MY ATTITUDE TO PROPHECY

As a Christian who believes in prophecies, there is a mindset and attitude that must be worn if the prophetic word must come to pass. This truth is however absent in some clime, they believe there is no need for a response from the one to which the word was given.

In our previous publication titled ‘WHAT PROPHECIES MUST DO’, we hinted that God speaks based on His sovereignty and prophetic words like this would be fulfilled whether we align or not. Here is the wisdom of God; in the day of the fulfillment of the sovereign prophetic word, God would raise a people for Himself and upon their cooperation, such word would be fulfilled (Psalms 110:3). An example of such prophetic word is about the birth of Christ in Isaiah 9:6–7. In the day when this word would be fulfilled, there was a Mary and a Joseph whom God had raised for the actualization of the word. There were also Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:25–38).

Similarly, when God’s word comes to us as individuals, it is expedient for us to partner with God so that such a word may be fulfilled in our time. If we do not do our part and such word aren’t fulfilled, we are quick to dismiss the legality and the authenticity of the prophetic word. At other times, we put a time frame on God’s word and expect Him to fulfill it according to our own time. We’ve forgotten that He makes all things beautiful in HIS OWN TIME (Ecclesiastes 3:11 KJV).

What then should be our attitude after receiving the prophetic word?

1 Timothy 1:18–20 (NLT) says “Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles. Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God.”

In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, he admonished him on the role of faith and good conscience in his fight to see the prophetic word fulfilled.

1. Faith. In one of our publications titled “PROPHECY AND FAITH”, we wrote on the place of faith both in the person giving the prophetic word and the person receiving it. Faith is of utmost importance. If you lose faith, you become unreceptive to the working power of the word. Note that the word doesn’t lose its capacity to deliver, you are the one who loses the capacity to receive.
2. The other important attitude that we must have is a good conscience. In this context, a good conscience refers to a state of the mind that is at peace knowing it has done what is required. Prayer and obedience to prophetic instructions are important requirements that bring the mind to that state of peace. Paul went on to explain that the consequence of a violated conscience is destroyed faith and blaspheme soon ensues from such persons. You soon hear from such people statements like this; ‘God is a failure, He disappoints, He is not faithful to His word’, ‘whatever they do in church is all lie’, and ‘if God is alive, why then did my mother die?’ They say all manner of blasphemy and do not see how or where they failed to do what was their responsibility to ensure fulfillment of the prophetic word.

I am reminded of a man who had prayed that God should supply His financial need of $2000 and God told him that the provision wouldn’t exceed that day. The man went on rejoicing and trusting God. Then he met another man in a program who gave him a book indicating that God had instructed him to gift him the book. The man got home and the day ended without the $2000. Although dejected he couldn’t blaspheme God and he kept the book on his shelf.

Six months later, he picked the book to read. As he flipped through, a Check of $2500 dropped. In an instant, he remembered the whole occurrence. Now, the date to cash in was passed. He rushed to pick up his cell and ring the man who gave him the book. After a while on the phone, the giver replied, ‘I wish I could rewrite the Check but I am not so financially buoyant right now.’

This above story always reminds me about my responsibility in receiving from God. Are you always reminded?

Adesoji Fasanya

Team Lead, Eden House