Although the list below applies to receiving a prophetic word it can also be applied to dreams and visions that you receive as well. Before I give the list lets go over a few things.
***A prophetic word should uplift the person receiving it.***
1Corinthians 14:
3) But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
***A prophetic word should uplift the person receiving it.***
1Corinthians 14:
3) But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
Most prophetic words will fall in line with what is mentioned in the scripture above unless you have major issues that God needs to deal with and even then it's spoken in love to convict and not to condemn. You should experience the love of God during and after receiving the prophetic word.
Take note of how you feel during and after the prophetic word is given to you.
Take note of how you feel during and after the prophetic word is given to you.
How to judge a prophetic word
A) How did you feel during and after receiving the prophetic word: encouraged, comforted, anxious, fearful?
2 Timothy 1:
7) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Many teachers have taught that one should ignore their feeling when it comes to the things of God but I strongly disagree with that. God gave you feelings for a reason and they can be used to help discern if a prophetic word is from God or not. Our spirits are able to tune to our spiritual surrounds which in turn can affect how we feel. For example, have you ever met someone for the first time and felt weird in their presence? You couldn't quite put your finger on it but there was something odd about this individual.
Now feelings alone should not cause you to accept/reject a prophetic word but it should cause to slow down and investigate why you feel this way. This is when the gift of discerning of spirits comes into effect. Discerning of spirits supersedes the way we feel. Being able to discern the spirit behind the words will tell us who is actually doing the speaking, whether is God, Satan or human.
According to 2 Timothy 1:7 God has not given us the spirit of fear so if after receiving a prophetic word if we feel fearful, anxious, depressed, guilty then that prophetic word is not from God. These feelings are the exact opposite of how we should feel according to 1Corinthians 14:3. You ought to feel edified, exalted and comforted every time. If God convicts you of a personal sin that it should motivate you to change your ways. Lets look at a couple examples:
After reading both prophecies which one brought comfort, exhibited the love of God, gave you peace in your spirit? Obviously, it is the first one. The more you stay in the presence of God by reading His word the easier it will be to discern when a prophetic word is from God or not. You will learn the nature and the love of God by spending time with Him.
B) Do you feel pressured to do something immediately? Were you given instructions that just didn't make any sense like:quite your job now and move Alaska and start a ministry, leave your family and meet Jesus at this location?
1 Corinthians 14:
33) For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
1 Corinthians 14:
40) Let all things be done decently and in order.
I've have never known God to pressure His children into doing anything. Sure God has His ways of convincing us that His ways is higher than our ways but He never forces to do it His way. Our God is a gentle and loving God and He speaks gently to His children. 1 Kings 19:12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
Why a small still voice? I believe that it's just a part of God's nature Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. When someone is yelling at you that usually means that they are angry with you. That's not to say that God doesn't get angry but he is first longsuffering and gentle.
C) Does the prophetic word line up with your gifts, desires and personality?
Lets look at the gift of helps and some of the possible ways God can use it in a person.
Lets say that through the gift you have a heart for those that are financially poor and you would like to help feed, clothe and provide housing for them. Obviously this takes money so God may also give you the desire to make money by giving you an entrepreneur spirit. You now receive two prophetic words:
Both of these prophecies sound great, but there is only one that falls inline with the desires God has placed in you. That would be the first prophetic word.
We will add more to this list as the need arises, but the bottom line is to not to be so quick to accept or reject a prophetic word. Pray over the word and solicit assistance from someone you trust and has a track record of clearing hearing the voice of God.
2 Timothy 1:
7) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Many teachers have taught that one should ignore their feeling when it comes to the things of God but I strongly disagree with that. God gave you feelings for a reason and they can be used to help discern if a prophetic word is from God or not. Our spirits are able to tune to our spiritual surrounds which in turn can affect how we feel. For example, have you ever met someone for the first time and felt weird in their presence? You couldn't quite put your finger on it but there was something odd about this individual.
Now feelings alone should not cause you to accept/reject a prophetic word but it should cause to slow down and investigate why you feel this way. This is when the gift of discerning of spirits comes into effect. Discerning of spirits supersedes the way we feel. Being able to discern the spirit behind the words will tell us who is actually doing the speaking, whether is God, Satan or human.
According to 2 Timothy 1:7 God has not given us the spirit of fear so if after receiving a prophetic word if we feel fearful, anxious, depressed, guilty then that prophetic word is not from God. These feelings are the exact opposite of how we should feel according to 1Corinthians 14:3. You ought to feel edified, exalted and comforted every time. If God convicts you of a personal sin that it should motivate you to change your ways. Lets look at a couple examples:
- The Lord says that as you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you. And as you draw near to Him.He will remove the depression that's is upon and replace it with joy.The Lord will ignite in you a great desire for holiness and all those in the midst of you will see the change in you and power of the Lord in your life.
- The Lord says that you will never accomplish those things that He has placed in your heart. Your sins of the past are too great for you to overcome. I am so disappointed in you I expected so much more. I'm removing all my spirit gifts I've placed in you and I'm giving them to some who deserves them!
After reading both prophecies which one brought comfort, exhibited the love of God, gave you peace in your spirit? Obviously, it is the first one. The more you stay in the presence of God by reading His word the easier it will be to discern when a prophetic word is from God or not. You will learn the nature and the love of God by spending time with Him.
B) Do you feel pressured to do something immediately? Were you given instructions that just didn't make any sense like:quite your job now and move Alaska and start a ministry, leave your family and meet Jesus at this location?
1 Corinthians 14:
33) For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
1 Corinthians 14:
40) Let all things be done decently and in order.
I've have never known God to pressure His children into doing anything. Sure God has His ways of convincing us that His ways is higher than our ways but He never forces to do it His way. Our God is a gentle and loving God and He speaks gently to His children. 1 Kings 19:12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
Why a small still voice? I believe that it's just a part of God's nature Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. When someone is yelling at you that usually means that they are angry with you. That's not to say that God doesn't get angry but he is first longsuffering and gentle.
C) Does the prophetic word line up with your gifts, desires and personality?
Lets look at the gift of helps and some of the possible ways God can use it in a person.
Lets say that through the gift you have a heart for those that are financially poor and you would like to help feed, clothe and provide housing for them. Obviously this takes money so God may also give you the desire to make money by giving you an entrepreneur spirit. You now receive two prophetic words:
- The Lord says that He will deliver the poor into your hands so that they may be set free from their financial bondage. You will build schools for the poor, provide jobs for the poor, bring salvation to the poor. You will build businesses that will impact the world and bring money to those in need.
- The Lord says I am sending you minister in the hospitals to heal the sick and to raise the dead. You will assist doctors in determining the source the diseases and cast out the spirit of infirmity to bring healing. You will have you own medical practice where you will only need your hands to heal the sick.
Both of these prophecies sound great, but there is only one that falls inline with the desires God has placed in you. That would be the first prophetic word.
We will add more to this list as the need arises, but the bottom line is to not to be so quick to accept or reject a prophetic word. Pray over the word and solicit assistance from someone you trust and has a track record of clearing hearing the voice of God.