How and When to Prophesy

How and When to Prophesy

Revelation is often the easy part. Interpretation, application, and timing are the hard part — and where things normally get lost in translation. Not everything God reveals is to be shared in public. Some things are personal — meant to be stored up as treasures, as Mary did. “But Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.” (Luke 2:19 NLT)

Is it From God?

Before getting to the revelation itself, the first question is whether it is from God. Are you reflecting your own circumstances? We need to be aware of our own state and make sure we don’t prophesy from our own point of view.

“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened…” — Matthew 7:8–11 (ESV)

Revelation, Interpretation, Timing, Delivery

Revelation is often just seeing the door. You see a person buying a house and the house falls apart. That doesn’t necessarily mean the house they live in is going to fall apart. It could mean they are about to enter a business venture that is not all it seems.

Interpretation is where lack of maturity has caused a lot of damage and where many people have stopped using this amazing gift. Poor interpretation, or no interpretation at all, can do more damage than good. Once we see the door, we have to knock and walk through it.

Timing is critical. Some revelation is given so that we will pray, or so that God can see if He can trust us with information. Some words are only for leadership. Some are public. Some are private.

Part of maintaining a culture of honour is always submitting to the prophetic culture and administration of the local church or group you are ministering to — regardless of how clear, urgent or radical your revelation may appear. We only see in part. If no guidelines have been defined, ask beforehand what is acceptable and where they are uncomfortable.

Delivery. How you give a word, why you give it, and the motivation behind it are more important than the actual word. We must maintain a culture of honour and protect people’s dignity. Always submit to the prophetic culture and administration of the local church or group you are ministering to — regardless of how clear, urgent or radical your revelation may appear. If no guidelines have been defined, ask beforehand what is acceptable and where they are uncomfortable.

Public, Private, and the Marketplace

We prophesy according to our faith. We need the faith to walk the word through with the person we prophesy for. Don’t prophesy what you are not prepared to walk through with someone, and never try to make it sound grander than you believe it to be. We can’t just give a word and leave a burden for others to carry — take responsibility for what you release.

In the marketplace, prophecy must be sensitive to the culture and setting. Instead of, “God says you are destined to lead this company,” you might say, “I think you have a real gift for inspiring the people around you.”

Corrective Prophecy — When, How, and Almost Never Publicly

Most prophecy in the New Testament is for strengthening, encouraging and comforting. That is the default. But occasionally — rarely — God gives a word that carries correction or warning. The biblical model is Nathan and David (2 Samuel 12). Nathan was already in relationship with David. He was authorised by God. He went privately. And he spoke with great care — beginning with a story, allowing David’s own conscience to do the convicting.

When the Word is Rejected

Your words will get rejected — and this can happen even when you have gone about it in a caring and loving way. Remember: it is actually God’s word, not yours. If a word is important or strategic, there will be others confirming or giving similar words. If all communication is rejected, they are rejecting God, not you — and it is His problem, not yours. We need to be aware of even the subtlest efforts to keep a word alive. Once given, let it go. God brings it to life and doesn’t need our help. Our responsibility is to support the leadership team we are submitted to, to encourage and be a blessing, and to make sure those we have been in contact with are comforted. To avoid taking offence, it helps to see yourself as having no rights — only blessings that you give thanks to God for.

“They have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.” — 1 Samuel 8:7 (ESV)

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