Prophecy

Did you know that God has many wonderful things that He would like to tell each one of His children? God wants to use you and I to speak forth these wonderful things to others.

Prophecy is speaking forth the Word of God. His Word for His people today. When you learn to listen to His voice, He will use you to let others know His thoughts toward them. I Corin. 14:1 says, "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy…" The Bible tells us in I Corin.14:3 that when we prophesy, we are allowing God to speak through us to bring edification, exhortation, and comfort to men. Let's look at these more closely.

Edification means to build someone up. When you edify someone, you speak into their life the love that God has for them. You encourage them. God might speak through you something like this: "My daughter, you are a precious jewel in My sight….." Words like these edify, or build up, the person they are for.

Exhortation means to call near, to stir up. When you give words of exhortation to someone, you stir up what God has placed in them; you call them near to God. The Bible is full of words of exhortation to us, reminding us of God's purpose for our lives, inspiring us with courage and confidence: "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called…." (1Tim. 6:12) "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands." (2 Tim. 1:6) God may remind you of a verse like these to speak over someone, or He may give you something new. A word of exhortation might sound something like this: "My Son, the gift I have placed within you is full of life and purpose. I have called you to bring forth light into darkness, and peace where there is none."

When you prophesy words of comfort, it means that you strengthen the hearer with God's words to bring His peace and joy to them. God may give you words like the following to speak over someone: "Know that I am with you, even in this time of trouble. I will sustain you, upholding you in My right hand; have no fear, for I am your source of strength." He may also give you something from His word for someone. We find words of comfort all over the Bible. Two examples are: "I will be with you always, even unto the end of the age," found in Matthew 28, and "You will be my people, and I will be your God," found in Jeremiah 30:22.

As you learn to listen to and discern God's voice, God will begin to use you to speak prophetically to others. As you step out in faith, you will become more confident.

The Holy Spirit will give prophetic words to you at various times. During a worship service, during a time of ministry, within a corporate prayer setting, etc. Following are a few guidelines:

Note #1: Always begin your prophetic words with "I believe the Lord would say …." Do not say flat out "The Lord says…." Only a seasoned Prophet would or should use the LORD's authority as his/her own.

Note #2: When you are in the worship service, and you believe the Holy Spirit is prompting you to share a word that you have been given with the congregation, quietly approach the pastor or person in spiritual authority over the service and tell them what you have been given. They will either give you the go ahead, or tell you this isn't the time for that now. Sometimes we are given things for ourselves, not for the body at large, and some things we are shown or given may be more appropriate at a future time. Do not let a time when you are not invited to share what you have been given to mean that you didn't hear correctly or that you were wrong. It is the job of the pastor to keep the service flowing in the direction he feels God wants it to go. God is always pleased when we step out in faith to what we feel He is showing us. Do not get discouraged.

Note #3: During a ministry time, the Lord may give you prophetic words of edification, exhortation and comfort, or he may give you pictures that accomplish the same thing when they are shared. Always speak words of blessing over someone you are ministering to, whether you receive a prophetic word for them or not.

As you become more practiced in giving prophetic words, there may also be times when the Holy Spirit may show you private or hidden things about the person(s) you are praying with. Be careful about sharing negative things that the Lord is showing you. Ask Him for wisdom as to what to do with what He is showing you. He may want you to say something to the person you are ministering to, or He may be showing you so that you can do warfare for that person in your private prayer time. If you are in doubt, wait and do nothing with it. The Holy Spirit is able to confirm to you what He wants you to do with what He gives you.


Does Giving a Word Mean I Am A Prophet?
Or I Have the Gift of Prophecy?
What's the Difference?

Because God uses you to speak a prophetic word to someone does not mean that you are a Prophet. It normally takes many years for God to mold someone to fill the office of a Prophet. God chooses His prophets carefully. They must become people of great humility and integrity who are very obedient and are much practiced in hearing God's voice. A Prophet does much more than give words of edification, exhortation, and comfort. A recognized Prophet gives guidance and instruction, and gives words of rebuke and correction from the Lord. That is not YOUR job!

You do not need to have the gift of prophecy to give a prophetic word to someone. God is able to use anyone willing to be used to give someone a much needed word at the appropriate time. However, God desires that we minister to each other. This is why the Word tells us to desire spiritual gifts, especially that of prophecy. (1 Corin. 14) If you are desiring the gift of prophecy, are seeking after it, and willing to use it, you will grow in it. As you learn to discern God's voice and take the step of faith to speak out those words that He wants you to give, you become more and more practiced, and the gift begins to mature in you.

All of the spiritual gifts require faith, obedience and growth into perfection. If you have a gift, but don't ever take a step of faith to use it, you will never grow in it. As you are obedient to the Holy Spirit, and begin to use your gifts, your faith is built up, and you become more and more practiced and confident in their use.


Prophetic Declarations

When you use the Word of God to declare healing to the sick, salvation to the lost, and freedom to those in bondage, you are making a prophetic declaration. You are speaking out and proclaiming the expressed will of the Father into a situation. For example, the Bible tells us that it is God's desire that all men would be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim. 2:4) When you speak forth this word for an individual or a nation, you are making a prophetic declaration. This could happen in your own prayer time with the Lord, during a time of corporate prayer, in a period of warfare during a worship service, or anywhere that God is wanting to use His word offensively to advance His kingdom.


Prophetic Acts

A prophetic act is declaring God's word with an outward action. For example, during a worship service where the Holy Spirit is active in freeing people from their bondage to sin, the Holy Spirit may bring to your remembrance the story of Joshua and the city of Jericho. He may ask you to bring forth a prophetic act based on this scripture passage. When the people shouted, the walls came tumbling down. When this prophetic act is brought forth under the guidance of the Pastor, God can use the shout of the people to route the enemy and break their chains of bondage. Isn't that exciting? By taking the step of faith involved in the action, the word of God is brought forth and declared. The Kingdom of God is advanced.