Thursday, June 14, 2012

Judging The Prophetic Word

JUDGING THE PROPHETIC WORD
by Patricia Hamel




Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 1 Cor. 14:29

God wants His spiritual gifts operating in the body of Christ.  Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 1 Cor. 12:1 (NKJV)

There is a time to keep silent and a time to speak. The Lord has spoken to my heart that it is time to speak about this matter. We are admonished to judge the prophetic word after it has been spoken.  Many are posting prophetic words online and there is very little in the way of true prophetic accountability. This can be a dangerous thing especially if there are not those who will speak the truth in love after reading a prophetic word because of fear of man.  When the body of Christ comes together in corporate worship the prophetic word would be judged when given and the one giving the word would be held accountable.

We are clearly told that the prophetic word will speak to men and that it will edify, exhort and comfort them. 3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 1 Cor. 14:3



Many have had little teaching on this subject and just receive everything they read, some have never prophesied in the body of Christ where there is prophetic accountability.  People can and do make mistakes in their learning to prophesy and need to be teachable.  Also there are those that are putting out prophetic words of doom and gloom where one does not see Jesus in them as words are twisted, taken out of context and a mixture. 

The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of all true prophesy. When you read a word, take the time to read each and every word and ponder it.  Do not just take it to heart. Can you back it up with the Word of God. When in doubt put it aside and pray over it. God will in His time speak to you about it if you are willing to wait on Him.

God puts out a clear prophetic flow from a river of clean water. There is no mixture with God. If the one prophesying has a wounded heart they will prophesy out of that wounding. If they see God as a Father who is always angry because of their own troubled relationship with an earthly Father, yet unhealed  then they will prophesy accordingly. 

Years ago I recall being taught that the purity of a prophecy will depend on how close a relationship the one prophesying has with the Lord. 

God is speaking serious things to His children in this hour yet the mature prophetic person will speak from a pure prophetic flow. They will take time to wait on Him and out of that clean river of living water speak.  They will be walking a repentant walk.  It is so important when one prophesies that their heart is clean before the Lord and that they take time to make sure there is nothing between themselves and God. Also one needs to prophesy out of the unction of the Holy Ghost to be sure that it is from the Lord.

There are times in reading a word that one can see that the person putting out the word has sat there with their bible and then written out of what they have read, put it in their own words and labeled it as a prophecy. 

To whom is God speaking in a prophetic word?  Is it to His church?  The Lord loves His bride, His church and gave Himself for her.  It is a love relationship and He never belts His bride over the head and abuses her but He loves her and has laid down His life for her.  Is God speaking to someone who is unsaved or to Israel or another nation of the world.  We need to determine to whom God is speaking if it has not been made clear in the beginning.

If you read a word and come away from reading it fearful, and void of any edification, exhortation and comfort and feel a sense of dread then there is a problem with the prophecy you are reading. Yes, God can lovingly correct you and show you things to come but they will NOT remove all hope from you. Christ gives you a future and a hope.

Jesus said, My sheep know My voice and they will not follow another. Take time with the Lord and in doing so you will hear His voice.  Remember that the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of all true prophecy. 



10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Rev. 19:10

 

http://patriciahamel.com

June 14, 2012