Bonjour young almond tree! May grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of GOD and JESUS our LORD (2 Peter 1:2)! May the understanding of the Word and the exercise of spiritual gifts be yours. But more than that, may the Christlike character be your testimony.
🙂 I think it's a good idea to share with you a few verses and suggestions relating to a specific term. The aim is to encourage you to meditate on the Word and to draw from it, through the assistance of the HOLY SPIRIT, the answers to your questions.
To prophesy is to speak on behalf of GOD, synonymous with saying a prophecy, to say what GOD says, what GOD has said, or to interpret what GOD shows (vision, dream). Either, we announce an event or a fact to come from GOD, or, we indicate a specific will of GOD. In short, to prophesy is to declare a message from GOD.
Examples :
When the prophets under the Old Covenant, notably the prophet Isaiah, said "Thus saith the LORD now" or "Thus saith the LORD" (Isaiah 43:1, Isaiah 44:24).
When the prophet Agabus prophesied about the arrest of the Apostle Paul (Acts 21:10-11).
When Joseph interprets Phaaron's dream (Genesis 41:28-36).
When Daniel interprets King Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Daniel 2: 30-45).
I consider that there are two types of prophecy:
- GOD's promises: these are sealed (events or facts to come). GOD has said he will do or allow something to happen. Whatever happens, the announced event will take place.
- GOD's will: these are conditional. Their fulfillment depends on the faith and obedience of those for whom they are intended.
As GOD speaks in different ways, the prophet can prophesy in different ways (words, songs, drawings, films, books). By meditating on the Word and listening to the inner witness, it becomes easy to differentiate between a false prophecy, a word of faith, a personal conviction, a prophecy, a prophetic declaration (the creative word), a word of encouragement (the strengthening word), a word of knowledge (supernatural revelation of a past fact or present situation) and a false word of knowledge. That said, it's always possible to make a mistake, which is why, in addition to the Word and inner witness, we need to pray, keep our hearts at peace, and allow others to judge (not just anyone).
🙂 Below are a few verses I encourage you to meditate on, and a few suggestions I encourage you to consider.
Isaiah 55:8-9, Mark 14:65, Acts 2:17, 1 Corinthians 13:9-10, 1 Corinthians 14:1-3,
Psalms 119:105, Proverbs 8:12, John 14:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22, 1 John 4:1,
Romans 8:16, 2 Peter 2:1-3, Jeremy 23:16-32.
❖ (Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV): “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.“ As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
❖ (Marc 14:65, NIV) : Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.
❖ (Acts 2:17, NIV): "In the last days, GOD says, I will pour out my SPIRIT on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams."
❖ (1 Corinthians 13: 9-10, NIV) : For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.
❖ (1 Corinthians 14: 1-3, NIV): Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the SPIRIT, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.
❖ (Psalms 119 :105, NIV) : Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
❖ (Proverbs 8 :12-13, NIV) : “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech."
❖ (John 14:6, NIV) : JESUS answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the FATHER except through me.”
❖ (1 Thessalonicians 5 : 19-22, NIV) : 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 Jon 4 : 1, NIV) : Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from GOD, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
❖ (Romans 8: 16, NIV) : The SPIRIT himself testifies with our spirit that we are GOD’s children.
❖ (2 Peter 2:1-3, NIV) : 1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign LORD who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
❖ (Jeremiah 23: 16-32, NIV) : 16 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. 17 They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The LORD says : You will have peace.’ And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’ 18 But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word?
19 See, the storm of the LORD will burst out in wrath, a whirlwind swirling down on the heads of the wicked. 20 The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart. In days to come you will understand it clearly.
21 I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. 22 But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.
23 “Am I only a GOD nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away? 24 Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord. 25 “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!
26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? 27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their ancestors forgot my name through Baal worship.28 Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the LORD. 29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
30 “Therefore,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. 31 Yes,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The LORD declares.’ 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the LORD. “They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the LORD.
Suggestions for moving forward (non-exhaustive list)
The Prophet's Dictionary, by Paula A. Price Ph.D
Seventy Reasons for Speaking in Tongues, by Bill Hamon
Seven Steps for Judging Prophecy, by Kenneth E. Hagin
Prophets, Pitfalls, and Principles, by Bill Hammon
Modern Prophets: A Toolkit for Everyone On Hearing God's Voice, by Shawn Bolz
God Secrets: A Life Filled With Words of Knowledge, by Shawn Bolz
Growing in the Prophetic, by Micke Bickle,
I Believe In Visions, by Kenneth E. Hagin
L'Eglise et les ministères, Derek Prince
The Divinity Code to Understanding Your Dreams and Visions, by Adam F. Thompson and Adrian Beale
Encounters in the Night, by Stacey Linsalata
The Voice of GOD, by Cindy Jacobs
The Prophetic Ministry, Rick Joyner
The Making of a Prophet: Practical Advice for Developing Your Prophetic Voice, By Jennifer Leclaire
Discerning prophetic witchcraft, by Jennifer Leclaire
Apostles & Prophets, Apostle Kenneth E Hagin
Pitfalls and profiles of preachers, teachers &prophetic people, Dr Faith wokoma
Minister's Material - The Prophetic Ministry, Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa
Instrumental & Ministerial Gifts | Midweek Service with Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa 10-08-2023|
How the prophetic works, Apostle Joshua Selman
Understanding the Language of the Spirit - Apostle Arome Osayi
Ways to Test the Prophetic Spirit - Apostle Arome Osayi
Recognising the False Prophetic - Apostle Arome Osayi
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