“I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!” Numbers 11:29.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
Prophesy! Many are stuck in the sins and mistakes of their past, but what I say to you is “Repent and forget what is past and make the way for future glory!” Prophecy is for NOW.
A word of wisdom is for what is to come. A word of knowledge is a past or present fact. But prophecy is what changes hearts and makes a better life.
Prophecy is not about who you are but what you can be. Prophecy gives edification, exhortation, and encouragement (comfort and consolation).
Prophecy can bring in the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge, but it incorporates these in the light of change and growth. Prophecy changes minds and hearts by lifting up the soul to higher realms of thought, that is, from flesh level to spirit level. It raises the mind above where Christ is seated at My right hand and not on things below. A new vision of reality is what the prophetic utterance accomplishes taking one from the profane to the sacred, from the ungodly to the holy, from despair to hope, from giving up to going forward, from taking the wrong turn to going forward on the right path, and from doubt to faith.
But prophecy is never based on ungodly worldly philosophies that leave out My Word to raise to higher levels of “positive” thinking. The source of all true prophecy is the testimony of Jesus.
For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Revelation 19:10.
What is the testimony of Jesus? There is much to say here for there are many levels of the meaning in this passage.
The Name you know as “Jesus” is originally the Hebrew word “Yeshuah” which means “salvation.” I told Joseph to call His Name “Yeshuah,” for He would save His people from their sins. So the testimony of Jesus is the testimony of salvation—which includes healing, prosperity, forgiveness of sins, being born again, having eternal life, and knowing the truth that sets you free. It is the good news of salvation, the gospel that sets the captives free, removes oppression and fear, gives confident assurance of My love and acceptance, heals broken hearts, and gives blessed assurance of good in their lives. It is the word of reconciliation between you and Me through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit testifies about Jesus, and I tell you that you will testify as well. John 15:26-27.
But the testimony of Jesus is also all the Words of Jesus, and He only spoke My Words. Jesus is the faithful witness. He is the faithful and the true. He is My Word made flesh testifying to who I am by My Words in His mouth and My works through His hands that manifest My Words.
So, ultimately this all leads to the definition of prophecy as speaking My Word that edifies, exhorts, and encourages for the present moment in the life of the one to whom you are prophesying, whether it be yourself or another. It is the Word you need to impel you forward to a higher level in My upward call to you in Christ at the moment it is delivered.
The Lord LORD has given Me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. Isaiah 50:4.
This is spoken of Jesus by the prophet Isaiah, but do you note He has the tongue of disciples, plural. Meaning all of you who believe in Him are now His tongue to the world as members of His Body, the Church. And you all can speak in tongues who have the Spirit in you.
Prophecy is born in worship, praise, singing to Me in inspired hymns, psalms, and Spirit sent songs. These raise you up to the Spirit level where My Spirit can impart words to you that are prayers and directions for you and others. That is why Elisha called for a minstrel so that he could prophesy as the king requested.
In worship and praise as you speak in tongues, the Spirit will teach you all things and guide you to all truth. He will often give you two or three witnesses, that is, Scripture passages that directly address what the person, nation, family, or you yourself are facing at the moment. It will always be not only Word based but the actual Scripture itself.
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22.
Test prophetic utterances with My Word and pray over them. Not all spirits are from Me. Never be hasty until you hear from Me the final Word on the matter at hand.
Prophecy purifies. It never incites lust, anger, shame, or guilt. The prophetic word never beats you; it always feeds you and frees you. The way I exhort and correct is by My Word.
And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.” John 12:44-50.
In prophesying you are speaking at the direction of the Holy Spirit and you must speak the Words as He imparts them to you for they are of Me, for eternal life is in them for those to whom you speak. You must not mix the profane with them or the message will be corrupted and not the one I wish to impart.
Therefore thus says the LORD: “If you return, then I will bring you back; you shall stand before M.; If you take out the precious from the vile, you shall be as My mouth. Let them return to you, but you must not return to them. Jeremiah 15:19.
I have given you good guidelines for prophesying in many places in My written Word. Let us consider now a passage in the letter to the Ephesians, which is really a letter to you from My Spirit.
Let no unwholesome (idle, evil, malicious, obscene) word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:29-32
Prophecy imparts grace to those who hear. Grace is My divine life flowing into you. Grace teaches you to live godly and imparts in you the power to do so. It inspires and enables you to do the good deeds I have prepared for you in advance in Christ Jesus.
Prophecy not only exhorts and encourages but it also edifies. The word “edify” in the Greek language in which the New Testament was written is oikodomé (οἰκοδομή),” which is a noun that means “a building and the act of building the building,” primarily an edifice serving as a home. In the context of prophecy it is divine correction and instruction that builds a person up to be a suitable dwelling place for My Spirit, that is, a vessel of honor destined for every good and excellent work.
When do you prophesy? When I give you a Word for another, speak it to them. But be careful not to speak from your flesh and say it is from Me. Before you say, “the Lord says” or “the Lord told me” make sure I did. Many times it can be a back door for telling the person what you think or want them to do or for telling them what you think they want to hear that will make them feel good about themselves, you, and others. Watch using it as flattery where no honor is due.
For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:32-33.
Prophecy is very sacred and should be treated as such. Prophecy can direct a person on the right course and change their destiny. It can put new life in those who are dead in their darkness. It can change the course of a nation and the heart of a ruler. But false prophets can mislead, deceive and destroy people, nations, rulers, and the one making the prophecy. Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Matthew 7:15-16.
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. Revelation 22:18-19.
I love you. I exhort you to prophesy many times in My Word. I share things with My prophets so they can speak them into the earth so My Word can be performed and new life imparted. My Words spoken into lives can save souls, families, cities, rulers, and nations. I want you all to prophesy, even to yourself and one another, but I want to show you how for it is sacred and not profane fire. So I will continue in our next Life Lesson.