What do we mean by “the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets” 1Corithians 14:32?

Couldn’t it mean that a prophet can prophesy at will? And if so, wouldn’t that confirm the belief that those who have received this gift can speak in tongues at will? A very big No! 

If the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets that means, it is the “spirits of the prophets,” not the Spirit of God, that is subjects to that prophet. Although a prophet could avert himself or herself from prophesying but could not initiate a genuine prophecy.

In stating restrictions upon the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the church, Paul makes this statement to let the Corinthian believers know that the Holy Spirit does not force Himself upon anyone. Only the flesh or the devil, not the Holy Spirit, will cause disorder.

Paul is not saying that a prophet is able to prophesy any time he so desires. Not even Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel or any of the other prophets could do so. For example, when Jeremiah desired to prophesy to the people he had to wait upon God: “And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah” Jeremiah 42:7. We should all know that, clearly, prophecy comes only by the empowerment and direction of God, not by the whim of man as some of today’s fanatics would have us believe.

However, the gift of prophecy can neither be taught and learned in a seminar Peter declared, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men and women of God speaks as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” No one can initiate, mandate or activate the moving of the holy spirit! (2 Pt 1:20-21).

Whatever the “gift of the Spirit,” it is given in specific instances to effect God’s purpose at that time. It does not become a power possessed by an individual which he can exert at his or her discretion. If someone lays hands upon a sick person, prays, and the person is instantly healed, it was a manifestation of the “gifts of healing” according to God’s will.

The person who prayed was the instrument God used at that time, but he does not now possess the gifts of healing so that he can heal anyone whenever he pleases. To imagine that to be the case is one of the basic errors in the charismatic movement. Consider those who imagine they have “a healing ministry” trying mightily on TV or elsewhere to manifest what they imagine is a gift they acquire and falling into error and bringing blame upon the Lord as a result.
If the great prophets in the Bible had to wait until God in His own time and way and for His own purpose gave them a word, then it is a fallacy for anyone today to imagine that he possesses any gift of the Spirit and can exercise it whenever he so desires and that includes speaking in tongues.

A “prayer language” cannot be “practiced” any time one desires it is of a great error” There is no indication that “tongues” are in a category by themselves, just, like all spiritual gifts, if genuine, they can only be a “manifestation of the Spirit” 1Corithians 4:7. Therefore, we have to be aware of any “tongue” or “prophecy” or other “gift” that is initiated or possessed by the human spirit!