THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS BLOWING A FRESH WIND ON THE GIFT OF PROPHECY!
I had a powerful dream last night about prophecy. And for those who follow prophetic ministry, and prophetic ministers, you will understand why it is probably no coincidence that this dream comes now. The Lord is inserting a strong admonition into this conversation. We must not allow either the failures of others or the fear of man to quench the spirit of prophecy and rob us of the much-needed and life-changing words of the Lord.
In the dream, my husband (a pastor) and I were in a church service and I was watching a visiting minister praying for a man who had come forward. People were prayerfully watching to see how this man would receive ministry. The prayers being offered were heart felt and sincere, though there was no visible evidence of them impacting the man being ministered to. After the minister was done praying, the man who came forward looked at the minister and cried out, “But, what do YOU SEE!?” It was a desperate plea from his heart for the minister to dig deeper and speak from the depths of the Spirit.
With that direct question, the visiting minister immediately began to prophesy over this man what he saw in the Spirit. As he did, the Holy Spirit fell on the man as he started to involuntarily jump up and down. His entire body began to react to the words being spoken over him and the atmosphere was suddenly charged with the power of God. This man jumped up and down as if he were on a pogo stick, visibly moved and stirred by what was being spoken over him. At one point he even assured everyone watching that this was real and he was being greatly impacted. The gift of prophecy was unlocking something powerful within this man – and into the atmosphere.
As I saw this unfold, I knew that ministry had now truly started. The service had suddenly shifted as a floodgate had been opened. This minister was operating in his true gift of prophesy and not merely providing prayer counsel or encouraging words. Upon being given permission to prophesy without apology, it unleashed his anointing and changed the whole service – and the one being ministered to.
Following this scene, I was then shown a distinction between two groups of people. One group wanted more of God and was willing to press in for it – even take risks for it – and the other group wasn’t. It was an invitation for those who could receive a greater measure and also a demarcation for those who wouldn’t.
I believe the message of this dream is clear. The Spirit of God wants to blow a fresh wind upon prophetic ministry! Given the recent failures of prominent prophetic ministers and the public renunciation of false prophecies, there is a cloud of suspicion hanging over the Body of Christ. The enemy has seized the opportunity in these last few years to raise doubts among many believers about the validity of prophecy and its usefulness in ministry. But the Lord is inviting us to step in to a greater measure of this powerful manifestation of His love for the Body and not give in to either failure or the fear of man.
No doubt there are ministers who have held back their gift in deference to these doubts. I can personally admit to such. Not wanting to cause more distrust, it has been tempting to limit prophetic perceptions to prayer counseling and encouragement. But the Lord is saying, “Release your gift! Hungry hearts want to know what is seen by the Spirit and not by the flesh!” We are not to be anxious about the outcome if we are truly carrying God’s heart. The fruit of this gift will be self-evident. The power and presence of the Spirit of God will be demonstrated and the changed lives will reveal the testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10). We need to speak what is given and release what is heard. It is not we who are speaking, but the voice of the Lord ministering to His people.
There is always a place for thoughtful discernment and consideration for how others will receive the word of the Lord. But true prophecy is not a suggestion. It is a declaration of God’s word. It is a clear pronouncement of God’s heart and mind, given in love, but without hesitation or fear. And for those who are still troubled by who is true and who is false, do not let your doubts hinder the Spirit of God. Do not allow the enemy to rob us of His words through those He has called, gifted, and anointed to speak them. Trust that HE will demonstrate His blessing on the words spoken and rightly distinguish between the imaginations of men and the true revelations of the spirit.
The Spirit of God wants us to invite the word of the Lord! Pursue the word of the Lord! Pull it out of those who are so gifted and let the words of God pour forth upon the Body of Christ in fresh measure. The gift of prophecy will open the floodgates of heaven to shift atmospheres and change lives. Let the rivers flow and determine to jump in. As we allow the Spirit of God to carry us where we cannot go on our own, we will see our failures and the fear of man drown in the overflow.
