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Creating Healthy Prophetic Environments

 

So, the prophet is no longer the long haired, bearded guy trying to coerce everyone to turn in his direction. He has changed to the calm, humble and prayerful person, kneeling before the Lord yet carrying an urgency in his spirit for the broken and the lost. At least this is my hope.

Gone are the days when the Church mixed up a manipulator with a true prophetic vessel of God. During the charismatic movement of the 1960’s and 1970’s, men like William Branham and Paul Cain placed the prophetic ministry on the map. We had pastors like Bill Hamon who came after in the 1980’s and began to polish the idea of a New Testament prophet in our minds. To be gut honest, Bill Hamon and Christian International may be the most effective and trusted prophetic company in this hemisphere and maybe the world. Bill’s writings in particular, Prophets and Prophetic Ministry, Prophets and Personal Prophecies and Prophets and Pitfalls are must haves for anyone venturing out into prophetic ministry and desiring mentorship. 

The first is a statement on the current New Testament framework, the second is a model on how to flow in prophecy and the last is a strong emphasis on the character the prophetic vessel should possess. 

This tutelage is so needed today. There are many people going around, frustrating ministries, new converts and men of God, using lying and false prophecies. Such ones seek control over others and are found to be lacking in their own identity and therefore must use manipulation as a plow to destroy. Might I dare say that some do it for business.

Here are some guidelines to observe when flowing or receiving prophetic ministry:

 ALL PROPHECY MUST BE TESTED

Paul reminded us of this in 1 Thessalonians 5:20. There were confusing words that the Catching Away came and went. He encouraged the believers to test everything. You should do the same.

PROPHETS ARE HUMANS AND SOMETIMES THEY MISS

Nathan missed it and told David to build the Temple. Later God told him to correct that with David. His prophetic permission was mistaken. Also, Samuel famously said, “Surely this must be the one”. He almost anointed the wrong guy.  Elijah received word in 1 Kings 19:19 to anoint Jehu but he never did. It was Elisha who did it in 2 Kings 9.

THE WRITTEN WORD IS SURER THAN THAT WORD

The true prophet will always point you to the Bible. You will be so lifted and drawn closer to God after meeting one of God’s men. His first assignment is to reveal Jesus and not himself. 

IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE LOUD AND EMBARRASSING TO BE EFFECTIVE

Calling out people’s sins and misdeed in public is off limits. Ask Paul Cain what had happened to him many years after he did that. He was found to be a practicing homosexual and an alcoholic. We must be careful. Judge not lest he be judged. Nathan went to David privately about Bathsheba. He was convinced that David was in sin. Yet, he was gracious.

WITCHES DO APPEAR IN PROPHETIC MEETINGS

Remember in Job 1 when the sons of God showed up, how Satan was present. In the same way, strong anointing will attract false spirits. In Acts 16 a girl cried after Paul saying what seemed to be right and holy. Yet Paul did not receive it. He knew the sender was the devil. Not because it is true means that you should receive it. Check the source and as a caution we should not allow total strangers to come in and prophesy over God’s people. We may connect them to people who will later destroy their lives.

DON’T PUT ON A SHOW USING PROPHETIC ACTS

Acts 21 tells how Agabus prophesied over Paul. They bound him with a belt and told him of his demise. Yet, Paul knew the message of God had to be preached and was not afraid even if it meant facing death. Then this happen, Paul didn’t die in Jerusalem. He knew preaching the Gospel was central and he would not be deterred.

Let these words guide you. Don’t despise the prophetic, rather keep loving it. 

The Scripture is clear that God is going to raise up more after He would have raised up the first. 

One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. Psalm 145:9

This Scripture stirs me up concerning the move of God in Jamaica, the Caribbean and the world. Thank God we don’t have to lose steam after a mighty general dies. The way God designed this thing, new people will be arising to take over. While God used our grandma’s generation, He is fixing to use this present one now. Here is my warning – DON’T EXPECT THEM TOLOOK OR TALK LIKE YOU. My God! If we could grasp this, we would not shut up those whom the Lord wants to use for this new move that is coming upon the land. 

 

One of the cries I hear today, is the cry to hear the voice of God and not just to hear but to be able to minister that to other people.  Let me give you some nuggets.

Thus saith the Lord of hosts: “Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you. They make you vain; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.

For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard his word? Who hath marked his word, and heard it? ( Jeremiah 23:16, 18)

Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. (Ezekiel 3:1)

The prophetic is not fortune telling or games.  Men’s life depends on it, in order for them to survive. A prophetic person is God’s echo – God in His mercy has chosen to involve man in His work . This is to man’s delight as in the case of exodus 20:19 the people knew how terrible it could be to interact with God Himself.

Prophetic people are people who hear and then they say (Acts 11:27 – Agabus)

SOME MEN DON’T HAVE A PROPHETIC MINISTRY, THEY HAVE A PATHETIC MINISTRY. SOME ARE NOT PROPHET ,THEY ARE PROFIT.

BUILD UP YOURSELF Before you prophesy AND HERE IS HOW TO:

• Studying God’s Word (Ezekiel  3:1) THE LOGOS MUST BE PRIORITIZED.
• Praying in tongues  (Jude 1:20)
• Fasting (Daniel 10)
• Humility ( 1 Samuel 3, Isaiah 6:8) If God can talk to a baby and a donkey, He will talk to you.
• Have the right spirit (Ezra 9:3)
• Receive impartations  – Prophet Amoako  

A prophetic person carries the emotions of God. He or she must be careful to let others around know if a negative incident happened that it was not Christ and then take full responsibility. If not then such a person will enter into prophetic manipulation.