An Updated Rerun Series
“Larry, you told me the Lord was going to give me my own business,” she said, her eyes locking on mine. “So, where is it?”
This is the situation we prophetic voices hate, as in absolutely, positively hate.
On the one hand, we need to boldly speak by faith what we feel is a prophetic word to a person. But then, on the other hand, we have to recognize we can make mistakes.
“Well,” I replied, “what do you think? Was my prophetic word about the Lord giving you a business a true word or not?”
Her eyes blinked. “At the time, I really believed it was from the Lord,” she said. “But now, after all this time, I’m not so sure.”
“Okay, what have you done to bring this particular prophetic word to pass in your life?” I asked.
She sighed. “Well, I’ve been waiting on the Lord, you know, just waiting on Him.” Her eyes narrowed a bit, daring me to say something.
In my twenty-plus years of speaking prophetic words to people about their callings or their ministries or their businesses or prospective marriages or having babies or whatever, I have heard this answer countless numbers of times. In fact, I’ve heard it so much that I have to quell a scream from spewing out of my mouth whenever I hear it uttered.
What most Christians think waiting on the Lord means, compared to what Scripture actually reveals it to be, is about like the difference between night and day. Or in the case of New Testament prophetic words, it’s the difference between having a prophetic word come to pass or one that fails.
A young Roberts Liardon said, “I knew that I was called to preach so I went out to meet my calling.”
Liardon’s words may sound brash to many of us believers, but they are scriptural.
So what can a New Testament believer do to help bring a personal prophetic word to pass in his (or her) life?
(Continued in Part 2.)
Larry Who 
I have a question for you . . .would you consider a “word from God” the same as a prophetic word? I’m thinking that Paul counseled us to seek to be prophets. But also that as a prophet, one would be held very accountable. Praying for you! And thanks! deb
Debbie,
Is a “word of God” the same as a prophetic word? Yes, but it usually just refers to a prophecy.
I myself use the term, “prophetic words,” to refer to prophecy, words of wisdom, words of knowledge and interpretations of tongues (1 Cor. 12). My reasoning for doing it this way is that it saves time on my part, rather then always having to list everything.
The Apostle Paul advised Christians to seek to prophesy, not to seek to be a prophet. There is a difference in that all Christians can prophesy (or give prophetic words) because of the spiritual gifts listed in 1 Cor. 12, but not all Christians can be a prophet as stated in Ephesians 4:12.
You have asked an excellent question, hopefully I’ve answered it. If not, ask another one.
Aaahh . . .to seek prophecy is much different from seeking to be a prophet! God bless you and thank you for that! I have come from a church where someone may say they have a word of God for you. Sometimes it can be confusing, not make sense to the one receiving it. (I know of a friend who was scared because of the content of it!) I was able to sort out what was said to me, but my friend didn’t fare so well. Any advice you could offer me for her, as to how to tell it really is from God? This word said she had a hole in her finances. Thanks Larry!
Debbie,
I believe in taking every “word of God” or prophetic word to the Lord as soon as I hear it. It does not matter if it was given to me by Billy Graham with twenty angels standing next to him.
I always ask the Lord to reveal to me if it was Him or not. If the word is from the Lord, it is His responsibility to confirm it to me somehow or some way. So, I leave it with Him until He tells me one way or the other.
This removes the possibility of being coerced, beaten up and pushed into doing something by zealous people who give words. And it takes my flesh out of the formula.
Now, as we grow, we should expect to identify “words of God” or personal prophetic words better and better just because our inner spirit will be more and more attuned to the Holy Spirit. But even in that, I advise people to take it to the Lord. It just keeps it simple.
Now, if I received a word about “a hole in my finances,” I’d ask the Lord to show me the hole. Once again, He’s the Boss and the Leader. It’s His job to lead and our job to follow.
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I’m reading a book called Get Out of the Boat. I’m not very far into it, but let me venture a guess that prophecies fulfilled as in the personal one on one kind may require a step to meet the Lord. If He’s not there, it’s not time.
Make sense?
Jane,
Good point. It makes sense.
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