Understanding Personal Prophecy
2 Kings 8-9
Personal Prophecy: Telling another person or group of people something that God has spoken to your heart about them.
2 Kings 8:1-2 (NIV)
Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, "Go away with your family and stay for a while wherever you can, because the LORD has decreed a famine in the land that will last seven years." The woman proceeded to do as the man of God said. She and her family went away and stayed in the land of the Philistines seven years.
2 Kings 8:7-13 (NIV)
Elisha went to Damascus, and Ben-Hadad king of Aram was ill. When the king was told, "The man of God has come all the way up here," he said to Hazael, "Take a gift with you and go to meet the man of God. Consult the Lord through him; ask him, 'Will I recover from this illness?'" Hazael went to meet Elisha, taking with him as a gift forty camel — loads of all the finest wares of Damascus. He went in and stood before him, and said, "Your son Ben-Hadad king of Aram has sent me to ask, 'Will I recover from this illness?'" Elisha answered, "Go and say to him, 'You will certainly recover'; but the LORD has revealed to me that he will in fact die." He stared at him with a fixed gaze until Hazael felt ashamed. Then the man of God began to weep. "Why is my lord weeping?" asked Hazael. "Because I know the harm you will do to the Israelites," he answered. "You will set fire to their fortified places, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little children to the ground, and rip open their pregnant women." Hazael said, "How could your servant, a mere dog, accomplish such a feat?" "The LORD has shown me that you will become king of Aram," answered Elisha.
2 Kings 9:1-3 (NIV)
The prophet Elisha summoned a man from the company of the prophets and said to him, "Tuck your cloak into your belt, take this flask of oil with you and go to Ramoth Gilead. When you get there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go to him, get him away from his companions and take him into an inner room. Then take the flask and pour the oil on his head and declare, 'This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.' Then open the door and run; don't delay!"
(NLT: run for your life!)
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NIV)
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
1 Corinthians 14:1
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
1. The purpose of prophecy (5 purposes)
1st. Build up, encourage, and offer consolation
1 Corinthians 14:3 (NIV)
But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
2nd. Instruct
1 Corinthians 14:31 (ESV)
For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged...
3rd. Reveal the secrets of the heart
1 Corinthians 14:24-25
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
4th. Foretell Future Events
Acts 11:27-28
Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).
Acts 20:22-23 (NIV)
"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
Acts 21:10-11
While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"
5th. Confirm Direction
Acts 13:2
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
2. General Characteristics of Prophecy
1st. Revelatory
1 Corinthians 14:30
If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.
2nd. Contextual
1 Corinthians 14:24-25a
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed...
3. Weighed or tested
1 Corinthians 14:29
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.
Guidelines for evaluating personal prophecy
1. Does what is said align with Scripture?
2. Does it align with the teaching of the church?
3. Does it confirm what the Holy Spirit is already doing?
4. Does it strengthen, encourage, and comfort?
5. If it is predictive, does it come to pass?
6. Is it spoken in love for the welfare of the recipient or is it manipulative and harsh?
7. Does it correspond to personal experience?
8. Has the person giving the prophecy had prophetic words confirmed in the past?
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 (NLT)
Do not scoff at prophecies, (NIV: do not treat prophecies with contempt) but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.
3. We need to value prophecy
2 Chronicles 20:20 (NLT)
Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, "Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed."
Ezra 6:14 (NKJV)
So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo.
Some practical ways to value prophecy:
1. Ask God to send people to you who have prophetic words
2. Ask God to give you prophetic words for people
1 Corinthians 14:1
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
3. Carefully evaluate prophetic words
4. Write down or record prophetic words.
5. Pray over the prophetic words that God has given you
6. If there is an action step do it
“God we are here to see the tormented set free. We are here to see those who have fatal diseases in their body healed. I know that already happens here, but we are at the beginning of a dramatic acceleration. I believe He is equipping this house to accelerate in anointing and breakthrough.” — Bill Johnson James River Church March 29, 2021
