If you are looking for a resource to help you grow and develop your prophetic gift, you’ve come to the right place. This book is written by best-selling author John Eckhardt and is designed to provide guidance and encouragement to people who are seeking to use their prophetic gifts. Eckhardt has written several books on the prophetic gift, and this one is no different. While there are many resources out there to help you develop your prophetic gift, this one is particularly valuable for those who want to improve their gift.
Growing in intimacy with the Holy Spirit
The prophetic gift of encouragement can be found in both the Old and New Testaments, and is given by the Holy Spirit to Christians to serve the hurting and needy. The Greek word for exhortation is parakaleo, which means “to beseech, encourage, or strengthen.” The purpose of the gift of exhortation is to remind the hearer of the awesome work of Christ in atonement and the saving grace he offers. It is one of the gifts that Paul commanded Titus and Timothy to exercise in their ministry.
When a person develops the prophetic gift, they must develop the ability to discern where their revelations come from. It is important to identify the spirit that operates in a mentor before receiving prophetic messages. Spend months with the person and observe their relationship with God. You should see signs of love and respect from this mentor. Once you recognize this, you can seek a mentor with whom to learn to discern the spirit that is operating in a particular situation.
One of the most common misconceptions about the gift of prophecy is that it can lead to false predictions. It is a mistake to think that you are free to prophesy. You must use it under the authority of church leadership. If you are not careful, you could become a false prophet! While this can be scary, it’s also an essential part of growing in intimacy with the Holy Spirit.
If you are a prophet, you should be willing to be uncomfortable. You might not have many friends. You may even be unpopular, but you must be willing to face your fears and move forward. Ultimately, prophets are black and white, and they want to turn people away from sin and turn them to God. They are also black and white people and should never be tempted to join a religious group just to please their spirit.
Prayerfully ask God for a prophetic word
Practice makes perfect. The more you practice, the more clearly you can discern what is from God and what is not. Be sure to practice in a safe place with a brother or sister who is open to correction and encouragement. You can also practice writing in a journal. Practice your prophetic gift by writing what God has spoken to you through His word. You will soon notice that it becomes second nature.
Pray fervently. The Holy Spirit will give you a word of knowledge. This word can be a thought, impression, physical sensation, vision, or picture. Start by asking God to give you knowledge about past and present situations, and then add comfort and encouragement. Keeping an attitude of humility is crucial to sharpening your prophetic gift. And if you’ve been feeling stuck in a rut, ask for His help.
Before prophesying, make sure you’re following these guidelines in your meeting. Especially if you’re leading worship, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit is not moving, you’re not ready to prophesy. You need to wait for Him to move. Then, wait patiently until He moves. After all, it’s God’s church that needs building up, not yours.
Remember that the prophetic gift is a burden, so it must be worn with love. It must be delivered with the same intent as the word itself – love. Prophecy must be delivered with love, as God loves his people, and we should want them to repent. If a prophet’s words are delivered without love, people may blame or dismiss the messenger. Old Testament prophets were often criticized for their prophetic words.
Writing down a prophetic word
You may have heard the phrase, “writing down a prophetic word sharpens the gift,” but how does that work? You need to learn to hear the voice of God and to discern His voice. This can only happen if you seek to grow spiritually. The key is to spend time with God each day, so that your heart is cleansed and your spirit is sensitive. Writing down a prophetic word sharpens the gift by focusing on its meaning and its fulfillment.
Prophecy is similar to exercising a muscle. If you want to run a marathon, you need to train and practice. Likewise, if you want to sharpen your prophetic gift, you must spend time, wisdom, and humility practicing it. It takes time, patience, and humility to perfect it. The Holy Spirit gives you specific instructions on the appropriate time and place to minister His word.
The flow of the Holy Spirit is affected by the attitude of your heart. Remember that your gift is a tool for blessing others, not for power and fame. God is interested in healing, not sounding powerful. In addition to that, your prophecy must be focused on helping people. As long as you are willing to submit to the accountability of your prophetic gift, you can rest assured that the Lord will pour out His glory.
Once you are aware of your gift, share your insights with a mentor. Seek a pastor or other leader in the church who can help you focus your prophetic insight and discern God’s words. Then, seek a mentor to guide and encourage you and help you activate your prophetic gift. Sharing your prophetic gift with others helps you minister God’s Word and bless the world.
Writing a prophetic word for yourself
Write down the words you underline as you read a prophetic word. Group like words together and draw mind-map-type diagrams. Try to figure out ways God is trying to encourage and build you up with this word. When you’re finished, look over the words again and try to discern where you’ve underlined them. What stood out to you? What can you add to it?
Another great way to sharpen your prophetic gift is to write a prophetic word for yourself. You can do this in groups of two or as a team. For example, if you’re writing a prophetic word for someone you care about, ask God to reveal His heart for this person and then pray for them. Alternatively, you can use the prophetic word for yourself to pray for them.
It can be challenging to discern between yourself and the Holy Spirit. The distinction between these two is critical to sharpening your prophetic gift. You can’t be prophetic if you don’t practice the discipline. By practicing humility, you won’t lessen your gift, and you won’t be offended by others. Writing prophetic words for yourself will allow the Holy Spirit to highlight the things He wants to bring to light.
Prophecy testing is essential in sharpening the gift of prophecy. The proper order of testing prophecies will help you grow and use your gift effectively. Using the reverse order of testing will discourage spontaneous responses to the Holy Spirit and lead to dull and off-balance prophecies. So, practice intercessory prayer before releasing a prophetic word to others.
Writing a prophetic word for someone else
Activating your prophetic gift can be a challenge, and it’s essential to have a mentor who can help you focus your insights and discern the word of God. Having a mentor will help you develop your prophetic gifts and focus your ministry, as well as provide feedback and guidance. By seeking a mentor, you can learn how to write for others and share insights with others, sharpening your prophetic gift.
Writing a prophetic word for someone else is an excellent way to develop your own gift and experience revelation from the Holy Spirit. Writing a prophetic word can help you sharpen your gift, even if you’re able to read others’ words. The Holy Spirit often uses other people’s words to highlight things that you want others to see. As you learn to write a prophetic word for someone else, you’ll discover new things you had never known before.
When writing a prophetic word for someone else, remember that the flow of the Holy Spirit is affected by your heart’s attitude. Your heart’s attitude is more important than sounding powerful – your purpose is to bless people. When you focus on blessing others, God will pour glory through your words. While writing a prophetic word for someone else, you’ll discover that you’re hearing God more clearly and accurately than ever before.
Another way to sharpen your gift is to deliver bad news. Sometimes the people around you don’t want to hear it, and delivering it without a prophetic inspiration can be a dangerous situation. Nevertheless, the prophetic gift requires you to keep your heart pure and free from any selfish motive. Moreover, you can use this opportunity to test your prophetic gift.
About The Author
Mindy Vu is a part time shoe model and professional mum. She loves to cook and has been proclaimed the best cook in the world by her friends and family. She adores her pet dog Twinkie, and is happily married to her books.