True prophets come in a variety of styles and shapes. The Bible zeroes in on four main types: prophetic preachers, prophetic declarers, prophetic musicians, and prophetic intercessors. Some prophets may be more than one type. Within these four types there are undoubtedly sub-types and specializations.
The prophetic preacher, or "preaching prophet", is a prophetically-gifted Christian who communicates God's immediate message in sermon form. He/she does not make a brief prophetic statement then walk away. Rather, he perceives a message, then reproduces it in sermon form. It may include some teaching and explanation on the fringes, but it is obvious the sermon is driven by a central prophetic message. Most listeners typically recognize the sermon's unmistakable supernatural quality...its remarkable relevance, timeliness, perceptiveness, impact, and authority. For example, I've heard many sermons on prayer and its centrality to church success. Most were right on, but seemed unconvincing and yeah-yeah-yeah. But then there are times when I've heard a prophetic sermon on prayer. God was surely speaking at that specific moment, to that specific audience, with that specific message, and He manifested a felt presence to confirm it. The words cut deeper and landed with impact. The "preaching prophet" preaches like this continually. John the Baptist (Lk 3:2,3) and Judas and Silas (Ac 15:32) are great examples of prophetic preachers.
This type of preaching is noticeably different than regular preaching. Regular preaching is general sermonizing without any intensified anointing for hyper-relevance. It is the customary teaching and preaching of Scripture (Ezr 7:10-12, 1Ti 4:13). In the Old Testament era, the priests were responsible for such teaching/preaching (Ezr 7:10-12, Jer 18:18, Eze 7:26, Mal 2:7,8). In the New Testament era, the apostles (Ac 2:42), elders (1Ti 5:17), and gifted laity (Ro 12:7) are responsible. Though the prophetic preacher may not tag his words with "Thus says the Lord", the listeners nonetheless walk away knowing God has just spoken. John the Baptist (Lk 3:2,3) and Judas and Silas (Ac 15:32) were prophetic preachers. Some refer to regular preaching as "preaching the logos-word" (the Scriptures) and prophetic preaching as "preaching the rhema-word" (the Spirit-prompted situational message). A preacher does not have to have the prophetic gift to preach prophetically, since any Christian can and should be Spirit-led. However, prophetic preachers with the gift will preach prophetically much more more frequently, with more specific perception, and with more persuasive authority.
Different prophetic preachers receive different burdens from the Lord. For this reason there exists a wide variety of emphases among them. Some prophets have several burdens simultaneously. Some prophesy concerning sin, holiness, and judgment in the church. These are undoubtedly some of the most intense characters. Then there are prophets who prophesy concerning the church's responsibility in society--caring for the poor, needy, helpless, outcast, prisoner, widow, and unborn. These are some of the most tenderhearted champions. Some prophets proclaim God's overall program for groups, structures, and locations. They preach what God is saying and doing on a larger, less personal, scale. This helps leaders adjust and rearrange to conform to God's situational will. Once again, prophetic preachers distinguish themselves from regular preachers through the remarkable relevance, timeliness, perceptiveness, impact, and authority of their words.
The prophetic declarer, or "declaring prophet", is a prophetically-gifted Christian who communicates God's immediate message in a statement or statements. For this reason they often write out what the Lord is showing them, almost like a TV personality issuing a public statement. Brevity and conciseness is what distinguishes this type from prophetic preaching. These statements can be a word, phrase, sentence, or several paragraphs (Ac 21:10,11, 1Ti 4:14; Jsh 24:2-13, Jer 30,31). They can be statements of hindsight (past; 1Co 14:24,25; Lk 1:67-75, 1Ki 20:42), insight (present; 1Co 14:24,25), or foresight (future; 1Ti 1:18). Prophetic declarers are not preachers and sermonizers, they are to-the-point declarers. They declare what God is saying in brevity and go about their way. Some of them are highly uncomfortable when asked to "preach" or "speak", and do not do so well. That is not their gift expression. Some may also be prophetic preachers, but many are not. From what we know of him, Agabus was this type of prophet (Ac 11:27-30, 21:10,11). He traveled about delivering brief prophetic statements.
The prophetic musician, or "musical prophet", is a prophetically-gifted Christian who communicates God's immediate message in musical or poetic form (1Sam 10:5,6, 1Chr 25:1-7, Isa 5:1-7, Eze 33:30-33, Eph 5:18,19 w/Ac 19:6). This is also called prophetic worship, prophetic praise, and prophetic poetry. Like the preaching distinction, prophetic music is noticeably different than regular music. Regular praise-n-worship is the general adoration of God without any intensified anointing for hyper-relevance. It is the customary adoration we give Him simply because it is due Him, whether we feel like it or not, whether it seems relevant or not (1Chr 16:29, Ps 29:2).
Prophetic worship is slightly different and has a slightly different purpose, which is to bless both God and people simultaneously (as in 1Sam 10:5-7). Prophetic worship is divinely-initiated songs or poems. Songs like "Shout To The Lord", "Days of Elijah", "Amazing Grace", "Great Is Thy Faithfulness", and others are truly divinely-initiated songs that bless both God and person simultaneously. The awesome magnitude of their power and message signify unmistakable divine origin. Musical prophets consistently levitate themselves and their listeners into a state of Spirit-filled worship.
In the Old Testament, 1Samuel 10:5,6, 1Chronicles 25:1-7, Isaiah 5:1-7, and Ezekiel 33:30-33 specifically show prophetic music. David was the most prolific musical prophet, writing numerous Psalms that contained prophetic inserts and undercurrents. In the New Testament, Ephesians 5:18,19 mentions it, alluding to the Ephesian's initial prophetic praise experience in Acts 19:6 around eight years earlier. Paul mentions it again in Philippians 3:3, referring to "worshiping by the Spirit".
Any Christian can and must worship prophetically, by the Spirit. But prophetic musicians have the gift and musical know-how to consistently facilitate this state. They distinguish themselves from regular musicians through the remarkable relevance, timeliness, perceptiveness, impact, and authority of their songs and poems.
The prophetic intercessor, or "interceding prophet", is a prophetically-gifted Christian who communicates God's immediate message in prayer form. Like the preaching and music, prophetic intercession is noticeably different than regular intercession. Regular intercession is the general practice of intercession without any intensified anointing for hyper-relevance. It is simply "praying without ceasing" (1Th 5:17) and "devoting ourselves to prayer" (Col 4:2). Prophetic intercession is Spirit-guided and has a message for the listeners--it is both a prayer and a message at the same time. Their prayers are targeted and specific like a sniper; their scope is the Spirit's revelation. Prophetic intercessors are just that, spiritual snipers. They pray like this consistently as a calling. Their prayers and petitions have incredible results for others.
Hannah had a very prophetic prayer in 1Samuel 2:1-10. Read her prayer; it is obvious that some of her words have nothing to do with her situation. She even mentions the kingship before it existed (v10)! Many of the Psalms are prophetic prayers, flipflopping between the immediate situation and something else unrelated God wants to say (Ps 16,22,45). Habbakuk's prayer (Hab 3) also contains prophetic elements.
The New Testament shows this type of Spirit-guided prayer also. Romans 8:26,27, the Spirit helps us pray. Ephesians 6:18, pray in the Spirit on all occasions. Jude 20, build yourselves up by praying in the Spirit. These commands are given to all Christians, but be assured a prophetically-gifted Christian will be exemplary in this area. Prophetic intercessors distinguish themselves from regular intercessors (the gift of faith) through the remarkable relevance, timeliness, perceptiveness, impact, and authority of their prayers.
It is important to distinguish between a faith-intercessor and a prophetic-intercessor. There is no single "gift of intercession". The intercessory gifts are faith, prophecy, and discernment (and tongues). The faith-gift moves the Christian to pray by a sense of powerful conviction and confidence; it may or may not be on-target. The faith-gift is more like "grenade throwing" intercession, believing anything and everything is possible, and therefore, sending prayer bombs in many different directions (1Co 13:2). The prophetic gift intecessor is different. He/she is like a "sniper", praying with revealed insight and calculation. Both are powerful prayer warriors and both see remarkable results. However, the interceding prophet sees even greater results because his prayers are more often revelation-guided.
For all the reasons and expressions mentioned on this page, Paul mentions prophecy as one of the highest gifts (1Co 12:28, Eph 4:11).