Prophecy: A Gift From God for His People
ADAM WITTENBERG/IHOPKC CHARISMA NEWS
Prophecy is a gift from God, which He uses to speak to His people.
At Onething, International House of Prayer's annual year-end conference (Dec. 28–31 at the Kansas City Convention Center), thousands of people come to hear an encouraging word from the Lord.
For Leslie C. from Louisiana, God used the Onething 2017 prophecy rooms to "confirm something that's been on my heart for over a year now," she said. "A weight has been lifted. I have clear direction. He's a loving God."
The word, delivered by a team of three ministers in a room set apart for prophetic ministry, also "confirmed I was hearing His voice and not my own desires."
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Leslie's husband, Kevin, came seeking direction about an area of his life and received a word concerning a different area, but it was still applicable. "God showed what was more important that needed to be addressed," he said.
Such is the power of prophetic words to edify, exhort, and encourage believers (1 Cor. 14:3).
Some people receive a word of encouragement during a difficult season of life.
The ministers told Millie P., who moved from Venezuela to Denver two years ago, to look to the mountains for God's help, and that God was going to move mountains in her life.
The minister actually saw a picture of the Rocky Mountains, but didn't know where Millie lived. (Ministers don't converse beyond first names before giving words.).They also didn't know that she's struggling to learn English and launch her engineering career in the U.S.
"They had never met me and they identified where I'm at spiritually," she said, mixing Spanish with English. "I know I'm not alone in the fight, that God sees me. I have hope, and know it will be good. God is my strength."
These reactions are common, as the Lord highlights things about complete strangers in order to bless and strengthen them in their walk.
Millie was initially fearful about receiving prophetic ministry because she was fearful about her future and didn't want to hear a negative word, but her husband, Kenneth, assured her it that prophecy was not to foretell events but to build her up.
His advice to people who question prophecy's validity?
"It's biblical," he said. "It's a New Testament reality, a principle of Scripture. Our heart and desire is to hear from God."
Prophecy can also play a role in salvation, as it says in 1 Cor. 14:24-25.
When Natalie H., from Michigan, visited a local church at the urging of her sister, "they told me all kinds of things about myself, things that no one knew," she said. This led to her salvation and departure from witchcraft.
She came to Onething this year, bringing several friends, and received a prophetic word to keep pressing into God.
"They said God sees my crying out for Him to reveal Himself to me [more], so I'm going to keep doing it," she said. "They also said I'm good at writing, which is something I do in my personal time, but I don't show to anyone. This encourages me to step out."
The Lord can do so much through prophetic words: activate gifts, confirm direction and comfort and strengthen His people.
There can be fear about believing if God will speak, and we must test the words because Scripture says we prophesy in part (1 Cor. 13:9), but God loves to use fellow believers to bless His body.
As Leslie from Louisiana says, "it's all a matter of trust in the Lord, that He has your best interest at heart.
"He'd never do anything to hurt you or embarrass you," she adds. "Prophecy is for encouragement, to build you up and continue to show His love to you."
How can you grow in prophecy? {eoa}
A Detroit native who was raised in Vermont and Connecticut, Adam Wittenberg worked as a newspaper journalist until 2012, when he moved to Kansas City to complete the Intro to IHOPKC internship. Afterwards, he earned a four-year certificate in House of Prayer Leadership from IHOPU and is now on full-time staff in the marketing department at IHOPKC. Adam is also active in evangelism and has a vision to reach people everywhere with the good news of Jesus Christ.
This article originally appeared at ihopkc.org.
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Thanks for sharing. Blessings on your head from the Lord Jesus, Yeshua HaMashiach.
Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People
Charlotte, NC USA