Can we prophesy anytime, anywhere? Should we only speak if God has put an “unction” in us at a particular place and time for a specific scenario? What about those people that seem to give prophecies out all of the time?
Some teach that you cannot tap into something like words of knowledge just anytime or anywhere. Chuck Smith talks about words of knowledge in the Blue Letter Bible (https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/smith_chuck/HolySpirit/hs_15.cfm), he is talking about Elisha’s words In 2 Kings 5, and 2 Kings 6. Chuck says “But the word of knowledge, or this gift, is not a reservoir of knowledge that you can just tap into at any time that you desire it. It is a gift of God. It often comes at unexpected times and many times without your even realizing that what you are saying is indeed a word of knowledge from God.”
Others teach that you can prophesy anytime: This is from the Grove church (https://www.grovecommunitychurch.com/prophecy)
“With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:1-4 there was a big paradigm shift for the church. In the old covenant, a person could only prophesy when the Holy Spirit rested upon them. When the Holy Spirit left them, they were no longer able to prophesy. Under the new covenant, the Holy Spirit not only lives in us, but he also abides on us for all of eternity. This allows any believer to prophesy anytime and anywhere. Peter understood this and quoted Joel 2:28-32 to show the shift that happened”
In that article they point out scriptures on the prophetic, and bring up Joel which actually begins by saying “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.”
“Acts 2:17-18 – Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days: and they shall prophesy.”
1 Cor. 14:1 – “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”
1 Cor. 14:5 – “I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied.”
1 Cor. 14:12 – “Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification (Prophecy, see 1 Cor. 14:3) of the church that you seek to excel.”
1 Cor. 14:31- “For you can all prophesy one by one…”
From <https://www.grovecommunitychurch.com/prophecy>
I do see that words of knowledge may be a bit different than an encouraging prophetic word. Telling someone that their right shoulder is in pain from a football injury their senior year of college is very specific, and on the other hand a prophetic word that God has given a man a “deep heart” may be in different categories. I do believe God gives specific words for specific times. I think all of us have experienced that (“all of us” that have been seeking things of the Spirit I mean). You know that something is for this moment. I have also experienced times where I get a more general word that is encouraging. In my mind I feel like it’s “cookie cutter” or like something from a fortune cookie. I’ve hesitated in the past because something is so simple or “generic” sounding, but I’ve found that when I deliver it to the person the can be strongly affected by it. If something is from the Lord then He works with it as He sees fit.
From my perspective, I have seen and experienced God move in me, and in others, to give prophetic words to each person in a particular scenario. I remember a large group of young ladies at a coffee shop. I had words for a couple of them and then prayed and asked God for words for the rest of them. I believe the girls were touched, and that seeds were planted in the of hope and encouragement.
My mode of operation is that I want to learn and grow, so I take chances and risks to give people what I am hearing. Sometimes I sense it’s specific to an issue (e.g. “You injured your right shoulder in a football game in 2008), more often it’s a general concept that I could have given them anytime (e.g. you have a deep heart). Normally I pray and ask God about the person, and when I get something I ask if it’s something for me to share with them. If it is something to share then I do.
My final opinion is that I think it’s both. God gives specific words for specific times/places. I also believe God gives words that are generally good for anytime. I also believe you can hear from God for anyone, anytime. I don’t force a word, I don’t make up prophecies, but with instances such as the group of girls at the coffee shop I believe what He gave me was true and something each girl needed to hear.
Photo by Alexis Brown on Unsplash
