I am going to tell you one of The LORD’s secrets that He told me, that changed the way that I received prophetic words years ago, but has saved me a lot of grief over the years.

Many years ago, a man walked in our church. He was suppose to be a prophet and began to speak that God was going to do this and do that, as Doug and I were getting ready to do the worship.

This word nearly took the life out of me at first and all I felt was hopelessness.

The so called word was one that tore down the hopes and dreams that we had at the time.

It was only a few minutes that The Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “I never bring hopelessness.”

It was true that God was about to shut that part of our lives down, but the prophet forgot to tell us that God was about to bring us into a new season, that would look totally different and better than it was in the one we were in.

This has happened to me a few times now, and God always reminds me that He never brings hopelessness!

It is God’s nature to give you hope

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says The LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope,” Jeremiah 29:11.

Even when we are learning something in God’s Kingdom, it is for our promotion in the future!

There are no throw away’s in our papa’s house! His very heart is to encourage you to go forward in the dream that he has given to you!

Sometimes what looks like demotion is truly a place of learning to take you to the next but his heart is always for us and not against us!

I said this to tell you two things.

1. When you are hearing a prophetic word or word of knowledge, if there is no “this is going to happen, but if you will turn from this and that and move forward, I will bless you” then it is possible not from God!

In other words, if there is no hope in the end, then put it away from you.

The person giving you the word might have a bad motive towards you such as jealousy, envy and division.

This is what the apostle Paul said about that…

“I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” 1 Corinthians 3:2-3.

You see, you cannot even receive revelation if your motive is wrong. So we must begin to operate as the early church.

We must judge prophecy — not the prophet — to stone them as they did in the old testament!

But we must hear if God’s heart is in that word! If there is envy strife and jealousy in it, then we must take the part that is giving us a directive and say, “That part just might not be God!”

We in the church have internalized too many so called prophetic words that have set us back, because we thought certain people who called themselves prophets, were the voice of God regardless!

It is time to grow up! These so called words coming from so called prophets have hurt too many people in the church!

2. God wants us as a prophetic church to represent His heart!

God’s heart is always to encourage us to get past what is holding us back!

If a word given to you is from a bad motive, this is a bad spirit behind it, trying to stop the work of God!

It is time to even check our own prophetic words and judge ourselves to see if what we are speaking is to sell our books, or get ahead or for financial gain.

Gloom and doom sells! Yes judgement comes upon the wicked everyday, because “It is written!”

if you are walking outside the word of God there is already judgement upon what you are doing!

It will not go well but here is the thing. The judgement is always to bring the wicked back to The LORD!

His heart is always to save us from ourselves! After all he died for this reason! It is never to condemn! After all jesus died to save the world!

He did not come to condemn you!

“For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved,” John 3:17.

So the end of the matter is this. God wants you to know today that he never brings hopelessness, because that is not who he is!

If a word that someone is giving does not have a hope for the future, then set it aside and do not internalize it to the point that it will stop you from functioning!

And prophets…..! Make sure your words are coming from his heart of love and encouragement!

You will know when they do! If the words you give makes you feel puffed up because you “Got someone” with it then you need to repent of your motive!

Oh my…. It is time to grow up in the prophetic world!

Love and hugs to you and I pray that in all your getting, you will get wisdom!

 

~ by Jo Ellen Stevens
Arise Shine!

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Jo Ellen Stevens of TCIC Ministries is a Prophetic speaker, author, worshiper and intercessor. She has ministered with her husband for 23 years and was a worship leader at the Assembly of God for many years. She is an ordained minister (Restoration Ministries) and works with Restoration Ministries in their Ministry Rooms doing prophetic worship with her husband. She has taught many bible studies and have led many intercessory prayer groups.

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