Foundations for Processing Prophetic Words
Never restrain or put out the fire of the Holy Spirit.
And don’t be one who scorns prophecies,
but be faithful to examine them by putting them to the test,
and afterward hold tightly to what has proven to be right.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-20 TPT
God is seeking relationship. Through the prophetic, he is seeking conversation and partnership with us.
Prophetic words can be conditional or command oriented, meaning they are invitations from the Lord. God plays a part and you play a part.
When receiving a prophetic word, it is first necessary to discern what is the Lord and what is not. It can be possible to hear from the Lord, but miss on the interpretation, application, or timing. This is not a reason to shy away from the prophetic, but an invitation to grow in practice, experience, and maturity.
We are entrusted with the responsibility to judge and weigh prophecy. We know in part and we prophesy in part.
Here are some basic filters for judging a prophetic word:
1) Filter it through scripture first.
If it is out of alignment with scripture, throw it out.
When seeking to share prophetic words with others, it is important to be rooted in a foundation of scripture. This same filter should be applied when receiving prophetic words from others.
2) Consider whether or not it is consistent with the character and nature of God.
Stay connected to the Lord and His character and nature. This will allow you to discern his voice from outside voices.
It is possible that part of it could be from the Lord, but part of it may be influenced by other personal factors.
3) Test the source.
Does the person giving the word have godly character and a vibrant relationship with God? Is the giver motivated by love? Are there other factors that may shape the giver’s perspective or delivery of the word?
As noted earlier, it is possible to receive accurate revelation from the Lord, but the delivery could be impacted by other factors. When delivering words to others, it is important to be aware of our own biases and desires, as well as areas our hearts may need healing. The clearer the filter, the more powerfully the word will communicate the heart of God.
If someone has a personal interest related to the outcome, the word may not be motivated by love. Hold back from giving a prophetic word if you have a vested interest in the outcome.
It is a best practice not to prophesy regarding marriage or babies. It can be too easy to speak out of own soul, based on our desires for that person. People have been deeply disappointed and hurt by inaccurate prophecies in these areas.
4) Judge the word within community.
Judging within community makes it safe. Share and test the word within a company of discerning loved ones and leaders. Seek and be open to feedback.
We all have blind spots. Community fills in the gaps and keeps on track.
Have you received any prophetic words? If so, I invite you to filter them through these four basic tests.
Want to go deeper in exploring your prophetic words? You may want to check out The Good Fight: Prophetic Processing Workbook by Dan McCollam.
Want to learn more about hearing from God for yourself and others? You may love Basic Training for the Prophetic Ministry by Kris Vallotton.