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How to start using your Gift of Prophecy – Prophetic Series Part 6

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This is the 5th and final part to our prophetic series. If you’ve missed the others here they are in order:

What is the Gift of Prophecy

Prophetic Words, Sowing Seeds and Money

How Do Prophets Hear from God?

15 Signs you may have the Gift of Prophecy and 2 Warnings

Understanding the Timing of the Prophetic Words and Dreams

In this post I am going to talk about how you start using the gift of prophecy. The bible tells us that we should all desire the prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:1) but of course not all of us will have a calling from God to be a prophet.  Simply put prophecy is sharing the word of the Lord.  So if you are sharing the scriptures, you are in essence prophesying.  That means children can prophesy.  What is doesn’t mean is that they have an anointing to be a prophet.  Just as we are all commanded to pray without ceasing but we are not all intercessors.  Likewise, we are all to evangelize (2 Timothy 4:5) but it doesn’t mean we all have the gift of evangelism.




With that said, even though you may be someone who dreams a lot doesn’t mean that you have the prophetic gift either.  Joseph in the bible was a dreamer, but his dreams were about him.  They spoke of his future and not that of others.  And, who wants to listen to prophet who is only talks about themselves?  The Gift of Prophecy (as with any other gift) is to build up the body of Christ and not ourselves.  What Joseph did have was the gift of interpreting dreams.  That was his real gift.  Along with a gift of wisdom, knowledge and understanding because surely he wouldn’t rise to being the Prime Minister of Egypt by just interpreting dreams!  You can read the whole story starting at Genesis 37.

Joseph’s gift of dream interpretation made room for him because he was using the gift while in prison (Proverbs 18:16).  This shows us that when we don’t use the gift that God gave us, we may be impeding our own destiny.

If you are having a lot of dreams the first thing you need to do is decipher whether or not those dreams are about you, other people you know, the church, nations or world leaders.  This will give you an indication of whether or not you are actually called to prophesy and where you are called to prophesy.

Regardless, you need to learn and hone in on the gift of interpreting dreams.  Asking others to interpret dreams, is for people who have random dreams.  If you are dreaming more than 2 times per week, and you can remember the dreams, you need to ask God to give you the gift of interpreting dreams.  Then, you need to start using it, here is our forum and there are many many people who are looking for interpretation.  You can start here.  If you don’t know what the dream means, don’t attempt to interpret it.  Pray before you start your interpretation and ask God for wisdom. This may be the very gift that will make room for you.

The one who says if the interpretation is correct or not is the dreamer so if they tell you your interpretation doesn’t seem to fit, don’t get offended.  There are many different interpretations for the same symbol in dreams so it is only when the interpretations bears witness with the spirit of the dreamer that your interpretation is correct.  Don’t stop because you got it wrong, try again with someone else.

The dream symbols are all in the bible.  Again, without reading the word of God you will be lost!  Dream  interpretation 101, do a word search for the symbol in the bible, look at the context in which it was used read all occurrences in the word and see which one bears witness to your spirit as the correct interpretation.  Keep in mind that while you may not find the word “alligator” in the bible, the word crocodile is there in the Living Bible (LB) translation.  So you’ll need to do a Google search for “alligator in the bible” and this is where you will find it.

Yes, this is work and it takes time and you will have to search it out.  Unless you have the anointing for dream interpretation, then you won’t need to do all of this and God will give you the interpretation.

How to start using the gift of prophecy(1)Proverbs 25:2 “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.”

The more you do it the better you will become.  If you don’t use the gift you won’t grow in it.

 

So, how do you start using the Gift of Prophecy?

 

First, you need to have evidence that you have the gift of prophecy, as already discussed in 15 Signs that you may have the prophetic gift and 2 warnings, you must have a track record of being accurate.

 

Even if no one else knows about it, if God shows you something and you see that what He has shown you happens time and time again that is a track record.  Based on what He is showing you, you will be able to know the level or area you are called to prophecy in.  So, if you are seeing things about the church (the body of Christ) then that is likely where you will be called.  If He’s given you prophetic words more on an individual level, then that is where He will be using you.

 

This won’t necessarily stay the same throughout your entire life but He starts you off with one thing and as you grow you will get more and He will start showing you things with a wider lens.

 

Second, please do not be afraid to step out and give someone a prophetic word.  At first I know it will be scary because you don’t want to be inaccurate.  The safe way to do this is by staying away from “thus says the Lord” or “The Lord told me to tell you” or anything that starts with “God said…” stay away from that.  Instead what you can say is “As I was praying I got the impression that…”  or “I’m not sure if it’s me or if this is God but I need to tell you that…” or “I feel like I need to tell you…, pray and ask God if this is from Him”

 

This is how you start out.  Until you are sure, that you are sure, that you are sure.  It takes all the pressure off and if it turns out that you were not correct you don’t look silly.  This is a process.  I know some of you are thinking but if the prophecy is not correct the bible says they are false prophets and we are to  kill the prophet.

 

Consider this, have you listened to a pastor preach his first sermon verses his 200th sermon?  Not the same thing.  I’m sure if you found TD Jakes’ first sermon compared to what he sounds like now he wouldn’t sound like the same person.

 

It is with practice that he got to where he is.  Likewise, we need to extend some grace to others that are starting out using their gifts.  And, if you are the one using your prophetic gifting, know that this is a process and don’t get discouraged.

 

The truth is that most people who are new to operating in the gift of prophesy do make mistakes, especially when they have not discerned the timing correctly.  Or worse yet, they may be picking up on the person’s soul and it wasn’t actually a word from the Lord.  The enemy will use all of this to discourage you and make you stop, but you shouldn’t.  Again, I’m only talking to the people who have a track record of accuracy with God over many many prophetic words.

 

Third, get around other prophets and you will grow even more in the gift.  I can tell you as someone who came from a church that believed this gift is no longer in operation, this doesn’t mean you need to leave your church.  It means you can find the prophets online.  Yes, you just need to be in the environment.  You can get on prayer calls or join prophetic conferences.  Being around others with the gift will also help you to grow.

 

Fourth, if you are led to start writing monthly prophetic words get your own word before you start reading or listening to other people’s.  The last thing you want to do is start regurgitating someone else’s word.  Besides, people are not stupid and after awhile they’ll figure out that the word is coming from another ministry.  Here’s a tip – things online have a date stamp so everyone is going to know who brought the word first.  If you don’t get a word from God, don’t give one.  God may even test you to see if you go ahead and say things that He didn’t tell you to say.  Stay in deep intimacy with God and don’t open your mouth unless He tells you to do so.  Also, sometimes the word will come in pieces so He may give you a part this week and the rest next week.  Be patient and move out only when He says it’s completed.

 

Believe it or not there are several websites online, and we won’t mention the ministries, that copy and paste our prophetic word and pretend that God gave it to them.  While I’m happy that God’s word is getting out, they should probably be honest about the source.  Also, I get requests from pastors asking us to write their sermons, because they “love the revelations” that we get from God?!  The truth is if someone can’t hear from God and have no revelation from the Holy Spirit, they shouldn’t be pastoring anybody.

 

Would you know if your pastor was preaching someone else’s sermon?  I could tell you the names of the ministries and pastors but I’m not going to do that because this is about you discerning so that you are not deceived. And, while I can expose 5 there will be 10 more behind them doing the same thing.  You need to know the difference for yourself.

 

Get your own word before you start listening to other prophets.

 

Fifth, don’t go on online platforms or do things just because other prophets are doing it.  Facebook Live may work for others but not for you.  YouTube may work for others but not for you.  There are so many online platforms that are untapped.  Seriously, untapped.  Let God lead you to where He wants you to share the word.  Ask Him where you should be.



Sixth, do not get offended or bothered by the fact that people may not receive the prophetic word.  It is not your job to make people receive the word.  It is your job to give the word.  Give the warning.  That’s it.  God will judge you not because they didn’t receive it but because you didn’t give it.  Read Ezekiel 33.  Also, don’t debate the word with people.  If it is a word from the Lord it is not a suggestion up for discussion.  It’s the word of the Lord.  Don’t let anyone talk you out of what the Lord told you.  Here’s another thing to keep in mind, (Acts 21:10-14) this is the story of the prophet Agabus who told Paul not to go into Jerusalem because he would be bound and imprisoned.  Did Paul listen? No. He went anyway.  And guess what?  He was bound and imprisoned.
What Agabus did not know is that prior to giving Paul that word, God had already told Paul to go to Jerusalem.  So, it turns out the Agabus was correct and Paul was correct too!   If Paul had listened to Agabus he would have been disobeying God.  So, you don’t know why people do or don’t do certain things.  Don’t get offended if they don’t listen.  Just give the word.

 

Seventh, and final, this is the most important and will save you sooooo much grief.

 

Please do not open your mouth and put your name out there, show your face, tell people where you live, post pictures of your house or your belongings, or your family or film any video inside your house, show your children, tell people your every move – where you’re going and what “plans” God has for you, or step out in anyway publicly unless God himself tells you to do it.

 

I don’t care how many prophetic words you hear saying “this is the season where the hidden ones become public” make sure that word is for you.

 

Why is this important?  The minute you open your mouth and say the words “I have the gift of prophecy” you paint a target on your back.  Every Jezebel, familiar spirit and demonic power is making its way right to your front door.  And because you have provided detailed information to them about what you have, they will know exactly where to find you and what to attack.

 

Think about it, David spent 15 years running from Saul because Saul saw the anointing upon David’s life.  Joseph’s brothers wanted to kill him the minute they learnt of his destiny.  Delilah never stopped until she learnt Samson’s power and then used it to kill him.

 

Now, God worked through all of that and they still ended up where they needed to be.  But, think about it, why would you wave a red flag in the face of the bull?  When it is time for that level of warfare God will equip you with what you need to fight it.
What you should never do is call it upon yourself prematurely by being public before its time.

 

As I have always said, everything in the natural has a supernatural correlation.  Think about like this….you are the everyday person and you don’t have a body guard you may have a security system on your house to protect you at night but you have no bodyguard.  So then you become a celebrity and you get one bodyguard. Then let’s say you become governor of your state, now you may have 3 – 4 bodyguards.  Now you are President and you have secret service.  That means that the higher rank you have the more coverage you have in protection.  The same thing happens in the spirit.

 

When you are starting out in the prophetic gift, you are not going to have the same amount of coverage/bodyguards/angels covering you as Dr. Charles Stanley would.  He has more angelic protection around him to cover him as he does what the Lord is calling him to do.  Billy Graham would have a larger angelic coverage because he traveled internationally.

 

What I see prophetic people, or just Christians in general taking on things in the spirit and acting like they are Billy Graham without proper coverage.  No angelic protection to cover them at that level.  No knowledge of prayers to pray at that level.  No knowledge of scriptures to quote at that level.




Remember the son’s of Sceva?  Acts 19.  Yeah, you shouldn’t try to operate at a level that God has not called you to take on.  As you grow in your gifting and your calling your angels change.  Yes, they do!  Your guardian angel may be with you for a lifetime but the angels that come to assist with your ministry and calling change.  And, you get more angels depending on where you are going.

 

You need clearance from God and appropriate coverage before you move out.  Some countries you need a visa before you can visit them, well same thing happens in the spiritual realm.  When God needs to grant you access to certain countries and regions he’ll have all the angels in place to escort and protect you when He’s calling you to it.

 

You must conduct yourself with a spirit of humility.  Do not put yourself out there trying to gain followers or build a platform that God has not called you to do.  You will be putting yourself and your family in danger.  Many in the body of Christ are afflicted and their lives turned upside down because they are too public when God has not called them to be that.  Some are called to it and you can tell because you don’t see them struggling with the things that others do that are “trying” to be like them.
James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

 

When it is time, God will let you know personally.  And, you are not going to have the level of struggle that others do because you will know exactly what prayers to pray, you would have already mastered getting into the secret place of God and you have angelic coverage.

 

This is not about fear it is about using wisdom.

 

Remember that at the end of the day your prophecy must lead people back to Jesus.  He becomes the center of attention and not you.  Using your gift should be building a platform for Jesus and not for yourself.  People should walk away from your prophetic word wanting to be closer to the Lord.  However, what you find is that some words have a spirit of keeping people “independent” instead of dependent on God.  The word has to lead to the worship of God and not to you, the servant.
Revelation 19:8-10  (NLT) “And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.” Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.”
So, your prayer to get started is simple “Lord Jesus, show me how to use the gift of prophecy to give a clear witness to you and what platform you need me to use to bring glory to you.  I humble myself under your mighty hand and await the instructions, Amen”
We hope you enjoyed this series and you learnt something new that will help you to grow in this gift.  Please leave your comments or questions below.
God Bless you.
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7 Comments

  1. JML
    August 5, 2019 at 6:43 pm — Reply

    Thank you very much I’m humbled to have this gift but I need your prayers as I have been walking with the Lord for 6 years now and have only discovered what I have only recently.

  2. Pamela Munkanta
    April 6, 2019 at 7:16 am — Reply

    Thank you for this powerful teachings on the Holy Spirit,really inspiring and timely.

  3. Nicholas Nganga
    March 29, 2019 at 8:02 am — Reply

    Please pray for me to be blessed with the prophetic gift to serve the Lord Jesus better in my Christian ministry.

    Yours in His service,

    Nicholas

  4. alice
    December 31, 2018 at 4:49 pm — Reply

    thank you
    amen

  5. PROSPER MUKULI
    October 5, 2018 at 10:35 am — Reply

    Am blessed by the teaching.I have learnt that I should be humble with my prohetic gift and to speak only when God says speak.
    I need more teaching on the prophetic.
    May God continue to use you

  6. O. B. A
    July 28, 2018 at 2:27 am — Reply

    Amen,
    It was a wonderful, insightful series really. Taught me to not be so public with spiritual gifts until I have sufficient instructions and covering from God.

  7. Tammy Casper
    July 19, 2018 at 5:02 pm — Reply

    Thank you for this series. You have given a lot of valuable information. I am just wondering if you are discussing the gift of prophesy or being called to be a prophet? I have been researching this subject and I’m having a hard time determining what makes each one different. Am I wrong to feel that these are 2 vastly different ideas? And how do you distinguish between the 2?

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