Judging a Prophecy
Judging prophecy is not an easy thing to do. However, there is one way to do this, and it involves TIMING.
“When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:22)
If a you hear a prophetic word, give it time to allow God to bring it to pass. If it never happens, then you have nothing to fear because that person was no prophet. But on the other hand, if it does come to pass then you may be in the presence of a true prophet.
Jesus Prophesied
We all know that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ prophesied. He prophesied of His death and resurrection, of wars and rumors of wars, of famines and of other world-changing events. However, few notice that Jesus also ministered in personal prophecy, giving individuals words of knowledge, wisdom, and prophecy.
Then he (Peter) began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:74- 75)
The all too familiar prophecy Jesus gave Peter solidifies the fact that Jesus did give personal prophecies. As we study the Holy Scriptures, we discover there are many times personal prophecy was administered, Nathanael under the fig tree (ref. John 1:48-51), the thief on the cross at Calvary (ref. Luke 23:39-43), the woman at the well (ref. John 4:5-26), and the scriptural list continues.
It is very clear that giving a prophetic word in this day and time is of the Bible. Apostle Paul goes as far as to say that out of all the spiritual gifts we should seek the gift of prophecy. “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. (1 Corinthians 14:1)
I still find it amazing that after all these years of ministering in personal prophecy, rejection from the church is still an obstacle of the prophetic message. In fact, the reason I preach this message is because I was told that prophesying to people was not in the Bible. I thank God for this erroneous statement being made. It helps me to be stronger and more determined to see that everyone receives the gift of prophecy.
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-20)
The Power of Intercession
Hearing God for another is all about preparing your heart and spiritual ears to begin hearing the voice of God, who is Spirit. We are born of the Spirit and we hear His voice Spirit to spirit. Intercessory prayer is the training ground for birthing the prophetic gifts with whomever has a heart to hear God for others.
Faith and Prayer
Do you need a breakthrough in your life? Begin to get it by getting on your knees. You can see all that God will do for you if you’ll only pray. A lot of people become distraught in their walk because they don’t find the time to spend with the Lord. In your praying, you will receive what you ask for. But remember that God has the right to edit what you pray. He does this so we can learn how to pray in His name.
Many of us pray our will and not His. We don’t even take the time to find out what He would have us do. We need to find out what Holy Spirit says about our situation and walk in His will, because we know that if we are in the will of God, there will be perfect harmony in our life.
“And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” (James 5:15)
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Wind of the Spirit
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)
For many years I have made a statement that I am not sure is getting through to everyone, so I will say it again. It is not enough to hear God you must know what He means. God’s voice is like the wind, you can hear it but you do not fully understand it. Every once in a while, God makes His word very clear, but for the most part it comes like an unknown language. Deciphering what the Holy Spirit is communicating can make the difference in one being accurate in delivering His Word, or being completely wrong. This all depends upon their ability to properly interpret.
Many can hear His voice, but only the seasoned can understand His purpose, process and promise. Knowing God’s purpose for giving a prophetic word will help in setting the tone when delivering His word. The process often gives warnings of changes the person will go through, preparing them for what is ahead. Everyone wants to hear God’s promises, however; they seem to forget about the process they will go through, while focusing entirely on the promise. It amazes me how many people still want a prophetic word knowing there could be major changes in their life.
During the time this message was being recorded, a strong breeze moved through the sanctuary. Everyone present remained real still as the Holy Spirit passed by touching, each one of us. Needless to say, it was a very powerful night; there is nothing that can compare to experiencing His presence.
Spiritually Obese
The Church has heard so many sermons on spiritual gifts, tithes and offerings, signs and wonders, religious laws, and other topics. We are filled to the top, and “spiritually obese” from all these teachings.
What the people are looking for now is the real stuff, and the experience of the Holy Spirit. Not just the knowledge of what to do and how to live, but the experience of living our lives as He pours out Himself through us.
Spirit To Spirit
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Romans 8:16,17)
God is Spirit and gives us a new spirit when we accept His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior. You then know within yourself that you are destined to live with Him for eternity. This is the greatest gift of all; knowing that you will have life in the hereafter, and that death has no sting for those who believe. It is not a matter of making yourself believe to receive salvation, but rather a knowing that has been birthed within you. Jesus Christ is truly our Savior for He has purchased us with His shed blood.
Many have received Jesus Christ as their Savior, but not all have allowed Him to be Lord of their life. It is impossible to make Jesus Lord of your life if you do not believe that God speaks today. Many preachers have taken over His position as Lord and are judging their followers by the letter of the law. We are to be led by God’s Spirit, not by the law, for the law kills but the Spirit gives life and life more abundant. I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:16-18
It is impossible to serve man and God at the same time. For you will follow one and turn from the other. We are to lift up the name of Jesus and He will draw men unto Himself. A true messenger of God will always point the way to Jesus not to the law.
Mantles Shall Fall
Sometimes God will take you from hurtful place to hurtful place, and through a process that is so painful you don’t know if you can take it anymore. But it is worth it to have all the flesh stripped from you so that the spirit can be revealed in you. There is nothing greater than to be used by the Spirit of God in miraculous ways.
When the Holy Spirit begins to deliver His gifts of the Spirit, where will you be? Will you have allowed Him to strip away everything carnal so that you are prepared for what He wants to do through you?
Know Your Spirit
It is helpful to recognize the personality of the spirit-being that works in your life. We humans are not clones, all looking and acting and sounding alike. But neither are the spirits that work in and through us. We are to be led by the Spirit, and as God walks and talks with us in our lives, He is Spirit and He is omnipresent. He can be with us all the time, working in our individual lives and dealing with us in and through our individual personalities. As you build relationship with your Father, and learn about the spirits He has assigned to you in your calling, you will learn all about His ways of leading you and teaching you.
“But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” (1 John 2:27)
Harnessing the Power
Electricity was not invented or discovered. It has only been harnessed for our use. That is what the Holy Spirit in you can do in order for you to receive supernatural power. Holy Spirit has always been here, and He’s always been speaking. It’s just that we haven’t harnessed His power and recognized His usefulness yet.
Our life is so much easier now that we have harnessed electricity, and the same principle applies when it comes to valuing God’s power – the more we allow Him to move in our lives, and the more we utilize that power, we will recognize the value and the purpose that we have on earth.
