LEARNING TO PROPHESY

 "So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Ezek.37.5-8

Prophecy is a declaration of the plan of God for the present or the future over an individual, family, society or a nation.

Prophecy is declaring God's plan and allowing the Holy Spirit "work on the spoken words" to bring them to pass. 

In Genesis chapter one, God had a plan, He "spoke forth" the plan (...and God said and God said...) and His Spirit "worked on" the plan and brought it to pass. The Spirit of God will only act on words spoken in alignment with God’s plan.

Prophecy is speaking to men or situations on behalf of God. 

Two important ingredients that qualify you to speak on behalf of God are your RELATIONSHIP with God and how much of His TRUST you have earned. You can't speak for God if you have not been with God and earned His trust. You will hear Elijah say, "...before whom i stand...” 

And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word." 1Kgs.17.1 

THREE REASONS YOU SHOULD DESIRE PROPHECY

1. God uses prophecy to "reveal" His will, mind or plan to us. (Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. Ezekiel 37:5).

2. God uses prophecy to prove Himself in our lives and situations (...then you shall know that I am the Lord. Ezekiel 37:6); paraphrased, “if it fails then i am not Lord".

3. Prophecies are programmed by God to succeed (... it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11). 

THREE FACTORS THAT CAN AFFECT THE FULFILMENT OF A  PROPHECY

1. When the prophecy declared is not sourced from God’s plan. 

2. When your desired timing for the fulfilment of the prophecy does not align with God’s timing. So you disregard it because it didn't happen sooner rather than later. 

3. Inability to agree or cooperate with God in prayer or when instructed to carrying out a prophetic action (Daniel prayed, Ezekiel spoke, Joshua and the Israelites marched round Jericho)

HOW TO PROPHESY EFFECTIVELY

1. Discern God’s plan for that situation. Lord what are you saying concerning that situation, what do you want to do, what is your plan? 

2. Speak forth God’s plan or will over the situation for which you have accessed His plan.(Ezekiel 37: 7, I spoke as I was commanded).  

3. Look out in faith for the outcome of God's plan that you have declared (Expect positive results after speaking forth, don't entertain doubts). Elijah looked out in faith when he prophesied rain. (...and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea..."1Kgs.18.43)

4. Review the outcome of your declaration and keep releasing the word, until all that God revealed through His plan is done. Ezekiel had to keep speaking until all that God had said He will do, had been done.

Prophetic Tip: always prophesy in faith, with the understanding that all God created have ears, which have been programmed to respond to God’s voice that is located in His words.   

CONCLUSION 

You can prophesy over your life too (you can be your own prophet). How? Is there an area in your life where you need God to prove Himself? Ask God to reveal His plan to you concerning that area of your life. And when He does, the revealed plan becomes the raw material for the prophecies you will begin to speak and review consistently over your life, until all He revealed becomes your reality.

PRAYER OF IMPARTATION 

Receive grace to discern and declare the plan of God for your life, family, friends and nation in the name of Jesus. 

PS: You can attend our upcoming Inspire Prophets Network Webinar on ZOOM, coming up on the 20th of July, 2024 by 6:30pm GMT+1(Nigeria). (Meeting ID: 485 542 6614,  Passcode: Prophet)

For enquiries and feedback, you can send an email to inspireprophets@gmail.com