The Outpouring of the Spirit

When Peter stood up in Acts 2 and quoted the prophet Joel, he was not announcing a temporary spiritual moment. He was declaring the beginning of a new covenant reality.

“In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…”
Acts 2:17

This was not a promise for a select few. It was not limited to leaders, scholars, or spiritual elites. It was for sons and daughters. It was for young and old. It was for ordinary believers.

Under the Old Covenant, the Spirit would come upon specific individuals for specific assignments. Under the New Covenant, the Spirit dwells within every believer who is born again. That shift changes everything. Prophecy is no longer rare access. It becomes overflow.

However, we must make an important distinction. There is a difference between the gift of prophecy and the office of a prophet. The gift can operate in the life of any believer who is filled with the Spirit. The office of a prophet is a governmental calling within the five fold ministry. Not everyone stands in that office. But every believer can hear God and speak life under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Before we go further, we must anchor something foundational. Prophecy is not human creativity wrapped in spiritual language. It does not originate in personal intelligence, emotional intensity, or spiritual excitement.

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
2 Peter 1:20 to 21

True prophecy begins in God. It flows through yielded people. It is carried by the Holy Spirit. That protects us from manipulation and protects others from harm.

Paul reinforces this when he writes:

“These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches…”
1 Corinthians 2:13

This means prophetic speech is not about sounding impressive. It is about being surrendered. The source matters more than the delivery.

When God poured out His Spirit in Acts 2, He was not just releasing gifts. He was restoring relationship. Prophecy in the New Covenant is rooted in intimacy. It flows from communion. It grows out of knowing the Father’s heart.

The more we understand this, the healthier the prophetic culture becomes.

What Prophecy Is Meant To Do

New Testament prophecy is not given to control people. It is not meant to dominate decisions, override personal responsibility, or replace wisdom. It is given to strengthen, encourage, and build up the Body of Christ.

Paul makes this plain.

“But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.”
1 Corinthians 14:3

That verse gives us the foundation. Prophecy builds up. It calls forward. It comforts. If a word does not strengthen faith, draw someone closer to Christ, or align them with truth, it must be carefully weighed.

Prophecy should liberate, not intimidate. It should awaken identity, not produce fear. It should call people upward into who God created them to be. The prophetic reveals what Heaven sees and invites people to step into that reality.

Sometimes that means encouragement. Sometimes it means correction. But even correction in the New Covenant is restorative, not condemning. The goal is alignment, not shame.

The prophetic life itself requires growth. It requires humility. It requires ongoing sharpening. No one begins fully mature in hearing God clearly. Discernment develops over time through Scripture, prayer, submission to leadership, and experience.

Many believers notice that they tend to receive from God in a primary way. Some sense impressions. Others see mental images. Some hear spontaneous Scripture rise within them. Others perceive deep inner knowing. It is wise to recognize your primary way of receiving. Develop it. Strengthen it through practice and obedience.

But do not stay confined to one expression. Ask the Lord questions. Invite clarity. Submit what you receive to mature believers. Remain teachable. Growth in the prophetic always stays connected to community and accountability.

Under the Old Covenant, prophetic encounters were often dramatic. The Spirit would come upon a prophet for a specific moment or message. In the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit lives within every believer continuously. Revelation can rise from within, not because we are special, but because we are indwelt.

Jesus said:

“He who believes in Me… out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
John 7:38

Prophetic insight can feel like something rising from deep within your spirit. It may come as a gentle prompting, a thought that carries unusual weight, or a Scripture that suddenly becomes alive for someone else. We partner with the Spirit in those moments. We step out in faith, even when it feels small.

Obedience builds history with God. Each step of faith strengthens discernment. Over time, confidence grows not in ourselves, but in His faithfulness.

In that sense, you become a seed sower. A prophetic word is a seed. It may not fully bloom in the moment it is spoken. But when it is planted in good soil, the Holy Spirit waters it. God brings increase.

Paul reminds us that the Spirit distributes gifts as He wills.

“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit… But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.”
1 Corinthians 12:4, 7

No one carries every gift. No one is the full expression of the Spirit. We need one another. The prophetic gift operates for the benefit of the whole Body, not for personal elevation.

When prophecy functions the way God intended, it strengthens the church, deepens faith, and draws hearts closer to the Father. It produces maturity, not dependence on a personality.

That is what prophecy is meant to do.

Prophecy Is Rooted in Love

Paul gives a clear instruction to the church.

“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”
1 Corinthians 14:1

The order is intentional. Love comes first. Desire for spiritual gifts follows. Prophecy is encouraged, but it is anchored in love.

If love is not the foundation, the prophetic becomes distorted. Without love, prophecy can turn into performance. It can become an attempt to appear spiritual instead of serving people. Without love, correction can feel harsh and heavy rather than restorative. Without love, even accurate words can land wrong. They may contain truth, but they will lack tenderness.

Paul goes even further in 1 Corinthians 13. He explains that if someone speaks with spiritual power but does not have love, it amounts to noise. That means accuracy alone does not validate a word. The spirit behind it matters.

Love must be the motive. Love must be the environment. Love must be the culture in which the prophetic operates.

God is love. When we speak on His behalf, we represent His character. That means prophecy is not about proving a point or exposing weakness. It is about revealing the heart of the Father.

At its simplest level, prophecy is asking the Father what He thinks about His children and then communicating that faithfully. It is stepping into His perspective. It is aligning with His heart. It is speaking what builds, what restores, what calls forward.

This does not mean prophetic words are always soft. Love can correct. Love can warn. Love can redirect. But even warning and correction flow from a desire to protect and strengthen, not to embarrass or control.

The prophetic is not merely a spiritual language or gift expression. It reflects the nature of the Kingdom. In the Kingdom, authority is rooted in love. Truth is carried in love. Power operates through love.

When you deliver a prophetic word, you are not just sharing information. You are representing God’s heart toward someone. The tone, the timing, and the posture matter. The goal is always to bring people closer to Him, not make them dependent on you.

When love governs the prophetic, it produces safety. It produces growth. It produces maturity. And it reflects Christ accurately.

That is why love must remain central.

Biblical Language for “Prophet”

When we study the Old Testament, we find that the English word prophet comes from several Hebrew words. Each one adds depth to our understanding of what prophetic ministry looked like in Scripture.

One common Hebrew term describes someone who declares or announces what God reveals. This emphasizes speaking. A prophet in this sense is a mouthpiece. God reveals something, and the prophet communicates it faithfully. The authority does not come from the person speaking. It comes from the One who sent the message.

Another Hebrew term is often translated as seer. This word emphasizes perception. It describes someone who sees spiritual realities. This does not always mean seeing with physical eyes. It can mean perceiving what others cannot perceive. A seer discerns what is happening beneath the surface. They see patterns, spiritual conditions, or divine intentions that are not obvious in the natural.

There is also a term that can describe insight or counsel. In some contexts it refers to someone who carries wisdom and gives guidance, sometimes even in a royal court setting. The emphasis here is understanding and discernment. This reminds us that prophetic ministry was not always dramatic or loud. Sometimes it operated through wise counsel and spiritual insight.

One of the most vivid word pictures connected to prophecy carries the idea of something rising up from within. It gives the sense of bubbling or flowing outward. This helps us understand how revelation can feel internally before it is spoken. There may be a stirring in the spirit, a weight on a word, or a growing clarity that presses to be released.

However, we must be careful. Emotional intensity is not the same thing as divine inspiration. Strong feelings do not automatically equal the voice of God. This is where discernment becomes essential.

True revelation aligns with Scripture. It reflects the character of God. It produces fruit that leads toward righteousness and maturity. Not every internal stirring should be spoken. Wisdom tests what rises within before releasing it outward.

Understanding the biblical language helps us see that prophetic ministry includes speaking, perceiving, and wise insight. But in every case, the source must remain the same. It must originate in God, be filtered through Scripture, and be delivered with humility.

Discernment protects both the messenger and the hearer.

The Purpose of the Prophetic Gift

The New Testament gives a clear definition of what prophecy is meant to accomplish.

“But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.”
1 Corinthians 14:3

These three words create a safe boundary for prophetic ministry.

Edification means to build up. It carries the picture of constructing something strong and stable. Prophetic words should strengthen the spiritual structure of a person’s life. They should reinforce faith, not weaken it.

Exhortation means to call near. It is an invitation forward. It urges someone toward obedience, courage, or deeper trust. It does not push people away. It draws them closer to Christ.

Comfort means to console and bring hope. This does not mean ignoring problems. It means speaking into them with assurance of God’s presence and faithfulness.

When we understand these purposes, we see that prophecy is not designed to tear people down. It is not meant to expose weakness for the sake of exposure. It is meant to align people with truth in a way that strengthens them.

A prophetic word should:

• Strengthen faith
• Encourage perseverance
• Build spiritual foundations
• Draw hearts closer to God
• Restore hope

That does not mean prophetic ministry never addresses sin or misalignment. It does. But even correction is meant to restore, not destroy. God disciplines those He loves. The goal is transformation, not humiliation.

Prophecy often speaks to identity. It reminds people who they are in Christ. It helps them see themselves from Heaven’s perspective. Many believers struggle not because they lack ability, but because they have forgotten their identity.

In Genesis 1, darkness covered the earth. God did not describe the darkness in detail. He spoke light into existence. He declared what should be, not just what was. That pattern teaches us something. Prophetic ministry does not deny reality, but it does not glorify darkness either. It introduces light into it.

There are times when a situation looks hopeless. A person may feel defined by failure, fear, or past mistakes. A healthy prophetic word does not ignore those struggles. Instead, it speaks redemption into them. It declares what God is doing, what He is restoring, and who that person is becoming.

Prophecy calls forth the future God intends. It affirms what He has planted. It waters what He has begun.

When the prophetic gift functions as Scripture defines it, it produces maturity. It strengthens the church. It aligns people with truth. It reminds them that God is not finished with their story.

That is the purpose of the prophetic gift.

Who Can Prophesy?

The promise of the Spirit was not given to a small group of spiritual leaders. It was poured out on all who believe. When Peter quoted Joel in Acts 2, he made it clear that sons and daughters would prophesy. The outpouring was broad, not selective.

Jesus said:

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
John 10:27

Hearing God’s voice is part of belonging to Him. It is not reserved for a spiritual class. It is the normal privilege of relationship. If you are His sheep, you can learn to recognize His voice.

This does not mean that every believer stands in the office of a prophet. The office is a specific calling within the five fold ministry, given by Christ for the equipping of the church. Not everyone carries that governmental role. But every Spirit-filled believer can be used by God to strengthen and encourage others through the gift of prophecy.

The gift operates within relationship. Listening to God is not a technique. It is part of walking with Him. The more time we spend in Scripture, prayer, and obedience, the clearer His voice becomes. Familiarity grows through faithfulness.

Growth in hearing Him requires humility. It requires practice. It requires submitting what we believe we hear to the Word of God and to wise counsel. We learn over time to distinguish His voice from our own thoughts, emotions, or fears.

Paul reminds us:

“For we know in part and we prophesy in part.”
1 Corinthians 13:9

This truth protects us from pride. No one hears perfectly. No one sees fully. Every believer remains dependent on the Holy Spirit. That dependence keeps the prophetic healthy. It keeps us teachable. It keeps us anchored in Scripture.

Because we only see in part, we must speak with humility. We must allow room for testing and discernment. We must remain willing to grow.

The ability to hear God is a gift of grace. It deepens as relationship deepens. And as believers mature, they become vessels through whom the Spirit can strengthen the Body of Christ.

That is who can prophesy. Those who belong to Him, who walk with Him, and who remain surrendered to Him.

Guarding Against Counterfeit Influences

Anything that carries high value in the Kingdom will also face imitation. The prophetic is no exception. Because it involves hearing and speaking on behalf of God, it must be handled with care. When the prophetic is healthy, it builds, strengthens, and restores. When it is distorted, it can wound and confuse.

Not every strong impression is from the Holy Spirit. Not every intense feeling is revelation. Discernment is necessary.

Suspicion can look like discernment. A person may believe they are perceiving something spiritually when they are actually filtering a situation through fear or mistrust. True discernment is rooted in peace and clarity. Suspicion is rooted in anxiety and assumption.

Offense can disguise itself as righteousness. Someone may feel justified in speaking sharply because they believe they are defending truth. But if the source is personal hurt or unresolved frustration, the message will carry that spirit. The tone will reveal the origin.

Self-promotion can wear the costume of boldness. There is a difference between courage and the desire to be noticed. Boldness in the Spirit points people toward Christ. Self-promotion draws attention to the messenger.

Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would glorify Him (John 16:14). That is a helpful test. Does what we are saying magnify Christ, or does it magnify ourselves?

If a word originates from personal pain, insecurity, jealousy, or ambition, it is not pure. Even if parts of it sound true, the mixture will produce unhealthy fruit. That is why every prophetic impression must be weighed.

Scripture gives us clear guardrails.

“Test all things; hold fast what is good.”
1 Thessalonians 5:21

Testing is not unbelief. It is wisdom. Every word must align with the written Word of God. It must reflect the character of Christ. It must produce fruit consistent with the Spirit, such as love, peace, and self-control.

When we misdiagnose a situation, we mistreat it. If we interpret something through personal bias instead of divine clarity, we may speak in ways that harm rather than heal. Discernment protects both the speaker and the hearer.

This is why love must remain central. Love slows us down. Love checks our motives. Love asks whether our words will truly build up.

The prophetic is powerful. But power without purity can damage. Guarding our hearts, submitting our impressions to Scripture, and staying accountable within community keeps the prophetic healthy and life-giving.

Covenant and Inheritance

In Isaiah 59:21, the Lord declares that His Spirit and His words will remain upon His people and upon their descendants. This is not a temporary arrangement. It is covenant language. It speaks of continuity across generations.

“As for Me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants…”
Isaiah 59:21

This reveals something powerful. God’s desire has always been to place His Spirit and His Word within His people. The prophetic is not a new idea in the New Testament. It is part of a long unfolding covenant story.

Under the New Covenant, that promise is fulfilled in a deeper way through the indwelling Holy Spirit. What was once upon specific individuals is now within every believer. That reality changes how we see ourselves.

We are heirs. Scripture repeatedly describes believers as sons and daughters of God and heirs according to His promise. An heir does not strive to invent an inheritance. An heir receives what has already been secured.

This identity reshapes posture. It does not produce arrogance. It produces confidence. Confidence rooted in covenant, not personality. We do not speak prophetically because we are impressive. We speak because we belong to Him and He has placed His Spirit within us.

The prophetic is not something we create through effort. It is not manufactured through emotional intensity or spiritual ambition. It is something we steward. Stewardship implies responsibility. It implies care. It implies faithfulness.

An inheritance can be mishandled if it is not valued. In the same way, prophetic grace must be handled with humility and reverence. We carry something sacred. The Spirit and the Word are gifts, not achievements.

When we understand covenant and inheritance, we stop striving to prove ourselves. We rest in who we are in Christ. From that place of security, the prophetic flows with maturity.

It is not about trying to become something. It is about learning to steward what has already been given.

Practical Steps for Growing in Hearing God

Hearing God’s voice is not a mystical talent reserved for a few. It is cultivated through relationship, consistency, and humility. Growth in the prophetic does not happen overnight. It develops over time through practice and obedience.

The first step is learning to quiet your mind and fix your attention on Jesus. In a world filled with noise, distraction can easily drown out gentle promptings. Stillness positions the heart to listen. This does not require a dramatic atmosphere. It simply requires intention. Set your focus on Him. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak. Yield your thoughts to Christ.

As you grow, begin to pay attention to spontaneous impressions that rise within you. This may come as a Scripture that suddenly feels alive, a picture in your mind, a phrase that carries weight, or a strong inner sense that aligns with truth. The key is alignment. Anything that contradicts Scripture or the character of Christ should be set aside. The written Word remains the standard.

For this reason, growth in the prophetic must always be rooted in Scripture. The more deeply you know the Bible, the more clearly you will recognize the voice of the Author. Journaling can be especially helpful. Writing down what you sense God is saying allows you to reflect, test, and refine. Over time you will begin to recognize patterns in how He speaks to you.

Humility is essential. No one hears perfectly. Be willing to learn. Be willing to adjust. Celebrate progress without assuming maturity. Growth happens in stages. Even small steps of obedience matter.

Remaining teachable protects your heart. Submit what you sense to trusted, mature believers when appropriate. Healthy prophetic culture grows in community, not isolation.

It is also powerful to practice speaking life over yourself. Align your own thoughts with God’s truth. Declare Scripture over your identity. As you learn to receive His heart for yourself, you will more accurately communicate it to others.

Engage your spiritual senses with maturity and discernment. Ask questions. Weigh impressions. Move slowly when necessary. Boldness and wisdom can operate together.

Growth requires repetition and refinement. Just as muscles strengthen through use, spiritual sensitivity strengthens through faithful practice. As you listen, obey, and reflect, clarity increases. Confidence grows not in yourself, but in the faithfulness of the One who speaks.

Hearing God is not about perfection. It is about partnership.

The Gift vs. The Office

Ephesians 4:11 to 12 teaches that Christ gave specific leadership roles to the church.

“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 ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

This passage helps us understand an important distinction. There is a difference between the gift of prophecy and the office of a prophet.

The gift of prophecy is available to believers. As we have already seen, the Spirit was poured out on sons and daughters. Any Spirit-filled believer may be used by God to speak a word that strengthens, encourages, or comforts. The gift operates as the Holy Spirit distributes it. It is part of normal church life and functions for the benefit of others.

The office of a prophet, however, is a specific calling established by God. It is not something a person appoints themselves to. It unfolds over time and is confirmed through fruit, maturity, and recognition by other leaders. The office of a prophet is one of the five-fold ministry gifts given to equip the saints.

Someone who stands in that office carries a broader responsibility. They help guide the church, bring clarity in seasons of transition, and at times offer correction when alignment is needed. Their ministry is not centered on giving personal words to individuals in every setting. Rather, their calling includes helping the church learn to hear God more clearly and remain aligned with His purposes.

In other words, a prophet in the office is not simply someone who prophesies often. They are a leader entrusted with equipping others. They strengthen the Body by training believers to recognize the voice of God and walk in maturity.

Both the gift and the office are valuable. Both must operate in humility. But the weight of responsibility differs.

Maturity is essential for either expression. Character matters more than charisma. Love must govern every word. Without love, neither the gift nor the office will produce healthy fruit.

Understanding this distinction protects the church from confusion. It prevents people from elevating themselves improperly. It also frees believers to operate in the gift of prophecy without feeling pressure to carry an office they were never called to.

The gift serves. The office equips. Both exist to build up the Body of Christ.

Word of Knowledge

Within discussions about the prophetic, the word of knowledge is often mentioned alongside prophecy. Many believers naturally connect the two because they both involve revelation from the Holy Spirit. However, while they can work together, they are not the same thing. It is important to understand the distinction.

A word of knowledge is a Spirit-given insight about a fact, situation, or detail that could not be known through natural means. It is specific information revealed by the Holy Spirit. It may relate to something in the past, something happening in the present, or something hidden that God chooses to uncover for the purpose of ministry.

Prophecy, as we have defined it, speaks edification, exhortation, and comfort. A word of knowledge, on the other hand, reveals information. It is not primarily about building up through encouragement. It is about uncovering a fact so that ministry can take place.

This is why I list it separately in this teaching. Many connect it directly to prophecy, but it is a distinct gift. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul lists “the word of knowledge” and “prophecy” as separate manifestations of the Spirit. They may operate together in the same moment, but they are not interchangeable.

Jesus demonstrated a word of knowledge in John 4 when He spoke with the woman at the well. He revealed details about her life that He could not have known naturally. That revelation opened the door for transformation. The information itself was not the goal. Restoration was.

The Spirit may give a word of knowledge concerning:

• A solution to a problem someone has been struggling with
• A hidden struggle that needs healing
• A direction that protects someone from harm
• Insight into how a Scripture applies to a specific situation
• A physical condition that God desires to heal

In each case, the purpose is ministry. It is not to impress others with spiritual ability. It is not to prove that someone can hear God. It is to serve. It is to help. It is to bring clarity and freedom.

Because a word of knowledge involves specific information, it must be handled with great humility and care. The person receiving it should feel seen and loved, not exposed or embarrassed. Tone matters. Timing matters. Love must govern the delivery.

When any revelatory gift operates, including prophecy and word of knowledge, it must be judged. The Holy Spirit within believers bears witness. There will be a sense of alignment with Scripture and with the character of Christ. The word should lead upward, toward hope and maturity. It should never produce shame, confusion, or fear.

The gift of prophecy speaks to identity and destiny. The word of knowledge reveals information for ministry. Both come from the same Spirit. Both must reflect the heart of God. And both must be stewarded with wisdom and love.

Prophetic Symbolism and Unusual Acts

When we read the Old Testament, we quickly notice that some prophets did more than simply speak messages. At times, they acted them out. Their lives became illustrations. Their obedience became visible sermons.

These symbolic actions were not random or strange for the sake of being strange. They carried meaning. They were intentional. God used them to communicate with people who had stopped listening to words alone.

In biblical times, many audiences were resistant. Hearts were hard. Nations were drifting. A spoken warning could be ignored. But a living demonstration was harder to dismiss. When a prophet embodied the message, it created a visual picture that demanded attention.

For example, some prophets were instructed to perform symbolic acts that represented judgment, captivity, or restoration. These acts often seemed extreme. But they were not expressions of instability. They were prophetic signs. God was using the whole person to communicate truth.

This teaches us something important. Prophets were communicators. They did not only rely on speech. They used symbolism, imagery, and embodied actions to illustrate spiritual realities. Their lives carried the weight of the message.

However, even when their methods were intense, the purpose remained consistent. The goal was never humiliation. It was repentance. The goal was never spectacle. It was alignment with God. The goal was never destruction for its own sake. It was restoration.

God’s heart has always been to call His people back to Himself. When prophets delivered hard messages, it was because the stakes were high. Covenant faithfulness mattered. Justice mattered. Worship mattered.

It is also important to remember that these symbolic acts were initiated by God, not by human creativity. The prophet did not invent dramatic behavior to appear powerful. They responded to specific instructions. That distinction protects us today. Unusual behavior does not automatically equal prophetic authority. Obedience to God does.

Even in Scripture, not every prophet acted in symbolic ways. Many simply spoke. The method varied, but the mission remained the same. To communicate God’s heart. To call people into alignment. To reveal truth that leads to life.

The prophetic has always been about bringing people back to covenant faithfulness. Even when the delivery was strong, the intention was mercy.

Final Thoughts

The prophetic is often misunderstood. Some reduce it to mystery. Others elevate it to status. Some fear it. Others chase it. But when we return to Scripture, we see something much simpler and much stronger.

The prophetic is not about mysticism. It is not about hidden knowledge that makes someone appear special. It is not about superiority or spiritual ranking. It is not about spectacle or dramatic display.

It is about intimacy with God and faithful service to His people.

The prophetic flows from relationship. It grows out of knowing His voice. It matures through obedience. It functions best in humility. When intimacy is missing, the prophetic becomes performance. When humility is missing, it becomes dangerous.

The Holy Spirit still speaks. The gifts listed in the New Testament were not temporary decorations for the early church. They were given for the strengthening of the Body of Christ. God has not withdrawn His Spirit. He has not stopped communicating with His people.

But everything must remain anchored. Anchored in Scripture so that no word drifts from truth. Anchored in humility so that no gift becomes pride. Anchored in love so that every expression reflects the character of Christ.

Prophecy builds. It strengthens faith. It calls people upward.

Love governs. It filters tone. It shapes delivery. It protects hearts.

Christ remains the center. Every gift points back to Him. Every word should magnify Him. Every act of ministry should draw people closer to Him.

When the prophetic operates in that order, it is healthy. It is safe. It is powerful in the right way.

The goal has never been to create impressive ministers. The goal is to mature a people who know their God and reflect His heart.

That is the true center of the prophetic.