It is a wonderful thing to get a word from the Lord, and we need to respond in a way that it can bear fruit in our lives. Here are some things to consider whenever someone gives you a prophecy: You must judge it with integrity and objectivity: You will never offend the Lord by handling it: Just as it requires a good and honest heart to give a word from the Lord, it also requires the same heart condition to receive one from Him: "But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." (Luke 8:15) Write it out: When you have been given a prophecy, you need to take the time to write it out. Even if you have a recording of it, seeing it will have a different effect as you read it. Share it with those in authority: It should be shared with someone who can speak into your life. It would be beneficial to share the word with your pastor, parents, or spouse. They can help judge it and sort out the parts that you should act on and the parts you need to wait for. Choose someone you know would love you enough to be honest with you and hold you accountable to what God has spoken. Look at your self objectively: When God speaks to us there is usually a gulf between where we are spiritually at the time and where He wants us to end up. Remember, He called Gideon a mighty man of valor while he was hiding in the threshing floor. He is the God who calls things that are not as though they are. It is very likely that you will need to go through a lot of growing before the promises come to pass. If you have ever stood on one mountain top and looked across to another, you know how close together they seem to be. It is not until you descend and walk to it that you realize how far apart they really are. It will require patience: There are no short cuts to spiritual maturity. If the Lord spoke to you, you will have to endure much before you see what He has spoken come to pass: "The word brought forth fruit with patience." (Luke 8:15) "And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise." (Hebrews 6:15)
The Greek word for `patience" (3115) can be translated as "fortitude, forbearance, longsuffering". Another definition for patience is, "cheerful, hopeful, endurance." You cannot bring it to pass yourself: If it is a real word from God, it will be outside of our own ability to bring it to pass: "Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it." (Isaiah 46:11) "Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass." (Psalm 37:5) It will always require the exertion of faith on your part: A genuine word from the Lord needs to be mixed with your faith in order for it to come to pass. "For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it." (Hebrews 4:2)
Sometimes we get this order mixed up. We want to see the results, and then we are willing to believe. Yet, in God, we must always believe in order to have the desired results. "Therefore it must be of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed"" (Romans 4:16) Most personal prophecies are conditional: Often the very reason He gives us the promises in the first place is to motivate us in a certain direction or to help us overcome something: "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."" (Revelations 2:7)
Where there is a promise, there are usually conditions that need to be met. Look for any directives, commands, or principles in the word that you need to observe. Mark them in one color and mark the promises in another color. Some people neglect what God has said; therefore, even though it is a word from God, it will not come to pass. It should provoke us to continue to pray and seek the Lord: No prophecy should eliminate our need to continue to seek the Lord. "For we know in part and we prophesy in part." (1 Corinthians 13:9) Seeking involves waiting and inquiring more of the Lord: Notice in this next verse, that they fasted and prayed even after the Lord had spoken: "As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, `Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away." (Acts 13:1-4) Take time to consider what He is not saying: Sometimes, what the word from the Lord doesn"t say is as revealing as what it does say. "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:2) God is glorified when we wait on Him: Abraham received an incredible promise, but he had to wait for it to come to pass. The longer he waited, the less likely it seemed that it would happen; yet he did not waver at the word of God, believing in God"s truthfulness to do what He promised: "Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed; God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." (Romans 4:16-22) We are not only allowed to judge prophecy, we are required to do so: We must understand that if we preach, pray, or prophesy, we must also be open for others to judge us. "Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first hold his peace. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints." (1 Corinthians 14:29-33)
We should judge the fruit of the prophet"s life, conduct, ministry, and words. We must judge everything that is said or done in the Name of the Lord. We should even judge those who say, "The Lord told me"" or "I feel led." "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them." (Matthew 7:15-20)
Not every dot and tittle will be inspired, so we must sort through the prophecy and keep that which is beneficial. "Do not put out the Spirits fire. Do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything; hold fast to that which is beneficial." (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21)
To judge something means to: "separate thoroughly, to oppose, to contest or discern."
The tone and spirit of the person judging prophecy must also be in keeping with the tone and spirit that they are expecting from those who prophesy.
Remember, the best judges are those who have cultivated the gift of prophesy themselves.
Shalom
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"Blessed is He who Comes in The Name of The Lord"
We are not only allowed to judge prophecy, we are required to do so: We must understand that if we preach, pray, or prophesy, we must also be open for others to judge us. "Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first hold his peace. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints." (1 Corinthians 14:29-33)
Amen brother, thanks for the message!
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
Judging Prophecy.
