Speak Lord, Hearing the Voice of God

May 31^st 2026

1 John 4:1–6, Acts 17:11; 1 Corinthians 14:1

Introduction

Pursue the Gifts of Spirit, Especially Prophecy, Listen, Discern and Obey

1. Pursue the Gift of Prophecy

“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” This is an exhortation, an imperative, a command not merely a statement of fact! All Christians are responsible to earnestly desire and seek after the gift of prophecy!

Prophecy is the revelatory work of the Spirit. It is the communication of something the Holy Spirit has ‘revealed’ to a person. Prophecy is the human report of a divine revelation. This is what distinguishes prophecy from teaching. Teaching is always based on a text from Scripture. Prophecy is always based on a spontaneous revelation.

Some prophetic utterances have foretelling the future (Agabus in Acts 11:27,28), most prophetic utterances entail forthtelling something pertaining to the present experience of another believer.

1. Delivering a Prophetic Word

Here are some practical guidelines for delivering a prophetic word! Most important is that we give prophetic words with HUMILITY! There is nothing special about us, we are simply bringing a word of encouragement to our brother or sister. We are not a special prophet bringing an infallible word, but an instrument of God faithfully using His gift!

Also, very important that we avoid dramatic pronouncements such as, ‘Thus saith the Lord’ or ‘This is the word of the Lord for your life’ or ‘God specifically told me to tell you that you should…’

Here are some phrases that will help in giving prophetic words: “I have a strong inner impression that I believe is from the Lord”; “I have a picture in my mind that I think may be for someone here.” Or “I have a sense that the Holy Spirit wants to encourage you…”

Some prophetic words may be highly symbolic and require extensive prayer and investigation. People should not be made to feel guilty if the respond with less than immediate and whole-hearted affirmation.

• Receiving a Prophetic Word

“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything…”

1 Thessalonians 5:19-21a

1. Test the Message

Not every voice is God’s voice. Scripture gives us tests for discernment. If it contradicts Scripture, it’s not God. All prophetic words must be in absolute conformity with Scripture!

Prophetic words never create new doctrine; contrary to Scripture; independent from Jesus and never detached from the local church! God’s voice magnifies Jesus; conforms us to His image and never flatters the flesh.

2. Test the Fruit

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-2)

Prophetic words are given to edify or build up (1 Cor. 14:3). We must ask does it build up, strengthen, encourage or create disunity, fear, doubt or despair. It must pass the test of love (1 Cor. 13). Does it produce: Humility?; Obedience?; Love?; Holiness?

3. Test the Focus

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.” 1 John 4:1-3

Does it exalt Jesus? Does this prophetic word seem to be motivated by selfishness and a grab for power and prestige on the part of the person speaking the word, or does it come across as selfless and designed to bless and encourage the one to who it is addressed?

1. Conclusion

Just because there can be and are abuses doesn’t negate the command to pursue the gift of prophecy. We just need to walk in humility, accountability and love. The goal is to grow in this gift. When we ‘miss it’ we humble ourselves and learn from it and grow!