We’re living in the last of the last days—the days that Acts 2 talked about when God said, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy.”
That means prophecy isn’t reserved for a select few; it’s meant for all believers. But over time, the enemy has tried to muzzle the prophetic voice in the Church. During this season of revival, God is taking that muzzle off.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:1, “Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” Prophecy isn’t something to mock or fear—it’s something to desire. Love comes first, but then we pursue the gifts that build up the body of Christ.
When God told Noah to build the ark, He didn’t give a date for the flood—just an instruction. Decades later, He finally said, “Seven days from now I will make the rains pour down.” (Genesis 7:4 NLT)
The same thing happened with Jonah and Nineveh. God said, “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed.” (Jonah 3:4 NLT) No specific date—just a countdown.
We tend to put things on the calendar because that’s how our culture works, but God doesn’t operate on our schedule. Prophecy comes with divine timing, not human planning.
When someone predicts a time and it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t automatically make them a false prophet—it just means they’re still learning. A false prophet is not defined by a wrong timeline, but by their fruit.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:16, “You can identify them by their fruit.” Do they walk in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control? False prophets may operate in spiritual gifts, but their lifestyle betrays them. They resist righteousness and make others comfortable in sin.
That’s what separates a false prophet from someone who’s simply immature in the gift.
When Ananias received a word to go pray for Saul in Acts 9, it wasn’t about predicting the future—it was an instruction for the moment. Prophecy isn’t always foretelling; it’s often forth-telling—revealing God’s will and calling people to action.
1 Corinthians 14:3 says, “One who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.” That’s what real prophecy does—it builds people up, draws them near to God, and comforts them in His presence.
At its core, prophecy is simple—it’s hearing a message from heaven and delivering it on earth. Sometimes it’s a word for the future; sometimes it’s for right now. Either way, it draws people toward God’s plan like a magnet.
You don’t have to make it weird. Once you learn to hear from the Lord, prophecy becomes a natural part of your relationship with Him. It’s just sharing what He’s saying.
Prophecy should strengthen, not discourage. If what someone calls a prophecy leaves people hopeless, it’s not from God—it’s from the enemy. God’s words bring correction, but they also carry a solution. True prophecy helps people grow in faith and unity.
Jonah’s prophecy about Nineveh didn’t come true because the people repented. The same thing happened with King Hezekiah in 2 Kings 20. God told him, “You are going to die,” but when Hezekiah turned to the wall and cried out to God, the Lord extended his life by fifteen years.
Repentance changes outcomes. Even when prophecy announces judgment, God’s heart is mercy. The goal is always restoration, not condemnation.
Prophecy is meant to get you moving. God told Noah to build a boat. He told Saul that he was chosen to preach. Those prophecies pushed them into God’s plan.
I remember years ago when a visiting pastor laid his hand on my shoulder and said, “You’re going to write books, and people are going to read them.” At the time, I hadn’t written anything—but I knew it was a word from God. Today, I’ve written five.
That prophecy moved me to act on what God had already placed in my spirit.
Just because God speaks something doesn’t mean it will happen without your obedience. If Ananias had ignored God, Paul might have remained blind. If I had ignored the word about writing books, those messages never would’ve reached thousands of readers.
Prophecy invites you to partner with God. You still have to take action, whether that’s stepping out, repenting, or simply trusting Him.
1 Corinthians 13:9 says, “Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture.” Every prophecy comes through a human filter, so no one gets it 100% right. That’s why we need each other.
When multiple believers prophesy together, we see more of the full picture. Don’t let fear of getting it wrong stop you. Even if people criticize you, stay humble, keep learning, and don’t let the enemy silence your voice.
Ephesians 4:11 describes the office of the prophet as a leadership gift, but 1 Corinthians 14:1 tells everyone to desire the gift of prophecy. That means you don’t need a title to hear from God.
You can simply make yourself available. When He stirs something in your heart—even just one word—speak it in faith. Most of the time, the rest will flow as you open your mouth. And if you don’t feel that nudge, don’t force it. God doesn’t need performers; He wants listeners who will faithfully deliver His message.
Prophecy is one of the most powerful ways God builds His Church. It’s not spooky or complicated—it’s simply hearing from heaven and sharing it in love. If you’ll pursue love, desire the gifts, and stay humble, you’ll find yourself flowing in the prophetic more naturally than you ever imagined.
