How Can I Operate In The Prophetic? part1

The gifts that are for strengthening, encouragement and comfort of others are for every spirit-filled believer. We are not all called to be prophets, but Paul was clear, he wished that all would prophecy. (1 Corinthians 14:5) Here’s how I started operating in the prophetic.

1. I eagerly desire.

We are told to eagerly desire spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:1, 14:12, 14:39)

If we do not have a strong desire to move out into the operation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, then we will find all kinds of excuses “to hide behind,” so we will not need to step out publicly in the exercising of them. Our desire must become stronger than our excuses!

Rodney Francis “School of the Holy Spirit”

The Father responds to our desires.

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart” (Psalm 37:4, AMP).

Jesus said: “Therefore I say unto you, Whatsoever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them” (Mark 11:24, KJV).

2. I prophesy in faith.

Luke 11:5-13 shows us to be eager in our relationship with God and gives us assurances it is His will to give us what we eagerly desire. This ties directly into faith.

Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.

“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

“You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” Luke 11:5-13 (New Living Translation)

Faith is required to operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. When we fear what others will think, or fear that we may make a mistake we are not walking by faith. When we think it’s not for us to do or not for the church today, we are not walking by faith. When we spend little time in the Word and fail to apply it to our lives, we are not walking by faith.

Faith is understanding what the Word of God says and applying it to our lives in the spirit in which it was said.

Faith is required to make known the thoughts that have been silently given to us by the Spirit. (Romans 12:6)