the prophetic process

I went to receive prophetic ministry on Monday at a school of prophecy at Philly [I was a guinea pig basically], and out of a room of 45 students there were 4 men!! Where are the male prophetic ministers?

The prophetic is one of my biggest passions, and yet the potential of the prophetic ministry even within "prophetic people" is rarely released in the fullness of what it could be. We still can be limited in our understanding of what a prophetic word is, the difference between a prophetic word and the revelatory insight that leads to the prophetic word, and in how to deliver the prophetic effectively.

This week I have seen God deliver two people dramatically as a result of what would on the surface look like two fairly 'low level' prophecies. It was amazing to see how the simple declaration of such revelations could shift the demonic in people's lives so effectively - the power indeed lies in the cross being the basis of the prophetic and inner healing ministries. Amazing. I have also on the other side of the coin this week had conversations with some who struggle with the general way we encourage prophecy. It seems to some like a slot machine - like we are demanding a word from God, and the way we speedily can receive words cannot be right. Why though? Seeing the results of the prophetic ministry this week has strengthened my conviction in defending the prophetic and my determination to grow in this ministry. The idea that the flowing thoughts model of the prophetic is disrespectful to God, presumptous or a "slot machine" comes from a slave mindset that thinks that we have to earn a word by waiting or 'sticking it out' to show how serious we are [God may sometimes ask us to wait]. The view that this has to be the case stems from a lack of revelation of the Father's love and intense passion to speak to and free us by any means, if we are doing it through what the cross has made available for us.

So what is the prophetic process? I believe that when we ask God for a word [fresh bread for someone who comes to us in need] he gives us one. "Ask and you WILL receive." However we may miss the revelation if we do not look for it. The revelation may be a thought, a word, a scripture,a memory, a manifestation, a physical or emotional feeling, a picture, a vision or we may notice something about the person. This revelation may lead naturally to a prophetic word but as I have grown in this gift I have found that the more specific words comes through a prophetic process. For me personally a word develops through some stages. We all need to learn our own prophetic process as each will be unique. My process is very much one of an initial revelatory insight [a picture/vision or 'sense' for me usually] followed by a process of flowing thoughts leading to a formulated sentence of 'I feel God is saying to you that....' I rarely now share the initial insight or the process of flowing thoughts. These distract, detract and confuse people as people don't think how I do. That process was between me and God as a prophetic person, the resulting propjhetic word is what he asks me to deliver to the person. I do not need to justify my word by sharing every little thought process that led me to that point.

One simple story of a revelatory insight leading to a prophetic word comes from Robin McMillan at Morningstar Ministries. He shares how he met a lady and instantly had a picture of candy cane. He knew this was a revelatory insight to strengthen, encourage and comfort her in some way so he pursued the Spirit for the prophetic word. Many of us often share what we think are prophetic words and are discouraged because they don't seem to achieve anything, be right or carry any weight. This could be because we are sharing revelatory insights or the beginnings of a prophecy, we have stopped short of the process. Robin did not share with this woman "I have a word from God for you...candy cane." This would have been meaningless. However he went through a prophetic process of flowing thoughts in his mind, led by the Spirit but very much with his mind engaged. The process was one of candy cane...a gift...Christmas...Lord what are you saying through this?... the Lord will give you something sweet this Christmas. He didn't mention candy cane [that was the communication from God to him]. It turned out that this woman was pregnant, due at Christmas time and was bound by incredible fear that the devil was going to take her baby away. This word led to her freedom and belief that God was going to give her this sweet gift this Christmas.

This story also demonstrates that we must not treat prophecies with contempt because of their seeming menial nature. They carry a great power potential. But we must engage our own unique prophetic process. God created our brains, he understands us. We musn't automatically doubt words because of their source - God uses the things we see or have experienced recently to speak to us. But we are then the mouthpiece turning that into the word for the person we are ministering to. We have to translate if you will.

This is not to say that every random thoguht in our mind is from God...we must weigh prophecy, however I believe the responsibility of weighing words lies with the receiver. We need to be more freed up in delivering prophetic words [as long as they are for strengthening, encouragement and comfort!] rather than holding back in false humility or fear of getting stuff wrong.

We must stay humble and childlike of course, but we really need the prophetic in these days.