From the desk of Steve Shultz:
Being a prophetic ministry, we've been asked many "prophetic" questions from our readers over the years. These questions range from simple questions on how to hear God's voice to how to enter into the deep revelatory realms of God. From time-to-time, I've answered some of the most commonly asked questions from readers. A few of those questions and answers are featured below.
If you haven't heard, we started a new membership club called the "Platinum Prophetic Club." It's a place where I get to interact with members and sow into their lives by sharing prophetic insight and praying for them, plus you get discounts on your purchases in our online store, and more. To find out more about this exclusive club and to sign up click here.
Also, don't forget to join us for our annual conference "What is God Saying for 2010?" which will be on January 7-9, 2010 in Albany, Oregon. Our speakers will be: Chuck D. Pierce, Dutch Sheets, Kimberly Daniels, Denny Cline and myself. Believe me, you won't want to miss out on what God is saying for 2010! Click here for more info.
First, here are a couple of great prophetic resources by yours truly and by purchasing them, you'll be sowing into this ministry:
Debugging the Prophetic
with Steve Shultz
Q. People say, "You're just as close to God as you want to be." So if I'm not really intimate with Him, it's all, my fault—because I must not want to be close to Him. Is that right? And, if I'm not close to God, I can't hear Him or prophesy for Him, right?
A. Again, this is another common saying—another good-sounding statement made by the Church, of which we are all a part (and which we love)—yet this statement is without support in Scripture. In fact, in the Bible, the Apostle Paul, toward the end of his ministry said just the opposite:
"For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing…"—Romans 7:19
Paul discerned that after many years of serving God, he still had to depend on the Blood of Jesus, because even with Christ living inside him, he—Paul—could not be good enough—or as close to God as he wanted to be.
As an encouragement to you, you should press on into Holiness, but nevertheless realize something. Just a few verses later than what I just quoted, Paul penned the famous Scripture:
"Therefore, [because of the above] there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."—Romans 8:1-2
Q. I was taught by a prophet that although everyone can prophesy, not everyone is a prophet (or holds the office of prophet)—therefore they say only a prophet can give correction or warning. Is this true?
A. There are a number of things taught as being Scriptural that are implied truths, but are not necessarily "taught" outright in the Word.
In I Corinthians, some of the richest teachings on the subject are available. There are a few other places, but here is a significant portion where people get their information.
"...in the Church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help
others..."
—1 Corinthians 12:28 [emphasis added]
Yet just a few verses later, it says:
"Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort."—1 Corinthians 14:1-3 [emphasis added]
Among these two short passages, written in the same letter only sentences apart, many in the Church have decided that some have the "office" of prophet, but others can only prophesy and they should eagerly desire to do that. (The King James Version in 1 Corinthians 12:31 says we should covet to prophesy.)
Let me say that both COULD be true—that is, there COULD be the office of prophet while others can only prophesy. I'm here to tell you though, this doesn't seem to be provable by Scripture—nevertheless, at best, it's just inferred.
Personally, here's how I operate: I have people that from time to time, come into my life who claim to speak for God. If they keep showing that they know the secrets of my heart and the secrets about my life, and they serve Jesus Christ, then I give them the right to speak into my life prophetically, both in encouragement and also in correction.
Revelation is revelation—whether someone claims the "office" or simply the "gift" of prophecy.
Said another way—or said again—the Scripture doesn't say that one person has the office of prophet while another can only prophesy. There is only an inference.
So I do as the Bible says: if someone prophesies and is generally encouraging to me according to 1 Corinthians 14:3, then when I need real correction and the same person feels led to correct me (and there is a history of gentle correction with grace from this same person) I allow that kind of prophecy or prophesying too.
Q. What makes God choose one person over another to become a Prophet? And what can I do to make this happen for me?
A. I get this question a lot. And by the way, I still ask the question a lot to the Lord—so you're in good company! I know people who, from the time they were children were constantly caught up to be with Christ and see heavenly things. Some of those people, later in life, went into a terrible life of sin before repenting. Others were kept pure all along.
The Scripture tells how HE decides:
"All these [gifts, achievements, abilities] are inspired and brought to pass by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually [exactly] as He chooses."—1 Corinthians 12:11 AMP
In other words, HE, the Holy Spirit, does whatever HE wants to do.
But as always, there are two sides to every story. When it comes to prophecy, apparently, even if you can't choose to be caught up at will into heavenly places, you CAN earnestly desire to prophesy—the King James version even commands you to "covet to prophesy." It seems to be the only gift we are actually commanded to, and are blessed by God if we do, covet it.
"Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order."
—1 Corinthians 14:39-40 KJV [emphasis added]
It's not often that you hear the command by God, "Covet to prophesy," preached as being connected with "let all things be done decently and in order." Apparently, you can do both at the same time—covet to prophesy (God would not tell you to covet what you could not have), while at the same time being decent and orderly.
In my own case, I was taught that I could learn to covet prophecy, and then I could learn to prophesy at will. So, I took training in that area, and then, after practice, I just started prophesying—and guess what? It worked.
The good news is that with practice you can learn to prophesy whenever you want. So keep practicing!
Steve Shultz, Founder and Publisher
The ElijahList and Breaking Christian News
http://www.elijahlist.com
