There has recently been a lot of awareness and conversation around some prophetic words that have been released earlier this month. As we process what is taking place it is really important to guard our hearts from being tricked by the enemy as he tries to lure us into his ways of thinking. One of these lures slithers in through the dartings of a Leviathan spirit.
A Leviathan spirit releases a broadcast of twisted thinking to bring an assault against your communication with someone, to disrupt unity amongst believers and to influence us to dishonour one another. It's desire is to steal revelation, kill communication, and destroy relationships, with the ultimate goal of neutralizing our effectiveness of bringing God's love to the world. It does this by bringing confusion, misunderstanding, offense and anger. It will lure you into defending yourself which he then twists to make things even worse.
If you are seeing these signs, it's time to humble yourself, release forgiveness and let love win. These are the keys to winning the battle. As Leviathan "rules over the sons of pride" (Job 41:34) the only way to silence his rampage is through humility and love.
I preface the topic of Discerning Prophecies with this because when disagreements arise in the body of Christ, it is important to not just look for truth but it is also important how we communicate that truth, to be sure we don't "give more place to the devil" (Eph 4:27).
"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and knowledge, and if I have faith to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
"Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease... for we know in part and we prophesy in part..." (1 Cor. 13:2, 8b,9)
"Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy."
(1 Cor 14:1)
We are encouraged to desire God;'s gifts, especially to prophesy, but to pursue it with love. Love is the foundation of all the gifts of the Spirit, and of all we do for the Lord, and it is what will outlast any prophetic message we feel we have heard from the Lord.
So let's get looking at Discerning Prophecies and what is involved.
"Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said." (1Cor 14:29)
In the New Testament, prophecy is expected to be freely released but it is also expected that prophetic words will be weighed carefully. They are to be considered, discerned and tested. Here are some guidelines to discerning prophetic words.
Does it contradict what God's Word clearly teaches?
God's Word is the first and foremost priority of discerning a prophetic word.
"Let God be found true though every man a liar" (Rom. 3:4)
Is there a witness of the Spirit?
"It is the Spirit who testifies because the Spirit is Truth." (1John 5:6)
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth and He will bear witness in our spirit.
Does it manipulate, control or leave you in fear?
"Faith comes from hearing and hearing the Word of God." (Rom. 10:17) The purpose of the Word of God and prophecy is to lead you to God and His wisdom, to encourage your hope and faith, and exhort you and comfort you.
Is Jesus glorified?
"He will take of Mine and disclose it to you." (John 16:14)
Prophecies aren't our words, they are the words of Jesus, revealed by the Holy Spirit and spoken through people. These words should align with who Jesus is, His Truth and His character.
Is there accountability to mature leadership? Do they agree with the Word?
"...taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. "
(Col 2:18b, 19)
Is the word fulfilled? Sometimes there are long time frames between words given and their fulfillment.
"When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him." (Deut 18:22)
It is vital in these days that we grow in maturity in Christ and in righteousness by practicing discernment (Heb 5:14) ; that we personally read the Word of God and know how to discern not just prophecies, but any lies the enemy is trying to camouflage as truth around us or to us, even in our own thoughts.
When Jesus was tempted by satan in the wilderness, He used the Word of God to overcome the temptations and testing every time, even when satan used the scripture back at Him. (read Matthew 4:1-11). We interpret the word of God by the Word of God, looking for His consistent character, principles and truth.
As we learn to discern the voice of God, prophecies, and the battles around us, our main aim and focus is to love the Lord our God with all our heart and our neighbour as ourselves. Our battles are not flesh and blood, they are not against people we don't see eye to eye with. Our battles are spiritual ones. You and I have been created for this day. Christ has made us more than conquerors in Him, and has empowered us to walk by faith in His love and in His truth.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
with all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints," (Eph 6:10-18)
Contributor: Jane Watrich
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