For the latest blogs, book publishing information and other ministry information, here are the social media links.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nonprophet.fireandgrace/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nonprophet.fireandgrace/
Website: http://www.fireandgrace.org
Blog: http://fireandgrace.blogspot.com/
Until the books are ready, this is the website.
If you are like me, once you have seen a real prophetic person minister, you wanted to see what God would say to you. Think about it, there are lots of decisions to make in your life, and you’ve asked God for wisdom but you still have lots of decisions to make. Well, join the club. As we walk out our salvation, we come to many crossroads; it’s a natural part of life.
I think the perceptions of most church folks, when it comes to the prophetic fall into one of the following categories.
-1 That it is ancient history – I haven’t thought about God sending someone to speak over me.
-2 I know there is prophecy, but it is rare, not very personal. And it’s too general.
-3 Prophecy can only be encouraging so anything negative is not God.
-4 It happens, but it won’t happen to me. God has more important work.
-5 It’s been abused and misused, therefore it is really just too much trouble.
-6 Prophecy is a way of life for the Christian and should be for the church.
-7 The supernatural gifts ended with the apostles' deaths.
I am going to assume that you are interested in what a prophecy is, or what it might be like but I will spare the stories of how blessed I have been by prophecies. I am a 6! But I have been 1 through 5 at some point in my walk. I have never been a 7!
First, prophecy can be as simple as a Bible verse that is made personal and meaningful to you. Logos becoming rhema. My wife and I went to hear a speaker, and while he was preaching he said these words. “You, did you know, you are in the Army of God?” (1 Chronicles 12:22) And as he said it, he pointed to my wife. It was personal, and powerful. It was God speaking to her.
Other times I have seen a much more direct and accurate form of prophecy. There are those called out of an audience by name. This was by men who did not know the recipients at all. Their prophecy was to simply speak a destiny - that which is not as though it is. I had a pastor that was originally from Iceland and the prophet couldn't pronounce his name, so he spelled it! He prophesied his brief US pastorship and a move back to his home country. The prophecy took about 6 years to come to pass but every word was perfectly accurate.
So, what would you do if God had someone speak a word over you? Run out and make it happen, be so skeptical that it would be meaningless, or fall somewhere in between? They are good questions, don't you think?
Here are some steps and suggestions for judging prophecy and prophetic words whether they are for you personally, for your small group or even your church. And yes, Virginia, some folks still prophesy over nations.
-1 Write it Down!
Most meetings that I have been to, the words are recorded to hold the minister accountable, as well as provide the recipient with a record of what God is speaking to them. In more intimate settings, this is not always the case. Whatever the situation, write down everything! Think of it like a personal Bible passage – you’d want to get every nuance of the utterance, and prophecy is the same. If it's God, you'll want to pull it out every so often.
Jeremiah 36:2 Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you.
Once the “word” is written down, you take away the inflection and accent of the speaker. Some prophetic people have a personal style of delivery. Jeremiah, for instance, was the “weeping” prophet. Others in the kingdom have some odd deliveries which can be somewhat distracting. I know one fellow who sings them over you. The music is beautiful, but it is hard to hear both the music and words. Just remember the water sometimes tastes like the pipe (prophetic person).
-2 Check the Scriptures!
As you read it over, check to make sure that the word does not contain any scriptural contradictions. I would dismiss a word if it was going to take me consciously committing a sin, to have it come to pass. Scripture is the final authority and anything that contradicts scripture must be rejected!
Does the word exalt and glorify Jesus? (John 16:13-14; Rev. 19:10) Does the word edify the church?
But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men (1 Cor. 14:3)
Sometimes there is comfort in coming clean and repenting.
Beware, just because a word makes you feel uncomfortable, doesn’t mean that God is not intending for you to grow into it. I taught my kids math in anticipation that they would one day go to college.
-3 Check with God!
Look for the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. If you are accustomed to having a witness to the things of God, it is a good test. If you have no experience with prophecy, what you heard/are reading may in fact, not be something that you are interested in partaking of. (Col 3:15) But I assure you, just because you don’t want to marry a pastor, or be a missionary in Guatemala, doesn’t mean that God isn’t setting you up for a change of heart. I’m just saying. Be sure to highlight any conditions. IE: God will, if you will. If you don’t do your part, God doesn’t have to do His part, now does He? If it passes the smell test, read and meditate upon the word.
-4 Track Record and Prophetic Character!
Who is it that gave this word to/in the church, or spoke it over you? Do they have a track record of accuracy and humility? A good pastor, instead of worrying about abuse - he will build a file on the prophetic person recording his words, their accuracy, and the ones that come to pass. It shouldn’t take long to see what type of gifting and anointing prophetic people have. Beware, not all prophetic people are of the best character (nor are pastors, and evangelists!). Do not discount the fact that God can use a donkey to deliver a word if needed.
-5 Praying It Through!
If God’s word is your destiny, then make warfare! I don’t know what your prayer life is like, but a prophetic word can supercharge it. I often read mine back to the Lord and then meditate on what He might be saying. The prophecy becomes my prayer script. In the early days, I received some stuff that seemed damn near impossible. But because it had passed tests 2 and 3, I had to consider it.
It is often in this step where God may point out some changes that you need to make to line up with the word. If you are going to run a marathon for God, then maybe it is time to quit smoking. You get the idea.
Ask Him to show you if any parts of the word are not from Him and to confirm the parts that are from Him. I have received a few words over the years that were so very much Him - with one sentence that didn’t make sense then, and still doesn’t today. Don’t reject something because of one part. The prophecy is subject to the prophet - and sometimes they miss things. Pastors preach bad sermons too. It happens.
-6 Life Context!
Compare the word against other things God has spoken to you maybe in prior prophecies, personal prayer times and other forms of godly input. Sometimes prophecies create a burden, other times they confirm one. Is this new, or another nudge in the direction you already know you should be taking?
Do nothing different until you are definitely directed by God. Be sure to remove all hindrances to receiving the promise. I once had a new job with a start date. It was my dream job. I received a word NOT to take it. It was hard. It was God. The circumstances of my life would have been a disaster. Life context is not always the easy road.
-7 Wait!
You do not always need to act immediately on a word from the Lord. Sometimes we need to wait for Him; for His timing and for circumstances to present themselves. This is especially true of predictive, directive or calling/gifting words. God is faithful! He will confirm it to you. He won't call you to do something which He will not empower you to do. Be certain, you may not feel prepared, but that only means you'll have to rely on God. Isn't' what faith is all about? The “when we are weak…” clause.
Allow God to form your character in the process. Prophetic words are exciting. Who you become as a result is much more important.
-8 Don’t Think, Respond!
We need to respond to God’s word, not carry them out. It is easy to try to conform our lives to a word when what we need to do is conform ourselves to the image of Christ. Then we can let destiny unfold before us. Do not "read into" the word what you want it to say. I had a friend that was in a meeting and his girlfriend received a prophetic word about getting married. She thought it was him, but he was dumping her that night. It was a rough evening for both of them. About a year later she met her husband and is very happy - it's funny to all of us now.
I once received a word about my kids coming to live with me after my nreakup. Each time I went to court for a custody hearing, nothing happened. It didn't happen until they graduated High School. It was disappointing at first, but not wrong.
1 Thessalonians 5:19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.
Is it God?
Receive God’s promise in faith and look for the signs that things are coming together for you to step into your destiny.
Hebrews 4:2 For indeed the good news came to us just as to them; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.
There are a few things that can keep you from getting a word or having one come to pass in your life.
Attitude – Bad attitudes about spiritual gifts or the style of the prophecy may hinder you from what God actually wants. And if the word seems like it would take a miracle to get you there, remember God does miracles.
Bad theology - It is wrong to think that there are no spiritual gifts today. There is too much ink in the Bible, too many folks that have the real deal. Think I am wrong? Well, take it up with God and search it out like treasure.
Sin – Sometimes personal sin can significantly delay, or in some cases negate your destiny. This is particularly true of addictions and sexual impurity. Sin has consequences. The inverse is also true. Sometimes people that are in sin can still deliver prophetic words that are accurate and godly. No, I don't know why.
Prophecy in church services and gatherings are pretty well covered in 1 Corinthians 12, 13 and 14 - well unless you tore those pages out of your Bible.
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge (1 Cor. 14:29)
By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established. (2 Cor. 13:1)
Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
And finally: God sometimes allows false or misguided people to speak to test and humble you (2 Chronicles 18). They may speak of great things. They still need to be tested. God sometimes even allows true prophets to give a purposely misleading word (Psalm 18:26).
In the end, it is your relationship with God that will help you judge a prophecy for you, your church, or even the country you live in.
Be filled with the spirit, love others and earnestly desire the gifts - especially prophecy.
Originally written, Thursday, May 13, 2010
The difference between the truth of God and revelation is very simple. Truth is where God’s been. Revelation is where God is. ~Tommy Tenney, The God Chasers
What would you do if God showed up and gave you a list of
things to do, then added to that a few statements about where you are in life,
and how much He loves you?
Well, that is what happened to me in 1994 and again in 1998. It has happened again in 2022 and yesterday in 2023. Prophecy freaks me out because it always speaks to the impossible into my life. God will often go after forgotten dreams and undisclosed prayers. Revelation from heaven is life-changing, spirit-filling and destiny-driving.
Today I am brooding over some old revelation that seems to have started again. A lot has transpired since the following was written on February 20, 2012. I have changed most of the reference to past tense. The following verse sums it up. The very fact that it comes from the end of Job should give you some sense of the context.
Job 42:2 I know that you can do anything, and your plans are unstoppable.
While I was in California in 2013, I received a prophetic word from a young lady
(14-years-old) about the acceleration of things that I have been puttering
around in the Kingdom with for decades - my space shuttle was about to take
off! That's pretty exciting because I had been a part-time minister/missionary
on-and-off for many decades. It freaked me out because I didn't see how God
could possibly turn my disorganized and busy life into something that he could
use.
I also received words from two close friends in my blog group.
The ladies were spot on!
My seasons were changing. I left blogging and the pursuit of a music CD behind – well sort of. That is what the Lord spoke to me in prayer. It was tough, I love to play guitar and write blogs! He told me through those exercising the gift of prophecy that I would be busy; 2013 this was the year. It was the time - this was my time...
I don't know about you, but one of my favorite facets of
Kingdom living (besides study and worship) is to lay hands-on others and see
what God does. Some Christians like to teach or preach, others like to play
worship, some enjoy kids ministry, some pray a lot and others dance; me, I like
to pray for the sick and prophesy. Sure, I preach and even know how to clean a
toilet, but the laying on of hands is awesome. Why? Because God always gives me
something personal and important for others to hear. It is one of my gifts.
I met a new group of Christians while I was at Bethel Church in November 2011. One of them became a good friend. At the time, Dan was the pastor of Life International Church in London, Ontario. He has moved on since then. He and I taught and ministered for three sessions at the school. While he was in town we were invited to a home church named Place of His Presence. There, starting with about a dozen, we began. Soon, 50 hungry people and the Spirit of God poured out through two very unlikely men, me and Dan.
 |
Me and Dan Roberts |
God what are you doing!?! I thought I was going to do a little 20 or 30 minute teaching about the Apostolic Church. Their little worship team brought down the glory with a song by Robin Mark. The presence of Holy Spirit was so amazing, so sweet, so indescribable... one woman drove to the meeting and said that she saw demons at bay outside the house. I am glad she waited to tell us about it until a few days later!
With all the excitement and opportunities for larger venues I still love doing the little home churches. That is how I got my start with the Brazilians years ago in 1999. It gives me the chance to really flow, and to be close to the transformations in an intimate setting.
Ministry for me is not a vocation, not a job, not something I do, it is a way of life. I am always on duty.
Life in the Kingdom is never about offerings, or big names. In fact I love to promote others. There is nothing more exciting than taking a fresh convert or a believer who is new to the things of the Spirit and letting them lay hands on others. God always does amazing things! Always.
Back then I was so excited about all that God was doing. I don't believe the climax of the story has come yet! It is more of an introduction to the things that lie ahead.
In 2018 the Lord moved us to Virginia. I became disabled. Read Job - it's a long story.
Now it is 2023, and the there is another Apostolic School in the wings. It will take a lot of help, but it will happen. Soon. Why? Revelation is where God is. Hi manifest presence is already here.
I had another word yesterday. It was about destiny, purpose, calling and a return to ministry. All I can say is that if God uses the weak, it will be amazing. My disability has very possibly become my ability.
