HOW TO TREAT PROPHETIC UTTERANCE

 

HOW TO TREAT PROPHETIC UTTERANCE

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.... 1Cor. 12:1

One of the areas of ministry which the church of God still finds difficult to effectively handle is the prophetic ministry. That is why we so many prophets around than others. People who want to dupe the church finds it easy to proclaim themselves prophets. If they want to deceive, they just give a prophecy in the name of God to cover their dubious acts.

All these have made it very necessary for Christians and more especially church leaders to learn more about this gift and its ministry. 

Prophecy is the supernatural ability to utter a word directly from God at the impulse of the Holy Spirit in a known language. (Acts 13:1-2, 21:8-10, 11:23, 1Cor 14:3, 25,22,31,39)

 

General Characteristics of Prophecy

It I s not preaching

It is not planned,

It is not foretelling nor giving guidance

It is different from the office of puffed

It does not always begin and ending with ‘thus says the Lord”

It is not for personal guidance

It is not an uncontrolled utterance

One giving the prophecy does not fall into trance or out of mind control

 

What the scripture teaches about prophecy

It should not be treated with contempt nor quenched – 1 Thes 5:16-22

It should exhort, edify and comfort the church.

Prophecy require no interpretation

Prophecy convinces the unlearned and unbelievers (1 Con – 14:24-25)

Prophecy should be desired and coveted- 1 Cor 14:32

​The person operating this gift is responsible for its abuse

Prophecy should be judged. 1Cor 14:3,29,31

HOW TO TREAT PROPHETIC UTTERANCE

1. TEST THE CONTENT

Does it strengthen, encourage comforts? It should contribute to systematic growth of hearers, consoling and urging them to move on in the face of difficulties

Is it instructive? i.e. helping people to learn by doing , increase in knowledge and understanding of God and our selves

Is it convincing? I.e. by leading unbelievers to repentance?

Is it Biblical? Does if glorify Jesus?

 

2. TEST THE PERSON

Is he known to you as a believer?

Is he filled with the Holy Spirit?

Is he obedient and leading worthy life?

3. TEST THE APPROPRIATENESS

Is it in time with what God is speaking to other people?

Is it in agreement with other prophecies given?

Is it totally against what has been spoken in the past?

A genuine prophecy will not break the spirit of a meeting, though it may change the course of it

4. TEST THE SPIRIT 

Is it spoken in love?: Emotional, condemning, And Destructive to other peoples?

Does it disgrace leaders in the presence of members?

Does it oppose decission taken by leaders?

 

5.​ TEST THE TRUTH.

Is it not slanderous?

Can it stand the test of time?

Are the contents being fulfilled? It there is a predictive aspect is a genuine prophecy, it will come to pass.

NOTE:  if any prophet insists that you follow him without asking any questions, judge him a false prophet.

From the exposition above, it becomes very clear that the leaders need to take a lot into consideration when it comes to handling or judging prophecy

If you don't have more prophets but want to 'grow' some, it is not advisable to bell the few ones out

when they utter faulty prophecies. Call them privately and discuss their prophecies with them.

Give faulty prophecy a silent treat.

Bell out any prophecy from a mature prophet which contain doctrinal errors or sabotage to leadership and church policy.

Stay blessed.