Session 5 of 9
Intimacy, character, and the four phases of growth.
The prophetic is not as much about ministry as it is about your lifestyle — your relationship and intimacy with God, and with the body. Out of intimacy comes revelation. Increased intimacy and time with God will always result in increased revelation.
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” — John 15:7 (ESV)
God likes to hear from us. He likes to talk to us. If you desire and treasure pillow talk, God will trust you with weightier things. He does not want people who are only interested in what He has to say if it is world-changing. He wants people who hang on His every word — because even the smallest thing He reveals about a grain of sand is profound and reveals His nature. Out of intimacy comes revelation. From pillow talk comes profound talk.
“Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.” — Psalm 42:7 (ESV)
Don’t ask God if you are not totally committed to do what He says, the way He says, at the time He says. He is not one of many advisors. He is the Advisor — the Source of all truth. He is love, He is truth, He is life, and nothing exists outside of Him. He is omnipresent, never caught by surprise, and can always be fully trusted.
We naturally want to view things from the world’s point of view — looking up to heaven, getting an earthly perspective. We need to learn the reverse: to view things from heaven looking down to earth, putting earth in heaven’s perspective. We need to get heaven’s view — to see and hear as God does, not through the filter of our own circumstances.
We have spoken much of love. Love is the blade. Love is the motivation. Love is the weapon. But love has a companion that the prophetic cannot do without — the fear of the Lord.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” — Proverbs 9:10 (ESV)
The fear of the Lord is not being afraid of God. It is the awe-filled awareness of who He is — His holiness, His authority, His weight, His glory. It is the trembling reverence that knows we are speaking on behalf of the One who spoke galaxies into being.
Impartation can happen through laying on of hands, through spending time in a prophetic atmosphere, or simply through spending time in His presence. Be prepared: to get it wrong; to be rejected; to do something that seems silly; to remain in submission regardless; to change gradually as God prepares you for what He has called you to.
The greater the calling and gifting, the greater the character and maturity required. Moses never reached the Promised Land. He got the how wrong — he struck the rock instead of speaking to it, and used the moment to vent personal frustration instead of sanctifying God in front of Israel (Numbers 20:6–12).
Other character areas to watch:
Anger. “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19–20) Prophetic people can become frustrated through not being taken seriously. If not addressed, frustration leads to anger — which should be in neither our delivery nor our character.
Bitterness. “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.” (Hebrews 12:15) There will be many opportunities to become bitter toward those we are called to serve. To overcome bitterness, view everything as a blessing, not a right. Saul’s bitterness toward David opened a door for an evil spirit to torment him. David, by contrast, mourned Saul’s death even after years of pursuit — he saw Saul as God’s anointed, not as his persecutor (1 Samuel 18:8–9).
Rejection. We will be rejected. Unhealed rejection leads to a fear of future rejection that will impair your ability to deliver a word. David worked through rejection by pouring his heart out to God — you can read it in the Psalms. Saul wanted to please people more than obey God, and jealousy over David’s acceptance consumed him (1 Samuel 18:8–9). He focused more on persecuting David than on the gifts and kingdom God had given him.
Frustration can drive us to take matters into our own hands, which is dangerous. Our view becomes subjective and biased. We need to remain submitted, leverage accountable relationships for an objective perspective, and deal with any character issues that have surfaced.
Recognition tests our character — specifically how we react to it. Do we see it as a chance to self-promote, or are we willing to trust God to promote us when we are ready? Only the latter is sustainable. Kris Vallotton describes the difference between anointing and mantle this way: anointing is given to a person; a mantle is given to a mission. The mantle stays with the mission; the anointing stays with the person.
Favour comes from intimacy, obedience and faithfulness. It is not to be confused with our position in Christ, which never changes — we are always sons and daughters, our position secure regardless of the favour we experience. With increased favour comes increased responsibility and increased spheres of influence. Operate in the sphere God has given you; don’t try to extend it before He does. John the Baptist and Jesus had different mantles and different messages, but both served the same Kingdom — and John contributed to Jesus’ mission without seeking any recognition for it.
Look at where the great prophetic books were written. Jeremiah — during the destruction of Jerusalem. Ezekiel — in exile by the river Chebar. Daniel — in Babylon. John — exiled to Patmos. The prophetic voice often speaks loudest in seasons of difficulty, exile, and decline.
This is pastorally important for British Christians today. The post-Christian West is not a hostile environment for the prophetic — it is an ideal one. We are called to be Daniels, Esthers, Mordecais — people who hear God clearly in palaces, gates, and exile alike, and speak His word with both courage and grace.
This plan follows Session 5 — intimacy as the source of revelation, the fear of the Lord, character, and the prophetic voice in seasons of difficulty. Each day pairs scriptures cited in the teaching with passages that deepen the same theme.
From the session referenced in the teaching · Suggested added to deepen the theme
Abiding in Him is the source of everything.
The awe-filled companion to love.
The greater the calling, the greater the maturity required.
Humility lifts God up, never self.
The prophetic often speaks loudest in seasons of decline.
Read the passage unhurried. Then sit quietly, let the noise of the world settle, and journal anything that comes — a word, a picture, an impression — and date it. Over weeks and months, patterns emerge that you would never see otherwise. Test everything you receive against Scripture.
Each scripture link opens in a new tab — so you can read the passage and return here without losing your place in the session.
“Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.”— 1 Thessalonians 5:20–21