We have previously looked at 2 of the 5 most frequently asked questions about prophecy (read it here). Let’s look at the remaining 3 ones now.
3. Is there anything that I should be careful of when prophesying?
The Shift Talk podcast featured in this post (“What is prophecy?”) has provided a great reminder:
If you receive a certain word or image that applies to another person from God during prayer, you can relay what you received to that person and pray for them, but you should not interpret the message for them.
For example, if Matthew 6:33 appears in your mind when you pray for a friend, it is a great idea to tell them what you received, but you should not interpret what this verse may mean to them. The interpretation and reflection process belongs to God; by delivering the message without interpreting it, we avoid the risk of altering the message or causing bias.
4. Is there a risk of getting it wrong? How do I know if it is a prophecy?
Prophesying is a process where a person hears and delivers God’s word to another person, so there is always a risk of mishearing the message. We can mistake the source or mistake the intended recipient because of our sinful nature that separates us from God. We may also be affected by confirmation bias, which is the tendency to search for and favor information that confirms or supports our beliefs or desires.
We should always rely on biblical principles to confirm whether something is prophecy. Essentially, we are asking,
Is what I heard during my prayer time or from another person really from God?
Since a prophecy must always come from God, it must be consistent with the Scripture and aligned with God’s character and teaching. Be ready to test them to see whether they are from God (1 John 4.1-3).
This is also the reason why we should only relay a prophetic message to the recipient without offering our own interpretation – we may mistake its alignment or the particular message God is directing to someone He knows more than we do.
Prophecies should also lead us closer to God and not to other idols (Deut. 13.1-3). A true prophecy is unlikely to affirm an action that is purely self-centered rather than God-centered; it should make one a better person (“upbuilding” – 1 Cor. 14.3) and should lead us closer to God.
5. How can I apply all of this when prophesying?
(1) Pray and ask: If you desire the spiritual gift of prophecy (1 Cor. 12.4-11), pray and ask God about it.
(2) Pray and listen: Prophesying involves hearing God’s word and passing it on to someone, so we should deliberately set aside time with God, pray and listen to Him.
(3) Pass it on: If you are moved by the Spirit to share what you have heard from God with a person (which should be for his “upbuilding and encouragement and consolation” (1 Cor. 14:3)), you can pass it on to them, but do not interpret it for them.
(4) Intercede: Not all prophetic words are meant to be shared. If you are not moved by the Spirit to share, you can also just pray and intercede in private for that person.
(5) Keep learning: Don’t be discouraged if what you shared does not seem to “click” with the recipient. After all, if you have passed on a word of encouragement to them, even if it is not a prophecy from God, it is still beneficial as an encouragement. It could also be that the message is not relevant for them now but will make sense in the future. Be ready to test it (1 John 4.1-3) and keep praying for God’s guidance.