SOME THOUGHTS ON PERSONAL PROPHECIES

(Part 1)

How should we receive and respond to a prophecy given to us personally? So how should we respond in order for God to fulfill His Word to you through His servants?
I'm sure you are aware that in all of life, whether we are listening to Mom or Dad, Uncle Jim or Aunt Alice, TV preachers or the pastor of a church, we should prove all things, test all things spoken or done with reference to the Word of God. This is where having knowledge of the Bible puts us at an advantage over deceivers, angels of light, sincerely mistaken, plain evil people and even Satan himself. When hearing someone prophesy the spirit in which it is given can also be a witness for good or bad. Beware of prophetic utterances given in harshness or censoriousness. Paul tells us that whatever we do in the supernatural realm must be in love or we are nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1,2,3).
Without making this a long, doctrinal dissertation, let's quickly cover a few guidelines of how prophecies can be realized as safely and quickly as God wants them. God's timing is often completely unknown to us for fulfilling certain promises. Time frames come to mind, just in case you are the "can't wait, got to have it now" kind. Bible examples of 800 years (the birth of Jesus), 40 or 25 years, 10 years, 5 or 6 months, 3 days or the same day are not unusual time frames. But then we do not know if length of wait could have been speeded up in some cases. So do not dismiss prophecies that have come to you that are not yet fulfilled. If they are from the Lord and not someone's "I think the Lord is saying" kind of stuff, then stand your ground and obtain what He said, for He is faithful that promised and still watches over His Word (Logos - written Word) or Rhema (spoken word) today to fulfill it.

·
• Your spirit or heart must be at peace about what you hear.
·
• You must be in agreement with what He says (Amos 3:3).
·
• You must want what God wants; even the Bible promises don't automatically come to pass unless we actively want them. In other words, with certain definite exceptions (ministry calling, etc.), nothing claimed, nothing obtained.
·
• Also remember while the Word of God has power to fulfill itself (Luke 1:37) it does not do so without corresponding actions on our part, even though God can give specific times and dates. He still requires your participation, response and responsibility. Unfulfilled prophecies can be traced sometimes to that very point.
·
• Mary, the mother of Jesus, had a personal prophetic Word regarding Jesus. Study that account for yourself. What caused God to make it happen through her? It was when she agreed to it and said, "be it unto me according to your Word". If she hadn't agreed and desired it God would have had to make sure another girl would. You might say, "If Gabriel had spoken to me I would have believed, but that guy prophesying to me - I don't know." Okay, fair enough. That is where your judgment and wise counsel of your pastor and the Word of God is your safeguard. This is why in every church and everywhere we minister we like the prophecies to be recorded or written down for evaluation and to fulfill what Paul said to Timothy, "that thou by them [prophecies] might war a good warfare (1 Timothy 1:18). You cannot do this if you do not know what the Spirit said.
·
• When Daniel wanted to know about God's people returning from captivity, he checked up on the prophecies concerning it and he discovered God had announced it in Jeremiah 29: 10 and 11. At face value there are no 'ifs or buts', but it appears unconditional and guaranteed of self-fulfillment. But on closer analysis you see how God requires His people in verses 12- 14 to be responsible for it to happen, like prayer and a strong desire.

Really, unfilled prophecies can center right here, the attitude of "if it's of God, it will come to pass, if not it won't", is pretty certain to abort what God wanted in your life. When we don't "enquire", "search", "follow after", then we don't prepare the way for the performance of His Word. God says in Ezekiel 36, "I will, I will, I will" twenty times yet the key to its fulfillment is verse 37. The word "enquire" means all I have just said and more.
There is a due season for fulfillment of God's promises and plans. However, we must be like Jesus Himself in His pursuits for God. "He set His face" to do the will of His Heavenly Father. To set one's face is a Hebrew euphemism for persistence, or also setting one's face as a flint or being determined. Old Testament saints gave us some pointers in this area. Remember, don't be a 'softie" - go for the "gold"! Don't let Satan rob you of anything (John 10:10).
If God told you something, believe it, embrace it, pray and worship Him for its fulfillment. He wants you to have and enjoy His plans for your life. He delights in your joy being full (John 16:24).
God speaking to us through the Bible or the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially the prophetic gift we are discussing, is worth more than anything else in life. Why? Because in the gift of prophecy all the other utterance and revelation gifts can flow, which happens very frequently in our ministry. Also we so frequently demonstrate the prophetic word, like some Old and New Testament prophets did (Agabus in Acts 21:10 & 11).
One question we hear is, "Gordon and Barbara how do you do what you do?" Answer: don't ask us, ask the Wonderful Lord Jesus. He alone must have all the glory, praise, adoration and applause. All I know is that some forty-four years ago I was sitting on the platform of Dennison House in London, England in a London Revival Crusade meeting when the speaker suddenly turned completely around from ministering to the congregation and pointed to me. Through the prophet the Lord told me my calling and gifts He was going to use me in. They came to pass gradually over the years. At the time it was so new and unexpected, and certainly not confirmation of anything I had heard before, a brand new experience and a brand new chapter in my early Christian life. I look back and cannot recall ever asking the Lord for what He gave me and revealed to me that day. Yet, in the timing of God that minister was in London, visiting from Atlanta, Georgia in the USA, Dr. Richard D. Carter, a true prophet from a Southern Baptist background, moving in the Holy Spirit.
One thing I learned through this experience is that prophecy is certainly not always confirmation, but it can be. Look at Smith Wigglesworth and many other great men and women of God and the amazing prophecies given through their ministries down through the ages. God has a lot of things to share with His people that we never knew before. The Old Testament, New Testament and present day examples teach us that.
There are many things for me to write, teach and preach on this subject. However, for this brief article I wanted to share a few thoughts; maybe to wet your appetite to get you into the ministry of the Spirit and God's supernatural realm and for you to do more Biblical research.
Always remember what the angel Gabriel said to Mary, "blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord. The same words hold true for you and me today! Believers, put the Lord in remembrance until it be established, until He fulfills according to that which was spoken (Isaiah 43:26: Isaiah 62:6 & 7).
In Part II I want to show you how God will sometimes change His mind about doing what He originally prophesied through His servants. Yes, surprised? It's there for you to read in His Word.

Gordon White

Part Two