The power of a prophetic word

For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:21 (NIV)

There are so many places in the bible where prophetic words were spoken over a nation. Fathers blessed their children, prophesying over their future. To give and to receive a prophetic word is still relevant today. The Spirit is still the same today and He wants to speak into our future and give us hope for what is yet to come. It is not about the feeling that we get each time we receive a word from God, it's the longing to build a deeper relationship with Him and to invite Him to speak into our lives. It stirs our faith as we hear from God and start recognizing His voice. I want to share two stories with you today, one personal and the other story is from the bible.

1.

In 2017 my father had a blackout at his work. He was transported to a hospital and after taking a few scans they noticed that there was a lot of blood on his brain. I simply froze after receiving a phone call from my sister and hearing all that had happened and the possibility that he wasn’t going to make it if they don’t get him to a different hospital in time to drain the blood. It felt like a dream. I couldn’t understand how something like that could happen to my healthy and full-of-life father.

It was a process of waiting for answers, feeling powerless, and just wanting something to hold on to and to assure me that he will make it. While I was walking on campus that afternoon, I was reminded of all the prophetic words that have been spoken over my father’s life throughout the years. Many of those words were about things yet to come.

Suddenly my faith was stirred, and the Holy Spirit ignited a new fire of hope from within me. I started to recall those words and scriptures. In the process of reminding God about His word, I reminded myself that He is faithful. God will never forget His promises, but I might.

As I’m proclaiming His promises, I’m building my faith and trust in Him, setting my focus back on His faithfulness and provision.

All that I can say as I’m writing this today, is that what happened to my father was a miracle. They were able to help Him in time and his recovery went much quicker than medically expected. The only thing that changed is the fact that he is funnier than ever and that we love him even more if that is possible.

2.

Asher’s food will be rich; he will provide delicacies fit for a king.

Genesis 49:20 (NIV)

Jacob blessed all his sons before he died, prophesying over their lives. This was the word that Jacob had spoken over his son Asher. To eat is a gift out of the Father’s hand. What Jacob was prophesying over Asher was that his gift, what he was blessed with, will be a blessing to others, it will even be fit for a king.

A few years and generations after that we read in Luke 2:36-40 about a prophetess named Anna. She was a widow and at the age of 84, she worshiped in the temple night and day, fasting, and praying. One day Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the temple to do everything required by the law. When Anna saw Jesus, she gave thanks to God and “spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” In verse 40 it says: “And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.”

Her praises and her gift to bring glory and honor to His name, was like delicacies in the Father’s eyes as He looked on her while she was busy blessing His son, the King.

What is so profound about this passage you might ask? Anna came out of the tribe of Asher. The blessing that Jacob spoke over Asher was visible in Anna as well.

What is spoken in one generation, will not turn void in the next. It is so important to hold fast to the blessings spoken not just over your life, but over your parents’ lives as well. We get to experience the fruit of those promises!

so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)

Of course, there are a few things to look at to determine whether a word given to you is a prophetic word from God:

1. It must be in line with God’s word

2. It must be in line with God’s character, in other words God will never give you a word to bring harm upon your life, therefore it must be uplifting and give you a hope and expectation about the future (Jeremiah 29:11)

3. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Therefore, you will experience peace in your spirit if the word is from God (2 Corinthians 3:17)

4. The word will be about something that God has already begun to stir in your heart (Isaiah 42:9)

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

1 Corinthians 14:1 (NIV)