Christian Mission Outreach

Jesus only said and did what He saw and heard from His Father. That is how true prophecy works. Jesus is the Great Prophet of whom Moses prophesied: 

"'[God said,] I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.'" (Deut. 18:18-20) (Thank God, believers can now receive full forgiveness for sins.)

Since Pentecost, filled with God’s Spirit, "'your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.'" (Acts 2:17-18) Jesus' sheep can all hear His voice and prophesy what we hear from Him and the Father through Their Holy Spirit. It is either for ourselves or for others.

Being a gift, prophecy is to be exercised by the Spirit and not "by the flesh." (Gal. 3:3) A true prophetic word comes from a rhema word which God puts into one’s mouth. It does not come out of self, from an area of one’s mind or heart. The rhema will either be Scripture fresh from the heart of God, or at least line up with Scripture. 

We can declare Logos Scriptural words or something that sounds good to someone, but that is not prophesying. It may or may not even line up with God's current will. There were times in the Old Testament when false prophets told a ruler what he wanted to hear, but it was not God's will at that time. “[There is] a time for every purpose under heaven.” (Eccl. 3:1)

"'Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; they speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the LORD. They continually say to those who despise Me, "The LORD has said, 'You shall have peace'"; and to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say, "No evil shall come upon you"'. For who has stood in the counsel of the LORD, and has perceived and heard His word? [Actions can have consequences if the "anger of the LORD is aroused" and repentance does not come.] … In the latter days you will understand it perfectly. ‘I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in My counsel, and had caused My people to hear My words, then [true prophecy] would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doing.'" (Jer. 23:16-22)

It is important that we not say we are prophesying to someone, ‘the Lord says,” unless God is really speaking a word. That word "prophesy" is used too loosely today and we are accountable to God for what we say. Some Scriptures are like guardrails to keep us out of presumption since God wants us to stay on the road and out of the ditches.

God “confirms the word of His servant, and performs the counsel of His messengers,” but frustrates false prophecy.(Isa. 44:24-25) “And so we have the [true] prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. " (2 Pet. 1:19-21)

Jesus warned “‘false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.’” (Matt. 24:24) They speak from some other source rather than by the Holy Spirit. It might be from the "will of man" or from a false god, a doctrine of demons, or just hearsay. But God has not instructed them to speak. Since Holy Spirit guards against those “who prophesy out of their own heart” (Ezek. 13:17), let us listen to Him.

Jesus said, “‘[Holy Spirit] will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine.’” (John 16:13-15) God tells His prophets what is to come.

True prophecy, this "Now" word from God which you may find in your mouth, is Jesus' testimony about the situation, and will always line up with Scripture and bear good fruit. Every true prophecy in the Bible was spoken by God directly to the prophets to be spoken "as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." An angel told John to worship God, not the messenger, saying, "I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Rev. 19:10)

We can declare Scripture, the logos word, to ourselves or others - but that is proclamation, not truly prophecy, unless Holy Spirit gives you the words to say. God can say anything He wants, but usually prophesy comes as edification, exhortation or comfort. (1 Cor. 14:3) We are not to add or take away from a rhema word from God, but speak it as God gives it.

God called Jeremiah to be a true prophet. In spite of his youth, he was to fearlessly go to whomever God sent him.

“‘Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,’ says the LORD. Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: ‘Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.’" (Jer. 1:8-10) That was his global assignment. Yet God is enabling all His servants to prophesy words He puts in their mouth. So all in Christ are eligible to hear from Holy Spirit and prophesy true prophecy locally. But like Jeremiah, some people are chosen by God to be in the office of the prophet, to prophesy more widely. Some, not everyone, are called to that. “He Himself gave some to be… prophets” (Eph. 4:11) to equip the saints for their work of ministry.

God warned His people to beware of false prophets “‘who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing.’” Instead of going into the gaps in intercession "‘to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle in the day of the LORD. They have envisioned [lies], saying, “Thus says the LORD!” But the LORD has not sent them; yet they hope that the word may be confirmed. Have you not seen a futile vision, and have you not spoken false divination? You say, “The LORD says,” but I have not spoken. Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore I am indeed against you. [False prophets will not enter Israel].’" (Ezek. 13:3-9)

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (2 Tim. 3:16) So, you can declare or proclaim what is already written in the Bible.But it is not correct to say you are prophesying these Scriptures, unless Holy Spirit moves you to do so.

Jesus warned about those calling Him "Lord, Lord" without checking with Him before prophesying in His name. Therefore, believers need to learn to prophesy correctly. The gift of "discerning of spirits" helps in distinguishing the true from the false.

In the holy fear of the Lord we can know whether or not God intends us to prophesy. Thank God prophets are allowed to stand in the Lord's counsel and hear what He really wants. And thank God for the merciful blood of Jesus if we find we have gone down a wrong path.

May the Lord keep us on His highway of holiness and out of the ditches.