resembled a bulletin board plastered with all kinds of last-day events. The Lord told me something was going to happen on March 19, 2003, that would change the whole world. I told my wife, my board, and a few close friends. I didn’t know exactly how it would play out but on March 19, 2003, America invaded Iraq.

Dreams, visions, appearances of angels, spiritual warfare, and hearing the audible voice of the Lord are just some of the things prophets may experience. These events can be exciting and frightening at the same time.

Did you ever wonder what kind of person is called to be a prophet? If someone had told me 35 years ago that I would become one, I would have thought they were crazy. I was raised in an Irish-German Catholic family from Cincinnati, Ohio, very distant from the life I now know and love. I was saved in my Air Force barracks room on January, 12, 1974. That night I realized who I was and who I wasn’t. The great thing was that the Lord loved me anyway.

It did not take me long to figure out the Lord had called me to something unique. The Master Builder began providentially putting together the puzzle pieces of my life. During the next ten years I was baptized in water and the Holy Spirit, was called to the ministry, began to experience spiritual dreams and visions, started traveling evangelistically, and began publicly prophesying in the Body of Christ. Twenty years later I still prophesy as the Lord gives me strength and wisdom.

The study of prophets is fascinating. They are an essential part of the five-fold ministry mentioned in Ephesians 4. In fact, the Lord indicates He will do nothing unless He first reveals it to the prophets (Amos 3:7).
You may be thinking, “What or who is a prophet anyway?” When I mention the word “prophet,” I am not necessarily speaking of someone who might give a word of prophecy in a church service or prayer meeting. Although God can gift many spirit-filled individuals with the word of prophecy, it does not necessarily mean he or she is a prophet or holds the office of a prophet. Only the Lord knows the full calling of an individual, but a prophet is a person whom God hand picks to use as a spokesperson for Himself. A prophet’s ministry revolves around the role of a prophetic voice to a church movement, people group, or nation. Prophets are sent with a message to an individual, family, or clan that will affect their lives forever. A prophet is endowed with prophetic gifts, including the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, or the word of prophecy. At times, they also possess some of the other six spiritual gifts discussed in 1 Corinthians 12.

Prophets are not as plentiful as one might expect. Yet it is obvious when a prophet is present. Prophets can be true or false, young or old, male or female. Some see spiritually in black and white. Others see in Technicolor. They can make you smile or frown. One moment you may feel comfortable around them. The next moment you may feel it’s time to leave the room. A friend of mine once described a prophet as a person you either love or hate. You love them when they prophesy a good word and wince when their message pierces your soul. They are often misunderstood, criticized, and maligned. Unfortunately they find themselves a huge bull’s-eye for satanic archers. They have a wonderful insight into the supernatural, experience miracles, are given to dreams, watch lives dramatically changed, and see “up close and personal” God’s hand of provision and protection .A prophet’s actions can be a sign to both the believer and unbeliever.

The Bible warns us that in the last days false prophets will blend in with the true prophets. Church leaders looking for the real deal often have nothing with which to compare since many have never seen a true prophet in their midst. And the ones they have seen may have disappointed them. Prophets are not perfect because no one is infallible – no one. Prophets make mistakes just like everyone else. In fact, prophets are merely ordinary people who do extraordinary things. They are no greater or worse than anyone else, but have found a unique connection with the Lord God – not exclusive, just unique.

Prophets give a deeper meaning to the word “interesting.” The thesaurus describes the word “interesting” as fascinating, engaging, absorbing, even entertaining. Prophets often do strange, “out of the norm” kinds of things. They see life from peculiar angles and sometimes seem as if they were from another planet. I know one prophet who has memorized thousands of Scriptures. When he looks at individuals in a service he will quote five or six verses from the Bible that paint a picture of exactly what that person needs to hear. It’s amazing to watch the Lord work through him. Some prophets prophesy as they preach while others minister one on one in the streets. There have been times when I’ve looked at somebody during a service and the Lord has given me a picture of a ticker tape with words being typed over the top of that individual’s head. I then read the words aloud. Other times I spontaneously speak a word of knowledge or wisdom over a person or share a dream God gave me the night before. Sometimes the Lord will bring a Scripture to mind that I publicly convey to a certain individual or God gives me an analogy from the Bible that fits their needs. Although the Lord can use a prophet in a variety of ways, the words spoken by a true prophet can melt the heart of an individual or nation in seconds. God can use prophets to unlock the secrets to success, sometime hidden for centuries, in any situation. He can put the essential piece to the puzzle board of life and make people sit back and say, “This is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes.”

What do you do if a prophet shows up? Remember, a prophet is a gifted person sent to a specific place to give a specific message from the Lord. Years ago I was holding a meeting in southern California and the pastor shared with me the philosophy of his church concerning prophets. He told me, “In some churches prophets have no place. In other churches prophets have the place. But in our church prophets have a place.” I believe that was a word from the Lord.

Bob Laflin, an ordained minister with Open Bible Standard Churches, is president of Crosstalk Ministries. For the past 25 years he has traveled extensively throughout the United States serving the Body of Christ as an evangelist at large. The Lord uses Bob in a prophetic ministry, including the words of wisdom, knowledge, and prophecy. He and his wife, Marcia, currently reside in Eugene, Oregon..