The nearer we get to the end of the age, the greater the outpouring of the Holy Spirit there will be. “And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions” (Joel 2:28).
We need to teach people to prophesy rightly, or to not prophesy at all. The outpouring will come, but will we be ready? The words below came during a prayer session recently, and I added the verses as foundation afterwards. I am hoping to do one blog on each of the five-fold ministries.
Prophesying has little to do with telling the future, and more to do with exposing the present.
A prophet must rely upon the resources of God, or sit down.
A prophet should not seek a prophecy for themselves.
A prophet who claims exclusive access to God is the Devil in fine linen.
God gives a word with one or more witnesses.
The best way to spot a false prophet is not that their prophecies do not come true, but that their prophecies are always meant to satisfy man and not change him.
Better to be a silent prophet than a false prophet. “’Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,’ says the Lord…” (Jeremiah 23:32). Never slander a righteous God. You might fool man, but you will never fool God.
If you are a prophet, then prophesy, otherwise of what use are you?
You should never choose a calling by who you look up to. Their calling is not yours.
Never look for what you are good at. Where can God get the glory in that?
Never choose your calling, just listen for it.
You cannot be a prophet to your own glory and survive as an instrument of God.
The only people that want to be a prophet are the ones that don’t know what it will cost them.
Spirit and truth are the pillars for a prophet of God. A prophet cannot prophesy rightly with one and not the other, as they are one in the same. “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:17).
It is not for man to grade a prophet, but for the Lord.
The success for a prophet is not if men will listen to them, but if they will listen to God.
Some words of the Lord are not to go through a prophet, but land squarely upon them. A prophet always takes the bigger beating than the one poured out through them.
God always chooses the hard routes for the prophets. The Devil will always show people the easy routes.
Everyone can walk in the prophetic, but a prophet will live in it.
A prophet can only know it is a word of the Lord if they know the word by which to compare it to.
The five-fold ministry is not a hierarchy as much as a foundation. “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11).
You cannot be used of God so long as you are trying to use God for your own glory.
There will be a greater outpouring, but will there be any vessels ready to receive?
Never think the prophet must always understand the words. They only must be obedient in delivering the word.
If you ever say “the Lord said” when the Lord did not say, you are a false prophet. “The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?” (Jeremiah 5:31).
Whenever in doubt, do not claim the word is from the Lord.
If you do not give credit to a prophet on a prophetic word, then you are stealing from God Himself.
Many are called, but few are chosen. The chosen are not exalted, rather they are the humble ones.
Just because you prophesy does not mean that the words are from God.
Only man would say there are no prophets, that they would not have to listen to them.
Always beware prophets that exalt themselves.
You can choose to follow God, but only God will choose His prophets. “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers…” (1 Corinthians 12:28).
God does not choose a prophet by their ability to speak, but to listen.
You cannot hear God if you do all the talking.
Revelation is not revealing something new, but something hidden.
Prophecy never comes by drawing water from a well, but rain falling from heaven. There is no effort, only being able to receive it.
A prophetic word means nothing if it does not change you.
Everyone wants to be a prophet until they find out His deepest words only flow through the deepest cracks. “Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword…” (Hebrews 11:36-37).
Stop thinking of yourself as the author, but the pen.
A prophet never has writer’s block because they are not the writer.
He does not need your help but your submission. “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 1:21).
Stop thinking how you might help God, and just let Him use you how He will.
Don’t let theology hinder your faith. Jesus told the theologians of His day, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me…” (John 5:39-40).
You can only touch a spirit by the Spirit, every attempt otherwise falls helplessly to the ground.
You cannot touch the spirit of a man with emotional words because you are plowing in the wrong field.
Clever minds can write clever words, but a word of the Lord will have power.
It is not enough to be filled, but you must keep filling up, that you can pour out on those around you.
For the Spirit to flow there needs to be room.
It is only by Him, so you just need to get out of the way. “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).
The harder you try, the harder He must break you.
You are but the vessel, He is what will pour out.
You are a messenger, not the message.
The more you rely upon God, the more He can count on you to be reliable for him.
There will be no ascension spiritually so long as you are climbing natural ladders.
Never prophesy in the natural from what you can see, but only by what the Lord would show you. “Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).
You cannot touch the spirit of a man using natural arguments.
You do not walk in the Spirit on natural grounds.
It is only by the Spirit that you can see in the Spirit.
You cannot flow in spiritual revelation until you only rely upon the Holy Spirit.
Blessings to you,
Paul
A true prophet also will not have a melt down if you take his/her word to the Lord in prayer
Thanks Tony, that is a good word. We need to be careful. I have had some bad prophetic words spoken over me, and I did exactly as you said here. We need to be so careful as there are many false prophets in the world.
When not sure as to whether or not they are heading from the Lord they should preface the word with, “I think”, or ,” I feel”.
Absolutely, we need to beware of prefacing with a “thus saith the Lord” unless it is an absolute “thus saith the Lord”. Very few walk at that level, and we should never presume we are one of those few. It is a dangerous thing to slander a righteous God who is intent upon protecting the integrity of His Word.
Reblogged this on Call 2 Witness.
Thank you Bruce!
Excellent word! This paragraph really stood out for me: “A prophet can only know it is a word of the Lord if they know the word by which to compare it to.” Amen! We must know God and His ways. One cannot decipher the meaning behind or reason for a word or vision without knowledge of the word to give it context.
That is how the Devil deceives so many, that He uses part of the Word, but distorts it. He tried it against Jesus, but Jesus knew the Word and defended Himself by the Word. We must do the same thing. Especially if we are receiving a word outside the Word. We need to test for the counterfeit by comparing to the authentic original.
Something else that comes to mind is if the person claiming to have a word from the Lord and does not heed the Bible, the written Word and final authority, then one cannot trust the word they bring either. Now understand that I am by no means saying that anyone claiming to be a prophet is without flaws, but what I am saying is that when one sees that one claiming to speak for God is in sin and refuses correction then the word they bring is tainted and what’s more, dangerous. This is especially true for those who harbor unforgiveness in their hearts.
This is a great word that you bring here. We need to be especially careful whenever anyone is claiming to be bringing a prophetic word. There will be a growing number of false prophets in the end times. There are two dangers we face. First, to deny the power of God to raise up and speak through His prophets. Second, that the Devil will also be speaking through false prophets. We do not need to put our heads in the sand, but to place our trust in God, and know that the Holy Spirit within us can guide us into all truth. But we need to know the Word that we can test all things against the Word. You must know the authentic to discern the counterfeit. Thank you for this message you posted.
Reblogged this on My Dreams and Visions and commented:
In the times we live in and with so many claiming to be prophets or having a word from the Lord. I came across this blog entry and decided to re-blog it. I by no means want to minimize nor marginalize the genuine prophetic. What I hope to accomplish by re-posting this blog is to make people take words to the Lord for confirmation no matter who the prophet or person that has a word from God posted on their blog or one that they may hear. Some prophecies that I have seen lately have scripture mixed with venom from people who have been wounded and allowed the wound to fester and the word they post, while using scripture, is full of venom and so the word that they post becomes more their word than the Lords.
You give excellent counsel, as we all need to be so very careful. We are called to be discerning and watchful for the false prophets. 2 Peter chapter 2 is filled with the warnings of all that will come.
I posted this to a brother in Japan earlier this morning: One of the greatest lessons in the prophetic is in Jeremiah, from chapter 23:9-40. Anyone who dares to prophesy had better read through this chapter first. It is better to be silent than to prophesy a lie. The Lord may see to it a whale will swallow a prophet running from his calling, but the fate of a false prophet is far worse.
I have been on the wrong end of a false prophesy against me. It shook me more than it should have, but I came out of it stronger because of it. I am very cautious, but when I do meet someone who is prophetic, and whose words ring true with the foundation of God’s word, it is like a precious fountain of cool water unto my spirit. May we all be so blessed to find those special workers for God.
Amen. I remember what I was doing and where I was going when the Lord called me as a watchman. I take it very seriously and I agree with you 100% about keeping silent if the Lord isn’t speaking.
The watchman is such a critical role in these times. There is so much wrong being promoted as right. This is one reason I really like putting what I have out there, such that I can be reviewed and if needed rebuked. It always worries me when I see teachers who only teach in secret. What are they trying to hide? Thank you again for re-posting my blog, and even more so for being a watchman in these times.
You are welcome ! I again agree with you 100% that what is put out there should be reviewed, and, if necessary, challenged.
We need iron to sharpen iron. That is why those who only will receive words of approval are never sharpened, as soft words never change anyone.
The new testament prophet is a prophet of confirmation for the believer being that every believer has the Holy Spirit and they should seek the Lord for themselves as to the veracity of the word. The old testament prophet was one of direction being that the Holy Spirit was not given as it is today and people had to heed the voice of the prophet.
This is a good word, thank you!
https://aword.info/2015/10/01/prophetic-purpose-the-altar/
Amen… Elijah was not comforted by the fire falling to testify of his obedience he remained broken over the failure of God’s people to turn in truth back unto the Lord… (1 Kings 19:4) The heart of the true prophet is to see God’s people yielding, obeying and walking with God. They seek nothing for themselves but that all things come under the dominion of God Himself. It is in the day of apathy where the prophetic must shine with His heart for His people.
“Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? THEN will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people”
May there be such a prophetic cry that there will be a turning, a repenting and a seeking of Him in this hour for the day is upon us and who shall stand when He appears for He is like a “refiners fire”. They who are sent of Him minister Him they who speak of or from themselves seek their own glory… It is in knowing Him whereby we will know the content and purpose of a man’s heart.
Blessings appreciate your word
Brian
Thank you Brian. I read your post and found your site, very impressive! I look forward to exploring more of what you have there.
I equally was impressed by what you wrote here in your comments. I especially am drawn to this, “The heart of the true prophet is to see God’s people yielding, obeying and walking with God. They seek nothing for themselves…”. This is such a good word, and such a needed focus for us all, whether giving or receiving ministry, that we would have it right. Our faith is measured by our yielding, as anything of ourselves is tainted, we need to decrease that He would increase in us. There is no other way, but a wrong way.
Where you wrote “they who speak of or from themselves seek their own glory” reminds me so much of all the Lord was speaking about in Jeremiah 23:9-40, and here the Lord says: Jeremiah 23:25-26 “I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart”.
Thank you, am looking forward to reading more of your posts.
Paul
The Spirit of a Prophet
Tim, this is an excellent audio! Thank you so much for posting! We need more men like this that would speak life into dead men walking. We need more Holy Spirit power than we need another program of man. Loved it!
Hi nice readding your blog
Thank you for your kind words, Isabella!