Encouraging the prophetic

Tales of the Prophets

Why is it that the Church so hates, at least dislikes, the prophetic? Even Jesus said that there is no respect for a prophet in his own town – so it’s not as if I am saying anything new here. I am a prophet and what people don’t realise is that God is willing to talk to us anytime, anywhere, and we can hear from Him continually – if we choose to do so. Anyone can learn to do this – it is not a unique gifting.

A while back, I was with my wife in the middle of a coffee shop in my old home town. My mobile phone rang and it was a friend of mine. He was in a meeting with the leadership team of a church in Copenhagen. “Have you got a word from the Lord for these people?” he asked. I said “Yes”, and immediately gave what I was hearing the Lord say to me. Sound strange? – it’s perfectly normal for people who operate in the prophetic. He then asked me when we had last spoken – about 5 days previously. He asked me that question so that he could show that no communication had taken place between us and that what I had said must have been from the Lord. What I said also confirmed, almost word for word, that which he had told them just 10 minutes previously. The people at the next table to us in the cafe nearly fled – they could hear every word I was saying and the conversation totally spooked them.

There are two points to be made from that story. First – that whatever I said was entirely accurate and the receiving people knew it because I confirmed everything that had been said to them not 10 minutes previously. Secondly, there was no planning whatsoever. In fact I didn’t even know my friend was in Copenhagen and I was certainly not aware who he was with or what his purpose with them was. Yet God instantly gave me the words that He wanted them to hear.

Another time I particularly remember was in Brussels and It was my very first mission trip in October 2007. The church we were visiting held a Friday night ‘banquet’ where all the local druggies, drinkers, homeless, and generally poorer people were invited to a great big feed up. Of course, afterwards was the opportunity to preach the Gospel to them all – the price of their admission if you like. Our leader was invited to speak and, being a prophet, he asked if anyone present wanted a personal word from the Lord. I had seen him do this before in the UK and was amazed by the accuracy of the words he brought to people. This time was to be no different apparently as, of the 400-odd people present, around 300 surged forward in a semi-circular queue. “Hmmm”, I thought, “around 300 words – this could take a time.” He then split the crowd in two and moved half to one side of the hall and the others to the other side. Then he shocked me, “Come on Chris – I’ll take this lot. You take that lot!” I had never done anything like this before – I was scared but I was willing. So I said to the Lord, “OK Lord, you have to help me here.” Only then did I realise that my interpreter was to be the Pastor of the church and he would be listening in to every word I spoke. To cut a longer story short, the Lord gave me a word for every person they put in front of me that night – about 150 of them. I also learned later that the pastor had specially selected some people for me whom he knew to be, as he put it, a bit dodgy. Apparently I picked every one of them out. Now that was God working through me. 150 complete strangers, virtually none of whom even spoke English – and the Lord gave me, one who should have been wearing ‘Learner’ plates, a word for each of them – short sharp and accurate.

Perhaps that is why prophets are not liked or respected in their own town – because they bring words of knowledge and direction to hungry people. Sometimes words that are wanted but sometimes words that are probably not sought and are certainly not particularly welcomed. Also, there is a credibility problem that can only be overcome by accuracy. “Who is this person that they should hear from God and tell us what to do ???” “I haven’t heard from God so I’m not believing whatever he says is from God.” And as they said about Jesus, “Whatever good ever came from that town.” I personally know pastors and leaders who protest loud and long about prophecy being totally untrustworthy, or not for this day, or even that it died out with the apostles. They are scared by prophecy and by prophets in particular – they do not understand them so they do not listen to anything they say.

All I can say to you has to come from my experiences. I am trying hard not to blow my own trumpet because I can do nothing without the Lord working through me. Yet, cracked vessel though I be, He does use me. He will use you too if you are willing – you don’t have to be able as He will do the rest.

Why do I tell about these things? I am trying to build faith in the prophetic. Why would the Lord say any of these things if not to build our faith or if He didn’t mean to act on them?

Just tryin’ to encourage you – that’s all