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13Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

14And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

--> The message was pretty gloomy! Just like newsreaders often deliver bad news.

--> But this prophecy would have helped Paul to prepare for the future.

I know believers who were given prophecies of difficult times ahead (sometimes in great detail).

The believers were then better prepared to face those challenges when they occurred.

Further reading

Jeremiah 13:8-27, 19:1-15, 37:8-10, 38:3, 39:16, 49:34-39, 51:61-62

Ezekiel 5:5-17, 11:7-13, 12:17-20, 21:1-3, 22:19-22, 25:3-17, 26:3-21, 29:1-12

Ezekiel 30:1-19 & 22-26, 31:10-18, 32:3-16, 33:27-29, 34:2, 35:2-10

Micah 1:1 then 6

John 16:1-4

Acts 11:27-30, 20:22-23, 21:4

5. Q - How does prophecy work?

A - It’s a two-step process:

Ezekiel 3:10-11

10Moreover He (= God) said unto me, son of man, all My words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears.

11And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them,

Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear (= fail to listen).

Step A - God speaks to the prophet.

Step B - The prophet then speaks God’s words to the people.

Illustration

It’s like watching a TV programme:

Step A - The broadcast signal arrives at the TV.

Step B - The TV displays the broadcast signal on the screen, for us to watch.

Further reading

Exodus 4:12

Judges 6:8-10

2 Samuel 23:2

1 Kings 16:1 & 7

2 Kings 21:10

1 Chronicles 21:9-12

2 Chronicles 11:2-4, 18:13

Nehemiah 9:30

Jeremiah 1:7 & 9, 2:1 & 4, 19:1-2, 25:3, 34:1-2 then 6, 37:6-7, 39:15-16, 42:7-9, 43:8-10, 50:1

Ezekiel 2:7, 3:27, 6:1-3, 14:2-4, 16:1-3, 17:1-3, 21:1-3 & 8-9, 22:1-3 & 23-24, 25:1-3, 27:1-3

Ezekiel 28:1-2, 11-12 & 20-22, 29:1-3, 30:1-2, 31:1-2, 32:1-2, 33:1-2, 7 & 23-25, 34:1-2, 35:1-3

Haggai 1:1-3 & 13, 2:1 & 10

Zechariah 1:1-3, 7:4-5

Malachi 1:1

Acts 28:25

Let’s look at these two steps in turn.

6. Step A: God --> Prophet

There are FOUR key points in this process.

Point #1 - The message must COME FROM GOD - not from man

2 Peter 1:21 ~ For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Our TV does not create its own programmes.

It just displays the programmes it’s been given.

Nathan made the MISTAKE of CREATING HIS OWN MESSAGE in 1 Chronicles 17:

Verses 1-2

1Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo (= behold / see),

I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains.

2Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee.

--> Nathan spoke from his own mind, when he encouraged David to build the temple.

--> Nathan also said: “For God is with thee” - but just because people sound religious, it doesn’t mean that they’re speaking for God, as in:

Ezekiel 22:28b ~ ... and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.

Let’s return to 1 Chronicles 17 and see what GOD wanted to say:

Verses 3-4 & 11-12

3And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

4Go and tell David My servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:

…

11And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers,

that I will raise up thy seed (= Solomon) after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

12He shall build Me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.

--> God’s plan was for Solomon - not David - to build the Temple.

What Nathan had said in verse 2:

Seemed like a good idea.

But it was not a God idea.

We mustn’t confuse:

ADVICE - which comes from PEOPLE.

PROPHECY - which comes from GOD.

Further reading

Numbers 22:35 & 38, 23:3, 5, 16 & 26, 24:13

Isaiah 21:10

Jeremiah 3:6 & 11-12, 7:1, 13:8, 14:1, 18:1-2, 21:1, 26:1, 27:1, 28:12, 30:1

Jeremiah 33:1, 19 & 23, 35:1 & 12, 36:1, 40:1, 46: 1 & 13, 47:1, 49:34

Ezekiel 3:16-17, 7:1, 11:14, 13:3, 14:12, 18:1, 21:18, 22:17, 23:1, 24:1 & 15, 26:1, 30:20

Haggai 2:20

Zechariah 7:8, 8:1 & 18

Point #2 - The Holy Spirit comes down UPON US - then we prophesy

Ezekiel 11:5 ~ And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel:

Q - How do we know when God wants us to speak out a prophecy?

A - We FEEL the Holy Spirit come down on our head & shoulders.

(Often accompanied by our heartbeat & breathing speeding up.)

John the Baptist saw the Holy Spirit DESCENDING on Jesus like a dove:

John 1:32 ~ And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him (= upon Jesus).

Most birds land at a shallow angle - like a plane landing on an airport runway.

But a dove lands like a helicopter - almost vertically.

So when God anoints us to give a prophecy:

We feel a physical sensation on our head & shoulders.

As the Holy Spirit descends on us like a dove.

God’s giving us the extra power we need, to deliver the message - otherwise we’d be too nervous!

When we prophesy - we’re speaking on behalf of Almighty God.

So we should EXPECT a physical sensation when the Holy Spirit comes down upon us.

Example of Jahaziel - 2 Chronicles 20:14-15

14Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph,

came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;

15And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat,

Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

--> The Holy Spirit came down UPON Jahaziel - then he prophesied.

--> Notice also that God gave this prophecy to a man in the middle of the congregation - so prophecy isn’t limited to leaders at the front of a church.

Further reading

Numbers 11:25 & 29, 24:2-9

1 Samuel 10:10, 19:20 & 23

1 Chronicles 12:18

2 Chronicles 15:1-2, 24:20

Ezekiel 1:3, 3:14 & 22, 8:1, 33:22-23

Luke 1:67, 2:25 then 34-35

Acts 2:18, 19:6

Point #3 - God often speaks to us DURING PRAISE

This is what happened to Elisha in 2 Kings 3:15-16

15But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

16And he (= Elisha) said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.

Praise focuses our attention on God.

Like we clap a renowned person before they speak on a stage.

Further reading

1 Samuel 10:5-6

1 Chronicles 25:1 & 3

Point #4 - How do we KNOW WHAT TO SAY? A - God often uses visions / pictures / visual aids

1 Samuel 9:9 ~ Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.

A. We see a picture from God.

B. Then we speak out what we saw.

Amos 7:7-8

7Thus He shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in His hand.

8And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline.

Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of My people Israel: I will not again pass by them (= spare them) any more.

Amos 8:1-2

1Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit (= a harvest).

2And He said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit.

Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon My people of Israel; I will not again pass by them anymore.

Further reading

Numbers 12:6, 24:16

2 Samuel 24:11

1 Chronicles 17:15

2 Chronicles 18:16

Isaiah 1:1, 13:1, 29:10

Jeremiah 1:11-14, 18:3-6, 23:28

Lamentations 2:9

Ezekiel 11:25

Amos 1:1, 7:12

Micah 1:1

Nahum 1:1

Habakkuk 1:1, 2:1-2

Revelation 1:19-20, 22:6 & 8

God uses pictures which make sense to us.

If we don’t quickly understand the meaning of a picture - it’s probably not from God.

The prophecy isn’t always based on a picture.

The message may start with a Bible verse or a sentence which God puts into our mind.

RECAP Step A - God --> Prophet:

The message must come from God - not from man.

The Holy Spirit comes down upon us - then we prophesy.

God often speaks to us during praise.

God usually gives us the start of the message as a: picture / Bible verse / sentence, which He puts into our mind.

7. Step B: Prophet --> People

There are FIVE key points in this process.

Point #1 - We feel a ‘physical need’ to deliver the message

This is what Elihu told Job & his three friends in Job 32:18-20

18For I am full of matter (= full of words), the spirit within me constraineth me (= compels me).

19Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.

20I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.

--> Elihu felt a ‘physical need’ to deliver the message.

--> It’s difficult to describe this feeling - but you’ll know it when it happens!

Like Elihu, we’ll also know when to FINISH prophesying - because we’ll feel a release of the burden: a ‘lightness’ will come over us.

We shouldn’t then keep speaking, just to make a 'tidy ending' - if we do, we’ll be speaking our words, instead of God’s.

Jeremiah had the same physical sensation as Elihu:

Jeremiah 20:9 ~ Then I said, I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His name. But His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones,

and I was weary with forbearing (= tired of keeping the message in), and I could not stay (= I couldn’t contain it any longer).

Further reading

Jeremiah 5:14

Amos 3:7-8

Micah 3:8

Point #2 - Before we speak, God usually only gives us the START of the message as a:

Picture or

Bible verse or

Sentence

Once we start prophesying - God then gives us the next words, but only when we need them.

So we need to step out and start speaking in faith - otherwise no-one (including us) will know the whole message!

Point #3 - We DON'T need to start with: "Thus saith the Lord ..."

Instead - we can say: "I feel the Lord is saying … "

Then it’s not so serious if we make a mistake - we're all human, so can make mistakes!

Point #4 - We’re NOT TAKEN OVER by the Holy Spirit, but He INSPIRES what we say

Mark 13:11 ~ But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate:

but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

--> You'll understand this better after the first time you prophesy.

Further reading

Matthew 10:19-20

Mark 12:36

Point #5 - We should deliver the WHOLE message

Jeremiah 26:2 ~ Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD’S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’S house,

all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish (= keep back) not a word.

We shouldn’t dilute the message / miss out the unwelcome parts.

That would be like the postman only delivering 50% of our mail!

We can choose not to speak out the message - usually because of ‘fear of man’.

But we’ll then feel disappointed - because we’ve let God down, and it’s important that people hear what God wants to say to them.

Further reading

Exodus 7:2

Numbers 23:12

1 Samuel 3:10-18 (Samuel passed on 100% of the bad news to Eli)

1 Kings 22:14

Jeremiah 23:28, 42:4, 43:1

Ezekiel 11:25, 40:4

RECAP Step B - Prophet --> People:

We feel a ‘physical need’ to deliver the message.

Before we speak - God usually only gives us the start of the message.

We don’t need to start with: "Thus saith the Lord ..."

We’re not taken over by the Holy Spirit - but He inspires what we say.

We should deliver the whole message.

8. What should we do if someone gives us a prophecy?

2 Chronicles 20:20 ~ And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said,

Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established;

Believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper.

--> If we believe it's from God (we’ll look at judging prophecy in the next section) - we should use a prophecy like a compass / satnav to guide our lives.

--> Almighty God has spoken directly to us:

He knows everything about our future - which we don’t!

He loves us and has our best interests at heart.

Example

God gave me a prophecy many years ago - part of which said that He expected me to read His Word for one hour every day, at a very early time in the morning.

When I first received this prophecy, getting up extra-early every day seemed like an unpleasant life sentence - I’d rather be asleep then!

But acting on that prophecy has been the best investment of time I’ve ever made.

Further reading

2 Chronicles 35:20-24, 36:15-16

Ezra 6:14

Jeremiah 26:4-6, 29:17-19, 38:20

Zechariah 7:12

1 Timothy 1:18

Revelation 22:7

9. Q - How do we judge if a prophecy is from God?

A - There are FIVE good indicators.

Indicator #1 - The prophecy CONFIRMS what God has already spoken DIRECTLY to us.

2 Kings 2:3-5

3And the sons of the prophets (= a phrase meaning 'the prophets') that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him,

Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head (= from over you) today? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace (= be silent).

4And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho.

And he (= Elisha) said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.

5And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him,

Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.

A. God had ALREADY told Elisha DIRECTLY that Elijah was about to die.

B. The Prophets at Bethel & Jericho then CONFIRMED this to Elisha.

We SHOULDN'T ACT on a prophecy, unless God has ALREADY spoken DIRECTLY to us with a similar message.

It’s like parents (God) tell their children (us) what to do - they may then ask someone else (grandparent, teacher, friend etc.) to reinforce the message.

Further reading

1 Kings 13:11-26

Jeremiah 32:6-8

Luke 1:26-38 then 2:8-19 & 25-38

Indicator #2 - A true prophecy will be in line with God's character and won’t contradict the Bible, for example:

Zechariah 7:8-9

8And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying,

9Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:

--> We know from the rest of the Bible that this prophecy is in line with God's character.

On the contrary - if someone gives us a ‘prophecy’ telling us to do something sinful, it’s obviously not from God!

Indicator #3 - The prophecy includes information which the prophet cannot humanly know about.

1 Samuel 9:3 & 19-20

3And the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses (= donkeys).

…

19And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer (= prophet): go up before me unto the high place;

for ye shall eat with me today, and tomorrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.

20And as for thine donkeys that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found.

And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house?

--> Samuel knew about the lost & found donkeys: God must have told Him.

--> Because Samuel told Saul about the donkeys, Saul could then be confident that the rest of Samuel’s prophecy (about Saul becoming King of Israel) was from God.

Example

One lunchtime I prayed alone to God about certain things - no-one else knew what I’d said.

Later that afternoon, someone gave me a prophecy - including what I’d told God a couple of hours earlier.

So I then knew the prophecy was from God!

Further reading

2 Kings 19:14-19 then 20-35

Indicator #4 - Ask ANOTHER PROPHET to judge the message.

1 Corinthians 14:29 ~ Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

If we want advice on mending a car - we ask an expert in that field: a mechanic.

If we want advice about a prophecy - we ask an expert in that field: a prophet.

Indicator #5 - True prophecy is FULFILLED.

Jeremiah 28:9 ~ The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.

Further reading

Deuteronomy 18:21-22

1 Samuel 10:9

1 Kings 16:1, 3 then 12; 17:13-16, 20:35-36, 22:28 then 34-37

2 Kings 2:3-5 then 11; 24:2

2 Chronicles 10:15, 18:27-34, 20:35-37, 21:12-15 then 18-19; 36:20-23

Ezra 1:1-3

Ezekiel 12:25, 33:33

Luke 18:31

Acts 11:27-28

But it may take MANY YEARS before a prophecy is fulfilled:

The Old Testament prophets spoke about Jesus hundreds of years before He was born.

There was a 300 year gap between a prophecy about Bethel and its fulfilment.

(1 Kings 13:1-2 then 2 Kings 23:15-17)

So we may only be able to look back much later, to see if a prophecy was from God.

10. False prophets

If a true prophet makes a mistake - it doesn’t make him / her a false prophet.

Q - What’s the DIFFERENCE between a:

False prophet.

True prophet who makes a mistake:

1 Corinthians 13:9-10

9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part (= imperfect) shall be done away.

--> We all make mistakes!

A - THE MOTIVE:

A true prophet wants to help people - but is only human, so may make mistakes.

A false prophet tries to:

Turn people away from God.

- Hinder God’s work.

Barjesus is an example of a false prophet - Acts 13

Verse 6

6And when they (= Barnabas & Paul) had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:

--> Barjesus was a false prophet.

Verse 7

7Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

--> Sergius Paulus wanted to hear the word of God.

Verse 8

8But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

--> Barjesus (= Elymas) tried to turn Sergius Paulus away from the Christian faith.

--> That's what false prophets try to do.

Tobiah & Sanballat - enemies of God's people - hired false prophets to try to discourage Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 6:12-14)

So if someone gives us a ‘message’ which DISCOURAGES us in our Christian life - they’re probably a false prophet.

Q - Who are the false prophets today?

A - I believe they include ‘religious leaders’ who:

Claim to speak for God.

But deny what the Bible says - and so try to wear down the faith of Christians.

Further reading

Deuteronomy 13:1-5

Jeremiah 23:21-32, 50:6

Zephaniah 3:4

Matthew 7:15-23

2 Peter 2:1-3

1 John 4:1-3

11. What's the difference between the ministry of a prophet and the gift of prophecy?

Acts 21:8-10

8And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea:

and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

9And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

10And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.

--> Many believers - such as Philip’s four daughters - have the gift of prophecy.

--> But some believers - such as Agabus - have the ministry of a prophet.

The difference is one of specialisation:

Believers who have other key duties can have the gift of prophecy.

But if someone has the ministry of a prophet - that’s the main focus of their life, and they should devote themselves to it.

Further reading

1 Samuel 3:20 then 7:3-4

'Five-fold ministry' message on WholeCounselofGod.com

12. Conclusion

1 Thessalonian 5:19-21

19Quench not the Spirit.

20Despise not prophesyings.

21Prove (= test) all things; hold fast that which is good.

So when we hear a prophecy:

We should test that the message is from God (not from man or the devil).

If we’re happy that the message is from God - we should then:

A. Welcome the prophecy.

B. Obey what God is telling us - He knows best!

Amen

Prophecy

Read this if you want to know:

How do we experience prophecy?

How does prophecy work?

What should we do if someone gives us a prophecy?

1. How do we experience prophecy?

2. What's the purpose of prophecy?

3. Sometimes a prophecy is positive

4. But God also uses prophecy to warn / prepare / correct us

5. Q - How does prophecy work?

6. Step A: God --> Prophet

7. Step B: Prophet --> People

8. What should we do if someone gives us a prophecy?

9. Q - How do we judge if a prophecy is from God?

10. False prophets

11. What's the difference between the ministry of a prophet and the gift of prophecy?

12. Conclusion

Further reading - about other aspects of prophecy

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