He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me, and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (John 14:21)
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. (1 Cor. 14:1)
Would you become prophetic? We ought all to desire, and earnestly seek to have the gift of prophecy (1 Cor. 14:39).
There are certain circles which are doing well to encourage believers to seek the gift of prophecy, this is commendable. A number of groups even go so far as to have prophecy classes. I don’t want to disparage that, but I must say that, frankly, some participants in this phenomena have gotten a bit off in the weeds.
If you want to know the ultimate secret to being prophetic, and a vital lesson which will be more essential to any other lesson you may learn, Christ has already declared it to us.
Recently I’ve been memorizing John 14-17 (a few verses away from gettinginto the last chapter, actually). In these chapters, Christ gives us – I believe – the most clear, and comprehensive summary of Christian spirituality contained in scripture. These chapters are like a manual from the mouth of the Lord on spiritual connection with God. Not merely a manual in some technical sense, but a complete practical ‘how to’ for us to absorb that these words which are spirit, and life (John 6:63) may be engrafted into our very souls and change who we are.
What is the key element of being prophetic? That which will tune our ear to the voice of the Living God?
Verily, verily, if a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. (John 8:51)
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:7)
…If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him.
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
…
The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost… He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:23, 24, 26)
Do you love God’s Word? Does His Word abide in you? Have you recieved with meekness that engrafted word, so that it becomes part of you?
True spirituality is quite simple. Certain grouos turn it into many things – certain giftings, or experiences… but True spirituality is fellowship with God through Jesus Christ. ‘Why through Jesus Christ?’ The unsaved may ask; because Christ is the only Way to God; because only His sacrifice on the cross is acceptable to make us right in God’s eyes; because Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, come that we may meet God in a discernable form with whom we could have fellowship.
Yet to those who are saved, and seek the gift of prophecy: to love God’s Word is the key. Do you experience fellowship with God? Only by fellowship with God can we hear His direction to us, His personal leading and the promptings of the Holy Ghost. If you seek for deeper fellowship with God, meditate on His Word.
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you… Prove Him and see: if His word abides in you, the fellowship of His presence will be as the breath you breathe.
While I hope to be encouraging, rather than critical, warnings are appropriate as well (John 16:2).
Some time ago I had a dream in which swarms of (mainly young) people – crowds and crowds of people in the Church were celebrating in the dark. There was no light but the people were exuberant as at a great worship meeting. Then people began to fake being slain in the spirit, they began to cast themselves on the ground wildly all around. Then I saw two laders sitting in the middle of this crowd who were Brian Simmons (author of the Passion Translation bible), and a certain affiliated minister who endorses him.
A phenomena has arisen in the prophetic movement which trades in the love of God’s word for passion. We must, therefore be wary from whom we learn, for in trading honor for the vital Truth of God’s Word for passion, these have heavy emotional experience and response, rather than True prophetic, and a superfluity of error has begun, and will continue, and many who are decieved are decieved.
My warning: Beware of the Passion translation (see Mike Winger’s videos on them as the best resource I’ve seen discussing it), and those who turn the prophetic into emotionalism, sensationalism, or any thing other than the pure undefiled Word of God.
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me, and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (John 14:21)
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. (1 Cor. 14:1)
Pnuematic Rain 