A Word To the Prophetic Camp - Kent Simpson

Kent Simpson:

A Word To the Prophetic Camp

- The Elijah List

For many years the Church has been asking people, "Do you know who Jesus Christ is?" Today's question, however, is, "Does Jesus Christ know who you are?"

Through two wonderful gifts of the Holy Spirit, prophecy and the word of knowledge, we have discovered that when you receive a prophetic word and it is straight from the throne of God, you are launched into a euphoric experience. 

Having the knowledge that God knows who you are is like having your name called from Heaven, revealing to everyone that your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

The gift of prophecy creates a pathway, imparting purpose into your life. 

Knowing even a small part of your destiny for this life can make a huge difference. With all the struggles that you are going through, receiving a word of knowledge from our Father that tells you He knows what is happening in your life today or reveals something He fixed in your past increases the measure of your faith. Does it not? It builds power within you to hear that He is on your side.

You can rest assured in the fact that you can handle all things when you know God has your back.

I believe this is why Apostle Paul encouraged the Body of Christ to seek spiritual gifts, and why he specifically requested that in our search we ask for the gift of prophecy. For God's prophetic words build, comfort, and exhort the Body of Christ into a unified force of faith that effectively changes the world.

Prophecy is a spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit. This gift is the foretelling of things to come. Many who have the gift of prophecy are also found to have an accompanying spiritual gift: the word of knowledge. The word of knowledge gives the spiritual ability of knowing in part about a person's life, whether the word speaks to their past or present situation.

What Is the Problem With My Prophetic Word?

The two gifts working in unison are very powerful. However, there are a couple of things I would like to point out about these two gifts. The word of knowledge has much more of a shock-and-awe effect than the gift of prophecy. The gift of prophecy reveals things that are to happen somewhere in their future. 

Most people will go through many tests and changes, a pruning process, before their prophecy comes to pass. 

This is what we call the process. Most people wish to avoid this part and go straight to the promise that is declared in the prophecy.

The vast majority of the test takes place within one's soul. The mind, however, poses the big question: Is this prophecy even from God, and if so, when will it come to pass? 

The recipient of the prophecy must wait sometimes years before the prophecy comes to pass. They must have patience in order to know whether or not the word was truly from God. Sometimes it takes so long for the word to come to pass they forget ever receiving their prophecy until years after it has come to pass, and then it hits them like a bolt of lightning.

On the other hand, when a word of knowledge is given, its impact is immediate and the person knows without a doubt the word is from God because it has already happened in their life, which makes the reality of the gift unquestionable.

What Makes a Prophecy Appear To Be Hit and Miss?

Here are some other reasons people become confused after they have received a prophetic word. When the message is delivered, it may start with a word of knowledge, then go into prophecy, foretelling of things to come, and later shift back to a word of knowledge, speaking about something that has already happened in their life. This can become confusing to the person receiving the prophetic word.

There have been times when I mailed out a prophetic word and the person called and told me later that I was right in a few places but the other parts of their word did not fit them. After listening to their prophecy, I discovered that the parts they said were correct were words of knowledge. The ones they said I missed were prophecy. Well, of course the prophecy has not manifested in their life, for they just received the prophecy a few days before calling me. How would the word have time to come to pass?

These two gifts listed in 1 Corinthians, chapter 12, are found to be in operation throughout the Holy Bible. We also find in the Scriptures a guide for those who are delivering a prophetic word. This same Scripture is used in the Body of Christ today; its purpose is to keep those ministering in the gift of prophecy or the word of knowledge from hurting people by delivering cruel and punishing words. 

If this Scripture is not enforced, people can use their own words as weapons rather than using the true spiritual gift to express our heavenly Father's love.

But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 1 Corinthians 14:3

Can It Be Different When a Prophet Prophesies?

The same verse, however, does NOT apply to all who prophesy. For those who walk in the office of an apostle or prophet, you will discover that this verse does not always fit when a prophet is ministering in the word of knowledge or in the gift of prophecy.

A prophet also has the gift of prophecy and operates in the word of knowledge; however, there are times the prophetic word is for correction and confirms that God knows what you have been doing in secret. Scripture tells us that what is done in darkness shall be brought into the light, and that which is done in secret shall be shouted from the rooftops (Matthew 10:27, Mark 4:22).

It is the prophet's place to speak when God calls upon him or her to minister in a prophetic word of correction. If the prophetic word is received, the rebuke can bring comfort, exhortation, or edification.

In fact, the very writer of the letter to the Church at Corinth was Apostle Paul, who gave this verse I am using as the focus of this teaching, proving there is a difference between those who operate in the gift of prophecy and those who walk in the office of an apostle or prophet.

We see in the Book of Acts that it was common to find apostles and prophets traveling together. The apostle Paul and the prophet Silas were a traveling pair; as was Barnabas, an apostle, and Judas, a prophet, who traveled as a ministry team.

In one of the recorded accounts from the Book of Acts, Paul and possibly Silas came upon a false prophet named Elymas, a sorcerer who had been harassing and hindering them from preaching the Gospel. Paul turned and prophesied blindness to come upon the man. The Scripture proves that there is a difference in the instruction Apostle Paul gave to the Church at Corinth and how he operated in this instance. 

Why? Because there is definite distinction between walking in the ascension gift ministries as an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher, according to Ephesians 4:11 and those who operate in spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12.

Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time."

And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. Acts 13:9-12

Surprisingly, this is not the only account where the Holy Spirit has revealed, according to the Holy Scriptures, what power is given to the prophets. We also see that in the days of tribulation the Holy Spirit will give power to the prophets to call down plagues and pestilence equal to the days Moses and Aaron as they stood before Pharaoh demanding that he let the people of God go free.

But in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. Revelation 10:7

And he said to me, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings." Revelation 10:11

These have power to shut Heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire. Revelation 11:6

God Would Never Give a Prophetic Curse, Right?

I know that it is not popular to reveal the complete truth from what is recorded in the Holy Scriptures. However, if you are like me, you only want the truth. 

The truth forces us to listen for God's word. This is why we must know exactly how to pray, hear, and obey. It is paramount we obey Him, for to do otherwise would be far too costly.

My calling came as God spoke to me from Ezekiel 33 on the 14th day of March, 1979, and it is part of my calling to share and teach on the prophetic gifts and functions, even to those who operate in the duties of a prophet, who stand in the office of a prophet. I pray we all be open to hear God's message. In this day and time we need to shed more light upon the truth, lest we find ourselves out of balance within the prophetic camp.

Kent Simpson, Prophetic Pastor
Prophetic Ministries Today

Email: PMT@propheticministries.org
Website: propheticministries.org

Kent Simpson is a prophetic pastor and is the founder and senior pastor of Prophetic Ministries Tabernacle – a gathering place for the prophetic people of God to unite for the sole purpose of being used as vessels for the Holy Spirit to speak through. Prophetic Ministries Today is devoted to the truth that Jesus is not dead but alive and He speaks if you have an ear to hear the Spirit. 

His website is filled with prophetic teachings which will help you understand the process of "hearing" God for yourself as well as others. The Lord wants you to pray, hear, and obey Him because the Holy Spirit is the only One who can truthfully lead you into the abundant life Jesus promised us.