Prophetic Awareness

In 1 Samuel 3 we have the humorous but sad story regarding Samuel as he heard the voice of God. At that time there was sin and apostacy in the priesthood and God was not speaking. The verses state the sad reality that ‘the word of the Lord was rare and there were not many visions’. However, Samuel was a true worshipper and he heard God’s voice, but didn’t know that God could reveal Himself in that way so he keeps going to Eli and saying, ‘Here I am; you called me’ This happened three times before the light went on for Eli and he told Samuel to say, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.” In Samuel God was ready to birth a new season of revelation and I believe He is doing it again.

Prophetic Ministry is Birthed Through Prayer

Prayer itself is an art which only the Holy Spirit can teach us. Pray for prayer. Pray until you can really pray!" (C.H.Spurgeon)

This week a group of us had the opportunity to hear the vision of the 24/7 Prayer ministry as Chris Jones shared about building communities of prayer, mission and justice. It was in our first 24/7 prayer room that God really impressed on me my mission to take the lead role here. Our last prayer room experience…a little rockier but once again God spoke and reaffirmed in me the desire to keep focused, keep pressing on. Extended times of prayer birth vision and mission and action!

Kelly Greene is serving in Boystown, Mexico a walled-in section of the city which has been set apart for prostitution and drug abuse for the past 150 years. She started by first prayer walking through the community for over a year and a half and then God started opening doors!!

24-7prayer.com: Mexico: God Lives Where the Girls Have No Name...

Prophetic Ministry is used to call people to repentance. 2 Samuel 7:12-16

There is something greater than hearing the voice of the Lord and that is obeying the voice of the Lord as Jesus makes readily clear in His prayer in John 17:6,7, ‘I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.”

There is something greater than the cost of discipleship and that is the cost of disobedience to the Lord. Disobedience is truly what is the most punishing in our lives. So, what is the payment? Frustration, a restless spirit, driven by lust for pleasure or power, emotional states of bitterness, resentment, guilt, nervous anxiety.

All this happens in varying degrees when we are unwilling to yield ourselves to His leadership in our lives

I remember one of our staff meetings where Mary shared on the need for repentance in our lives and likened it to cleaning floors in your home and how yes you can do a decent job standing up, but it isn’t until you get on your knees that you can really see the dirt. It is the same in our lives of prayer, it brings us back to our knees as in humility we see ourselves for who we really are and approach God for his cleansing.

Prophetic Ministry is used to affirm God’s Will in the lives of His Children

It can really benefit the listener in giving them the confirmation that they need to go forward or the fact that they are exactly where God has told them to be.

Prophetic Ministry is for all believers. 1 Corinthians 14:29-32

Prophecy in its most basic form is hearing what God is saying about someone and relaying it to them. Jesus said that His sheep would hear his voice. What we need to do is develop our sensitivity and understanding to what God is saying. Yes, we may make mistakes. The disciples made mistakes, but that doesn’t mean that we throw it all out. We need to realize just how powerful it can be when we share what God is impressing upon us to confirm it in the lives of others.

On a larger scale, it is what God calls me to do as I speak every week.

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-12

However we are all called to speak into each lives and when God gives you a word for someone you need to speak it into their lives. As you seek the Lord, He will lay people on your heart sometimes simply to pray but also to speak.

• revelation

The first part of a prophetic word is the information that we receive from God. It is revelation that God gives without any prior knowledge on our part. It is something that God gives and is not based on natural understanding. It can come in a dream, as a vision, as an impression. It basically asks, “What did you see, hear or receive?” It often comes as a result of prayer or through reading His Word.

He often will prompt the believer to passages of Scripture.

He will also use impressions as He did with the apostle Paul.

“Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives (Acts 27:10 KJV) The word perceive is a good choice here because it means ‘to know by feeling’.

• interpretation

The question that is basically asks is this: What is God saying? What does this mean? I want to make clear that the clear cut test is does it line up with Scripture. If it contradicts the Word of God, it is another voice that you are hearing.

• application

The third component is the understanding of how we implement what we have received. It is ultimately the responsibility of the person who has received the truth or revelation to then take action. The application is not the work of the one giving the message. It is to be left to the person who has received the message to determine what he or she should do as a result of the word spoken into their life.

Ultimately no one has more power than you to pray with the greatest authority into your own life.

A.B. Simpson wrote “The messenger is now his way to bring you your blessing, and the Holy Spirit awaits your act of trust, so He may whisper in your heart the echo of the answer from the throne of God, “He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. Revelation 21:6

Prophetic ministry uses our senses through the power of the Holy Spirit

John 14:12

It happens as we realize that we are ministering with borrowed power. The greater things are the things that we let God do through us and the multiplication of those events in transforming many lives.

We have

• spiritual eyes - When Elijah the prophet was translated to heaven, it was the sons of the prophets who recognized that the Spirit of the Lord now rested on Elisha in 2 Kings 2:15. Spiritual eyes gives us beautiful insights into His Word and often pictures for people.

spiritual hearing – Again as we listen, God will reveal struggles people are having and encouragements for them

• spiritual touch – Often God will not speak until we lay hands on the person that we are praying for and then He will teach you to pray.
  

The Takeaway

God stills speaks today and He longs to speak into your life and through you into the lives of others!

The only way that is going to happen is if you let Him get His fingerprints all over you. It is only going to happen if you let Him shape and mold you and change the way you look at other people. It only happens through faith and believing that God is speaking.