School of the Holy Spirit: How to Respond to a Prophetic Word

March 26th, 2025 @ 6:00 pm
How to Respond to Prophecy:

When a prophet is used to give personal words of prophecy it is to speak God’s purpose and plan for our life. A prophet is used in 3 or more gifts of the Holy Spirit found in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

I Corinthians 12:1 NKJ - 1 ¶ Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Simple Prophesy is the anointed speaking forth of words of edification, exhortation, or comfort to the church, individual, family or group in a known language that is supernaturally given by the Holy Spirit without human thinking. 1 Cor. 14:3

Simple prophesy is for:

I Corinthians 14:3-5 NKJ - 1 ¶ Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

Divers or different kinds of tongues + interpretation of tongues = Prophecies

Divers (different) Kinds of Tongues - Supernatural utterance by the Holy Ghost in languages never learned by the speaker, nor understood by the mind of the speaker, nor necessarily understood by the mind of the hearer.

Interpretation of Tongues - Supernatural words in the known tongue telling the meaning of a message in tongues

Prophesy is a supernatural revelation of the mind of God, concerning facts or events about the present or past.

Prophesies may contain a Word of knowledge, a Word of wisdom, or another gift of the Spirit.

Word of Knowledge - supernatural revelation of the mind and purpose of God regarding the past or present.

Word of Wisdom - supernatural revelation of the mind and purpose of God regarding the future. It also may give answers to perplexing problems.

Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. (1 Thessalonians 5:19, 20 KJV)

When a prophesy is given we should not take it lightly if our spirit bears witness that this is truly a Word from the Lord. We shouldn't ignore it any more than we ignore the written Word. Ever true prophesy will line up with the Word.

I Timothy 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

Charge - Outline of Biblical Usage:
1. announcement, a proclaiming or giving a message to
2. a charge, a command
KJV Translation Count: 5 Total commandment (2x), charge (2x), straitly (1x)

War - Outline of Biblical Usage:
1. to make a military expedition, to lead soldiers to war or to battle, (spoken of a commander)
2. to do military duty, be on active service, be a soldier
3. to fight

KJV Translation Count: 7 Total war (5x), goeth a warfare (1x), soldier (1x)

2 Corinthians 10:3 - For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

God has given each of you His Words for your lives. Like Paul told Timothy it’s up to each of you to war over the Words God has given to you by the Holy Spirit.

How to Respond to Prophesy

1. Write or type out the Word you received. (Habakkuk 2:2-3)

2. Every day meditate and speak them over yourselves.
(I Timothy 1:18, I Timothy 4:14-15, Proverbs 18:20, Job 22:28)

3. Stay in the Word of God every day. Ask God to open your eyes to behold wonderful things from His Word as you read (Psalm 119:18).
(Psalm 19:7-11, Proverbs 4:20-23)

4. Get training - remembering that most prophecies will not happen overnight.
(Hebrews 13:7, 2 Timothy 2:15)
In the natural it’s like someone wanting to be an engineer.
- First they go to preschool and then through college.
- They continue to keep learning about their profession.
We never quit learning.

5. Don’t Give Up. (Galatians 6:9, 2 Chronicles 15:7, Joshua 1:7-9)