Jason Tanksley: "Are You Following Through On God's Prophetic Word?"

From the desk of Steve Shultz:

How many of you have received prophetic word after prophetic word...and haven't seen any come to pass? Yes there is absolutely "a timing" of the Lord in some prophecies, yet you can also cooperate with the Lord over your prophetic word and take action to see it come to pass.

Jason Tanksley offers a very insightful word with practical steps YOU can take to watch some of your prophetic words come to pass as he shares:

When it comes to receiving that spoken word, don't let it fall in barren soil. We have to cultivate our hearts so that the word produces the expected fruit in our life. How do you do that? You do it the same way that you would care for natural ground that you've placed a demand of harvest on. The ground must be prepared, watched over and watered.

Now read this word and let it help you to steward what the Lord has spoken over you!

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But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22

Let's be honest, it is often very exciting to receive a word from the Lord. Whether it's something we get directly from Him or if it's prophesied over us by another, a prophetic word often confirms, guides and encourages us. The question is: are we really catching what has been released?
 
There must be an understanding that there is PURPOSE on a released word. The Spirit of God doesn't speak just to illicit thrills and goosebumps. A prophetic word carries with it a heavenly mandate. The problem is that many will get a word from the Lord but do nothing with it. The excitement is short-lived and they become a "word groupie", clamoring to get another word without ever acting on the first three things He said to them. They fail to steward the word! What would happen at your job if your boss gave you direction and you repeatedly failed to follow through?
 
It is important that we begin to place an urgency on the direction of the Lord. This includes the written Word or the "Logos". Some "word groupies" never pick up their Bibles and wonder why it's been so long since they heard any "Rhema" or spoken word from the Lord. I encourage you, if you haven't had a fresh word in a while, read the Word! I promise you that if you have a receptive heart when reading the Word, it will speak direction to areas of your life that you've been desperately needing. It will spark revelation in you. It will cut through and bring healing to you. While the "Rhema" can be so refreshing, we must never forsake the "Logos"!
 
When it comes to receiving that spoken word, don't let it fall in barren soil. We have to cultivate our hearts so that the word produces the expected fruit in our life. How do you do that? You do it the same way that you would care for natural ground that you've placed a demand of harvest on. The ground must be prepared, watched over and watered.

Steps on How to Watch Over the Word

I want to offer some quick tips to watching over the word on your life. It's my heart that when God speaks to you, you catch it and run with it to the finish line. A released word will bring you victory if you carry it all the way to its intended destination!
 
1. Position yourself to receive. I've found that hunger often attracts the word to your life. Of course there are times that the Lord will speak when you're not looking for it, but there is just something about hunger and desperation that gets Heaven's attention. Blind Bartimaeus stopped Jesus in His tracks because he was desperate and positioned to receive.

Have a heart full of expectation and desire for God's will on your life. You must also be careful not to rush ahead when you have no direction, running blindly, without the Father's guidance. Pray and trust in His direction!
 
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Proverbs 3:5-8

2. Catch the word. I always encourage people that receive a word to get it on paper as quickly as possible. Technology has really helped in this area as you can record what is being said or go back and watch a recorded service so that you can copy down what was said. I feel that writing a word down or at least having an audio file handy is the first step in us taking ownership of our part of it. Having it handy is important for another key I will discuss in a moment.

And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:2-4

3. Watch over the word. When you receive a prophetic word, it is important that you are faithful to steward that word. Pray about it, read it, repeat it, and embed the word in your spirit! You must partner with the word over your life! The Greek word rhēma is used in Ephesians 6:17 and calls it the sword of the Spirit! When the enemy comes at you to bring doubt and hinder destiny on your life it is with this rhēma that you combat the devil! When the devil tells you that you will not, and cannot – remind him what the word says. Encourage yourself with the rhēma spoken over your life!

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Ephesians 6:17

4. Take action on the word. Practically speaking, if God has called you to the nations and you don't have a passport – get one! When you receive a word from the Lord, there are certain natural things that you can likely start doing. If you've received a word that you will write a book that will minister to the multitudes, begin seeking the Lord and start writing! The chances are highly unlikely that you will have a case of published books show up on your doorstep if you never take action and start the first chapter. Sure, there are things that must happen in God's timing, but you cannot treat every word like an egg that you just sit on until it hatches. Sometimes we must take action! (Photo via publicdomainpictures)

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. Ecclesiastes 9:10

5. Trust in the timing of the word. Let me be clear that I don't think it's always wise to receive a word and then run full bore the next minute to make it happen yourself. A prophetic word often carries with it an appointed time. When David was anointed king, he still tended the sheep for a season before taking the throne. I believe the Lord was training David during this time.

Do not despise a season of training as God will use it to establish you for where you are going. Be careful to not allow what you may think is a delay to get you discouraged and give up on what the Lord has spoken over you. Trust the Lord and in the timing of His word. He is faithful that spoke over you and is not slack concerning His promise!

So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

If you are faithful to stewarding what God has said to you, it will be a blessing in your life as you watch the word become manifestation. Don't be a word groupie that fails to follow the first instructions and yet run to receive word after word, seeking the immediate thrill, but lacking the longevity that comes with being faithful to what the Lord has said before time. Instead, be like the faithful farmer – tilling, cultivating and watering what has been planted. Watch it grow in you and enjoy the harvest of seeing it come to pass!
 
Blessings!

Jason Tanksley
Impact International Ministries of Bristol, VA
Email: tanksleyjason@gmail.com
Website: www.impactinternationalchurch.com

Jason Tanksley started in ministry after training and serving under his spiritual father Ryan LeStrange. As campus pastors, Jason and his wife Robin, lead Impact International Ministries of Bristol, VA, a growing and thriving revival Hub located in southwest Virginia. Jason has a heart to see purpose and destiny ignited in individuals and to see them burn with revival fire that will transform their families, cities and regions. Jason and his wife Robin have four children and reside in Bristol, VA.

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