This is to help you understand what the Bible says about prophecy and some scriptural guidelines to follow when you receive prophetic prayer ministry or a personal Prophetic Word. Prophetic ministry is to build up, edify, encourage, and or bring comfort. Our answers come from our relationship with the Lord. These are some simple guidelines to follow when processing personal prophecy.
When people pray over you or prophesy to you, they are speaking in faith believing to hear what the Lord wants to say specifically to you. The Bible is clear that we are all called to prophesy.
A Gift to be Desired to Encourage You and Others
The Bible says we are to desire to prophesy so others will be built up, edified, and encouraged.
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. I would that every one of you speaks in tongues, but I would rather you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets. so that the church may be edified. I Corinthians 14: 4.5
For you all can prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. the spirits of the prophets are subject to the control of the prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. I Corinthians 14: 32-33
How to Respond to a Prophetic Word
Listen to your word that was recorded, pray over it, pray it back to the Lord asking Him to clarify. Who is God saying He is and who He says you are. Also it may be a good idea to have a trusted person who has more experience with prophesy to to listen and pray with you over your word. When we read something it sometimes speaks to us in a ways that we are not aware of when listening Its a good idea to transcribe as you hear differently when reading or seeing. When written yo will always have a record of what was said. Keep it in a safe place as God's word is continually unfolding over time.
Word of Prophecy spoken over Timothy as prophecy was part of the early church.
Do not neglect the gift, which was given to you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 1 Timothy 4:14
There are three distinguishing aspect of prophecy.
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the work of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits , to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Prophecy is one of the 12 motivational gifts.
And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles are they? All are not prophets are they? All are not teachers are they? All are not workers of miracles are they? All do not have gifts of healings do they? All do not interpret do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts. I Corinthians 12:28-31
There is a Gift of Prophet
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the Body of Christ, until all attain to the unity of the faith and to the knowledge of the Son of God to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13
Those who prophesy well may not always be a prophet but operating in the gift of prophecy. Prophecy is walked out and worked out through intimacy in relationship with our Heavenly Father. We develop discernment and faith as we grow into His image.
This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,… 1 Timothy 1:18
When people pray over you or prophesy to you, they are speaking in faith believing to hear what the Lord wants to say specifically to you. The Bible is clear that we are all called to prophesy.
A Gift to be Desired to Encourage You and Others
The Bible says we are to desire to prophesy so others will be built up, edified, and encouraged.
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. I would that every one of you speaks in tongues, but I would rather you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets. so that the church may be edified. I Corinthians 14: 4.5
For you all can prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. the spirits of the prophets are subject to the control of the prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. I Corinthians 14: 32-33
How to Respond to a Prophetic Word
- Test the word spoken and gain confirmation to determine if it is a true word for you.
- Do not attempt to fulfill the word.
- Keep it in your heart and pray for God to fulfill in His time.
- 'The Bible says we see in part and prophesy in part.
- Word are usually partial and not complete.
- God does this intentionally so as to use the entire Body of Christ.
- Every believer has a part to give.
- Listen to how the Lord refers to Himself.
- Listen to how He speaks regarding you.
- Listen for what He says He is going to do.
- Listen for what He says you are going to do,
Listen to your word that was recorded, pray over it, pray it back to the Lord asking Him to clarify. Who is God saying He is and who He says you are. Also it may be a good idea to have a trusted person who has more experience with prophesy to to listen and pray with you over your word. When we read something it sometimes speaks to us in a ways that we are not aware of when listening Its a good idea to transcribe as you hear differently when reading or seeing. When written yo will always have a record of what was said. Keep it in a safe place as God's word is continually unfolding over time.
Word of Prophecy spoken over Timothy as prophecy was part of the early church.
Do not neglect the gift, which was given to you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 1 Timothy 4:14
There are three distinguishing aspect of prophecy.
- Gift of Prophecy - Romans and 1 Corinthians 12: and 14.
- Office of Prophet (Old Testament and New Testament) Ephesians 4:11
- Spirit of Prophecy - anyone can prophesy for a particular moment.
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the work of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits , to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Prophecy is one of the 12 motivational gifts.
And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles are they? All are not prophets are they? All are not teachers are they? All are not workers of miracles are they? All do not have gifts of healings do they? All do not interpret do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts. I Corinthians 12:28-31
There is a Gift of Prophet
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the Body of Christ, until all attain to the unity of the faith and to the knowledge of the Son of God to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13
Those who prophesy well may not always be a prophet but operating in the gift of prophecy. Prophecy is walked out and worked out through intimacy in relationship with our Heavenly Father. We develop discernment and faith as we grow into His image.
This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,… 1 Timothy 1:18