Thursday, October 16, 2008

Judging the Prophetic

I have a dear Pastor Friend I love very much. He has embraced the prophetic in a big way. He is not overtly charismatic. He was raised and ordained mainline denominational. But he is hungry for the Prophetic word of God.

The prophetic word has had a great impact in his life. It has changed him - forever. He is hungry to hear a word from God and is hearing lots of them from lots of people. That's a 1 Corinthians 14 thing. Hearing the word of Prophecy with great Joy. Then the parable of the soils kicks in. Not all of it falls on fertile ground. Some is lost. Some lost by the moving of the Spirit of God.

Having walked in the prophetic for a long time and as one who lives by every word that emerges from the Mouth of God I will counsel my dear brother in Christ on this experience and what our posture towards this should be. I believe he will benefit from experience that I and others have had in the realm of the prophetic. This will help people who are new to all this.

I would appreciate any input from you (constructive input thank you) on how to deal with a prophetic word given.

Here are a few truths:
  • Prophets many times don't seem to be very skilled, refined or qualified. Don't let that throw you. Prophets are very human. God uses imperfect earthen vessels.
  • All Prophecy must line up with the Word of God. If it doesn't or seems to be out of harmony with the Written Word, question it.
  • The power of the prophetic is how it witnesses to your spirit. Sometimes it takes a long time for the word to mature and grow in your heart. Don't spend too much time trying to interpret the word, do as Mary the Mother of Jesus did, ponder everything in your heart.
  • Prophecy should nearly always be encouraging. It should warn us 5% and encourage us 95%. If a warning is given, a promise of redemption will always follow. God never takes you down a dead end street.
  • Judging the word given according to the scriptures is a function of seeing how it lines up with the precepts above.
  • Sometimes, hopefully not too much, prophecy will sound flat, empty, superfluous seemingly inspired only by the pizza or pigs feet eaten last night. Don't be discouraged. Let it rest. The Spirit of God will bring it back to remembrance as you need it or discard it. Don't judge the person who brought the flat prophecy. They may still be growing in their prophetic gift.

I have received hundreds, maybe thousands of personal prophetic words in my life from people gifted or otherwise. I received them all gladly. But some are still fully alive in my Spirit even after 20 years. Most have fallen away. I trust the Spirit of God to reveal himself to me in confirming his word spoken thru the prophets. He always does.

If you flow in the prophetic you may have additional input in this area. I would appreciate it.

4 comments:

KD said...

Gene, this brings back a memory. About 10 years ago, a very well known prophetic ministry prophesied over me. I witnessed to every single word EXCEPT one. I just said, we will see. The lady didn't seem refined, confident or that she was hearing from God.

She said God was going to give my an internet ministry and bring people into my life to help build a website (gist of the word) and as I followed in obedience to God I would see just how big this could be.

At the time I had no computer, was never on a computer in my life. I set it aside as a beginner prophecy.

For the last four years God has had me minister online. I have two online businesses and two ministries.

Just because it does not seem like anything at the time, the word fell flat in my spirit, does not mean it is not a true word!

In fact, even though the other words were things I like to hear, this was the one word that had come to pass in the most profound way so far!

Anonymous said...

Gene, I asked my Spiritual Dad to speak from the wisdom God has given to him. Here is what he answered. Be blessed, Nancy
~~~~~
To add a few points without expounding.

1. Don’t judge the prophet test the prophecy
2. A true prophet is not known by his or her prophecies coming to pass. The sole judge for a prophet is their fruit
3. Not all prophecy is for everyone. Some is global, some is regional, some is national, some is personal. Ask for discernment about any prophecy
4. A prophetic word is to be judged by the other prophets not by the general populace
5. A true prophet will deliver without thought of his or her personal gain or notoriety
6. Prophets are called by God, not ordained by men
7. Discern only by the Spirit not by the flesh
8. Do not judge by previous prophecies, know them by the Spirit
9. The Messiah is the Spirit of prophecy
10. A true prophet does not have any problem with their prophecy being examined and tested.
11. There are many false prophets in the world. Do not tacitly believe every prophecy. It should bear witness with the Spirit

Pastor Rusty Bowles
Church of the Latter Rain
1456 Beltline #139
Garland TX 75044

prophecyfire/ D. gansmann said...

he will continue to pour out his spirit on your gifting...you will prophesy in his name and do exploits for the kingdom...you are part of the latter day rain anointing for the calling forth of the Prophets...he will send you more inner vision and outpouring....he has a plan for your life you will rise to the prophetic leadership...not by power nor by might but by his spirit...prophesy

Anonymous said...

i would recommend 2 books by bill hammon and two only prophecey known as the red book pitfalls and traps for prophets known AS THE GREEN BOOK IF I REMEMBER CORRCTLY JOHN BAVERE THUS SAITH THE LORD ALSO HITS ON THE SUBJECT OF PROPHETIC DEFILEMENT ALTHOUGH HE DID REPENT IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO BREAK EVERY ILL EFFECT AND SPOKEN WORD THE GIFTS AND TALENTS IN THE bODY OF cHRIST EPH 4 I ALEAYS TRY AND KEEP IN MIND EVEN A GOOD BOOK IS BUT A GUIDLINE AND NOT A RULE ONLY SCRIPTURE IS INFOWLABLE AND THE TRINITY OF COURSE LAY HANDS SPEEDILY ON NO MAN AND ANOINT WITH OIL ALMOST SEEM LOST IN AMERICA TODAY THESE THINGS DO APPLY TO THE PROPHETIC