Copyright 2012 Theresa Harvard Johnson
The avenues for publishing the Word of God are opening to Father’s apostolic and prophetic mouth-pieces like never before. Hearts are being moved to launch blogs, start social groups, release through social networks, launch email campaigns, push prophetic newsletters, publish magazines, etc. Whether you or I realize it, what you write or release can be key in bringing understanding to the hearts of God’s people concerning a biblical truth.
You see, what starts off as a prophetic word or word of encouragement distributed to a few close friends via email about a coming move of God or what-have-you, could inadvertently end up traveling the Internet circuit — ultimately embarking on a journey of multiplication that extends FAR BEYOND those five or six people you initially sent that email to. We forget sometimes that in the digital world things published on the Internet are never really deleted. There are web archive systems that constantly take pictures of entire websites — saving them by date and storing them on servers years after that website has been taken down. Who knows what systems are capturing emails. Check it out for yourself! One such system is called the “Way Back Machine.” Click the link to try it for yourself. For fun, just type in www.voicesofchrist.org. They have seven years worth of our archives on their server — and its perfectly legal.
It is for this reason that the SERIOUS prophetic writer must begin to listen to sound advice and begin to step beyond their “comfort zone” or even the “way” they’ve been taught to hear from Heaven concerning the delivery of that WRITTEN word. As prophetic people, our “good name” must be guarded. (Proverbs 22:1; Ecclesiastes 7:1)
In this series, we are going to talk about written prophecy — those prophetic words that we are commanded to write in prose or conversational language. We are not dealing with the creative word right now — prophetic song, poetry, spoken word, etc. We are speaking specifically about those prophetic words that say, “Thus saith the Lord or God is saying…”
As a foundation, I want you to consider and study out these things:
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True prophecy is God breathed. It will reflect the Father’s heart AND His mind FOR his bride and the bride-groom. It will be centered in a heart of love — meaning the end result is for people to TURN from their sin and TURN to God. Remember, it is supposed to be God who speaks prophecy — not men. We are simply the instruments through which He chooses to blow.
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Every prophetic word is released to PREPARE a people for a move of God — whether immediate or afar off. One of the main functions of prophecy is that of PREPARATION. It’s intent is to PREPARE YOU for the return of our King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Pick any prophetic word released in the scriptures — (blessings, judgments, warnings, etc.), and you will find this to be true. There’s no one scripture to stand on with this.
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Father desires his people toget understanding. The Lord is not the author of confusion and chaos. His desire is for all of His people to walk in the knowledge and understanding of His ways. This is a foundational truth.
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The word released will line up with what has already been written. By written, we are referring to the literal, the symbolic and the revealed word of the Lord. What He speaks to us IS in there – even by example, principle, etc., and Holy Spirit will guide you directly to it.
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Every prophetic word has an assignment. There is something specific Father targets with each message, and despite what men may think — Father never misses His target when the missile (assignment) goes forth.
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Not every word released is for everyone. There are personal prophecies and corporate prophecies. Corporate prophetic words could be for a family, a group of people, a particular region, a nation, etc. It is imperative that we allow the Lord tell us who that word is for and where it is to be delivered, just like He did with every single priest and prophet in the bible. One of the most magnificent (for lack of a better word to describe it) prophecies that I’ve seen released in the scriptures were the ones to the seven churches.
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All prophecy is subject to judging from other prophets. If you are SCRIBE OF THE KING, this is especially important. I have never seen so many people get offended by correction than those who write — especially apostles and prophets. There is so much confusion and understanding in this area. This is the area I’m going to focus on in this group some this week. When we have our Immersion Mentoring Calls, we’ll take it further.
You see, none of us have arrived into that perfect place of knowing everything! Only Father is all knowing. We are constantly in a place of learning. In truth, this is a fabulous place to be. It is in this place of learning that the scriptures tell us we grow. I have found that so many prophetic writers ARE OFFENDED by the request to BACK UP what they release. It’s as if they believe they are BEYOND this type of guidance.
What’s even worse is that they fall into this “shut down” cycle in which they hide out for fear of correction — instead of stepping out there. So many release things that make NO SENSE whatsoever. People send me websites all the time to look at their writing, and I utterly CRINGE. Why? Because they lack soundness in what they write.
Soundness simply means to “have understanding.” We’ll dig into this more as we walk through this.
You see, when people labor with you… and they get to know your heart for the Lord. As a result, when you release a word you may not need as much support coming behind that word because they KNOW YOUR LABOR IN THE LORD. They trust the foundation of the doctrine you teach. This is why I can pick up the phone and call my pastor right now as a prophet and deliver a word from the Lord. He knows the fruit from the garden in which prophecy is released through me.
A pastor feeding a flock for example, would not necessarily need to give scriptural foundation; spend a great deal of time in prayer before delivering a word, etc. because he or she ALREADY KNOWS the make-up of their flock and how the Lord speaks to them AND that flock knows how the Lord speaks through their pastor.
On the other hand, that same pastor may have to take a different approach when releasing to a group of people at another man’s church or at a conference. He or she may have to take the time to “walk” those saints through the word OR wait for wisdom concerning the delivery.
For those of us CALLED AS SCRIBAL PROPHETS in this this season, we must HEAR FROM HEAVEN not only for the voice of the Lord, but for the way to DELIVER and RELEASE that word. We must hear for the timing of the Lord. We must be sensitive to the PROTOCOLS of the houses we are in when releasing….
We want to do whatever Father instructs to ensure that what He releases enters into the understanding of His people. It’s time, scribes of the King, that we go into the deeper depths of the Chamber of the Scribe to not only pull out those scribal writings, but to grab hold of those administrative and instructional guidelines that will open the door for understanding.
“Not my will Lord, but your will be done…”
