PROPHETIC GUIDELINES | RESPONDING TO PROPHECY

1. Guidelines

a) These are the guidelines to facilitate the proper exercise of prophecy in the church. Guidelines are included for both the prophets and the persons receiving the prophecy.

2. Responding To Prophecy

a) Write out your prophecy and meditate on it.

b) Review it with your Pastor or other spiritual oversight. Discuss it with your Leaders (even if they are the ones who gave the prophecy or it was given in their presence). You will want wise counsel for your victory and safety. (Proverbs 24:6)

c) Don’t act without confirmation and counsel. If your prophecy contains direction or other revelation that calls for action on your part, seek confirmation and counsel from trusted spiritual advisers before moving forward.

d) Confirm it with Biblical principles and the witness of the Spirit. Prophecy should always agree with scripture. Any part of a prophecy that contradicts scripture is NOT an accurate word from God. Compare your prophecy according to the Word of God and other prophecies you have received for agreement, further insight and encouragement. According to Romans 8:16 we need to witness with the prophecy, by the Holy Spirit in us (does it ring true in our own spirit where Holy Spirit abides; so we sense life in it). In conjunction with this is judging and weighing the word of personal prophecy by established Biblical principles (according to the Word of God).

e) Read, say out loud and meditate upon your prophecy. This is necessary as it allows us to understand and have fuller meanings opened up to us that are not apparent at first. We will want to receive all that God intends. 1 Timothy 4:14, 15 states that we should not neglect the gift that is in us by prophecy so we will want to re-visit our prophecy frequently (weekly is recommended). (Proverbs 24:6, Deuteronomy 29:29, James 1:21, 3:17, Matthew 21:21, Psalm 34:2)

f) Be aware of prophetic terminology and tenses. Words such as "now," "today," "soon," "tomorrow," "new," and others may mean something entirely different from what we had imagined. Stay open to God and seek wise counsel. Something prophesied in the present tense may actually refer to something in the future, and vice versa.

g) Receive your prophecy with faith, humility, meekness, vision and an open heart. Faith is having confidence that God does have a personal plan for your life and only your best interest at heart because He is awesome. (Hebrews 4:2, Deuteronomy 29:29, James 1:21, 3:17, Matthew 21:21, Psalm 34:2)

h) Personal prophecy is partial, progressive and conditional. What you will receive will only be part of God's counsel for your life. You must be obedient to the part you have received from God if you are to progress into further revelation. Disobedience can nullify your prophetic word. You can delay or negate the fulfillment of your prophecy by unwillingness to follow after the Lord and His ways. The Lord’s promises still require our agreement and cooperation in order to come to pass. A person called to preach on another continent will never do so if they refuse to get a passport or step foot on an airplane!

i) Prophecy does not authenticate character. The absence of rebuke or correction in a prophetic word in no way justifies the character or lifestyle of the individual receiving it. Not because God fails to mention a particular sin does it mean that He either doesn't know or doesn't care. Personal prophecy was never given for the purpose of exposing people's sins. We don't judge our "correctness" by personal prophecy, but by the Word of God.

j) Never use personal prophecy to justify a personal decision, position or action. This is called spiritual pride and can lead to deception. Be careful that you do not allow your personal desires, wants and aspirations to cloud or influence your judgment and ability to properly interpret and respond to God's word for your life.

k) Keep a record of your personal prophecies. Don't just read it once and discard it, but use it to strategically focus your prayers for spiritual breakthrough. Use the same principles of Scripture to establish faith for results.

l) Wage a good warfare with your prophecy (1 Timothy 1:18, 19). We are to declare and decree our prophecy so that we may (verse 19) hold fast to faith. We will need to believe and have faith for our prophecy to come to fruition just as Abraham didn’t grow weak in faith as he gave praise and glory to God fully persuaded that what God had promised (Abraham was the father of many nations) He was able to perform and would deliver. (Romans 4:16-21). So, thanking God and praising Him for the manifestation of the prophecy is also part of our warfare.