I noticed something that I believe is important when hearing or reading a prophetic word. I was speaking to a friend on the phone the other day, and the Holy Spirit began to prompt a few words to me, while I was speaking to this person.

This was actually a very simple message, unlike many of the other words I’ve received over the years. In fact, when I shared the message with this person, it came out like normal speech. The message was not adorned with the poetic language and metaphors that we often hear or read in a prophecy. But the message’s content held the same impact, and contained a wisdom that was in no way inferior to something that would be lengthy and poetic.

The central message of the word focused on how the father-in-law of Moses came to the patriarch and instructed him of the importance of appointing leaders over hundreds and over thousands, so that he wouldn’t wear himself out. If we remember, Moses was continually hearing the various accounts of many of the Israelites, as they presented to him issues about marriage and other types of disputes. He couldn’t begin to keep-up with this kind of schedule, and so Jethro offered him his wisdom on the matter.

“So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself,” Exodus 18:17-18.

Sometimes I believe, we as a prophetic people, think that we need to adorn the message of God to others. Actually, God wants to speak to us, and the message is much simpler than we often make it out to be. We are however, told in 1 Corinthians 14:7-8,

“Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?”

In conclusion, there are many types and ways that God speaks to us, and we shouldn’t limit this. Sometimes He desires to just speak simply and concisely to us.

~ Stephen Hanson

Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to the Lord is a special way in 1975 and has been prophesying regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are to be reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?