One of the most encouraging things in coming into relationship with the Holy Spirit was the receiving of prophetic words and words of knowledge. It is safe to say that the first prophetic word that Cheryl and I received on January 11th, 1992 totally changed our lives and ministry. The Apostle Paul said this about the importance of prophetic words in 1 Corinthians 14:1-5 (ESV)
“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
I grew up a “cessationist”, that is one who believes that the need for the gifts of the Spirit ceased at the completion of the “Canon” of scripture. However, my theology was radically challenged that night and permanently changed following months of studying scripture with a new paradigm. Since receiving that “gift”, my spiritual life has been greatly enriched by receiving this particular gift. It has brought my relationship with Jesus into being far more alive and personal.
The author of these gifts is the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke of the importance of the Holy Spirit in John 14:15-17 (ESV)
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
The term “another helper” literally means “another of the same Spirit”. Jesus further defines His role in John 16:7-10 (ESV)
“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;”
The Holy Spirit is not simply a force or a feeling, He is literally Jesus in the Spirit who indwells every follower of Christ. The gift of prophecy is simply a manifestation of His personality and attributes through His followers. It shows that the Lord is very interested in the minute details and destinies of each one our lives. In fact, Paul encourages his son in the faith, Timothy to pay attention and do warfare to prophetic words spoken over him; 1 Timothy 1:18-20 (ESV)
“This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.”
Once a word is spoken over you, the enemy of our souls, Satan will create opposition and warfare to discourage us and cause to walk in “double-mindedness” or unbelief. In fact, often the opposite of the word spoken often happens. I have seen this discouragement to the extent that they allow unbelief to take hold. By not learning to war with what God has spoken over you could and often does cause the follower of Jesus to shipwreck their faith. Graham Cooke used to say, “what character would you need if these words came to pass? Start to live that way now”.
In the days ahead, Christianity must become more than a belief system. It must become where we are cognoscente of the Indwelling Spirit of God. He can be grieved and quenched just as Jesus was by unbelief and loose/evil self-centered living. As Paul said, prophecy is one of the most important gifts because it speaks of God purpose and destiny in your life.
You don’t even have to make them happen. In fact, I would recommend you don’t. If you can fulfill the word spoken over you by yourself, the source of the word was probably not the Lord. God can only fulfill words He speaks forth. To understand the power of God’s prophetic word, one must go back to the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah penned this under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Isaiah 55:6-11 (ESV).
“Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
God is looking for fertile ground to sow His word in to. When Mary, the mother of Jesus received the prophetic word from the Gabriel, she queried how this could be possible since she was a virgin. Gabriel’s answer “nothing in impossible with God.” However, in breaking down the original text, the literally meaning is; “every word that God speaks has the power within itself to fulfill what has been spoken”, a New Testament version of Isaiah 55:11.
Our response should be the same as Mary as is recorded over her, Luke 1:38 (ESV) And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
When we receive a prophetic word, our response must be thanksgiving, humility, and obedience to whatever the Lord asks of you. Indeed, the Lord watches over His word to fulfill it. Jeremiah 1:12 (ESV)
“Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”
Jesus said this about the lasting quality of His word in Matthew 24:35 (ESV)
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
I truly believe we’re entering a season of God fulfilling His word over many of us. Some have waited many years for their fulfillment. Perhaps it’s time to review these words and war with them unto their fulfillment.
Luke said this in Acts 3:19-20 (ESV)
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus”
Times of refreshing are indeed coming. May we position ourselves to allow the Lord to pour out the fulfillment of the words spoken to us over the years.