Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long.
But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.
I hear many whispering, "Terror on every side! Report him! Let's report him!" All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, "Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him."
But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten.
In this segment of Jeremiah, 20:8-11, we see here what it means to be trained as a vessel for God to speak through. We see the hardships and humblings involved, and we see how God's passion burns within as He makes His will known. We see the development and training of a prophet.
Now in the Old Testament, true prophets were sometimes rare. And everyone knew when someone was blessed by God with the gift of hearing from Him. So God spoke to a few as He willed.
Now Jesus has come for us, and it's time to remember the Lord and remember His benefits (Psalms 103:2). Every saved and filled person can be prophetic. We may not all be prophets--there's a lot of responsibility that comes with that title--but we can all be prophetic. We can all hear from God in a way that overshadows our own knowledge. We can all receive a heavenly revelation that points to Christ. We can all receive this gift and learn from the Giver how to best use it.
"For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged..."
1 Corinthians 14:31
"...Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus."
Revelation 19:10
This is our New Testament identity, and this is our New Testament ability, if we are abiding in Jesus. Every one of us can be used by God to supernaturally know His will.
And this is a training process. It may just require steps! Samuel, Elijah and Elisa had their schools of the Prophets. If there's a school, then it follows that there is a progressive learning involved! Many today call it the school of the Holy Spirit. I think that's a good term. Here are some steps involved in this learning. They may or may not be in order according to your own experience--God is dynamic and speaks to us all in ways we can best understand! The point is that God usually takes the gifting from step to step:
1) Reading the Word. This is where it all starts. We are nourished and transformed by the Truth. (Romans 10:17 relates to steps 1-3)
2) Hearing God through the Word. God typically will speak to you about yourself--your own identity, inheritance, and importance to Him--before He will speak to you about others or your own shortcomings. He brings you to the potter's house, and usually confirms you before the shaping begins. (Jeremiah 18) He may make a certain scripture passage jump out at you, or have a Christian friend share with you a verse that He's laid on their hearts. And the Lord will also develop within you that still, small voice that comes through the Word (1 Kings 19:12).
3) Acquiring Faith. Faith comes by hearing! And the more faith you have, the better you hear, and the more that you can hear. That's why we only prophecy according to our measure of faith (Romans 12:6). In general, God will only tell you what you have faith to accept. But the one who can accept a word from God--a personal, specific message--should accept it! (Matthew 19:12) I've heard people say that before God speaks through a prophet, He speaks to a prophet. Yes! Generally speaking, at least.
4) Internal work develops more and more. We grow in faith, and we grow in hearing. It's a cycle of teaching that the Holy Spirit takes us on. We see God confirm His Word, and that reassures us that we're hearing from Him. We see Him tell us something, and then we see it come to pass (Isaiah 55:11). And when He tells us something, it may just test us (Psalms 105:19). We may think it is impossible, or that we're just hearing our own imagination, but then God comes and confirms it. And that builds faith!
I remember once that the Lord told me He was sending me to kids from Kansas city--kids who would later come to know God and His salvation. And I thought He meant I was actually going there--literally traveling to KC to follow God's voice. But within two weeks, I was ministering at the Hospital and met a guy my age who was from Kansas city. He needed a ride to the hotel he was staying at, and the Lord also healed Him of the pain He originally went to the hospital for. So, we also learn to not be presumptuous with hearing and acting on god's voice.
5) We know God's Will. In one area or another, He shows us His will and His plans. He may tell us. He may show us. (Job 33:14-15) He may allow us to just know by having His mind on an issue (). But He will reveal to us things unknowable--He will give us insight into His plans.
6) We share God's voice with others. By this point in time, we know it's Him--we have the faith that comes by hearing. We are His sheep, and so we are now able to really discern and trust in His voice. (1 Corinthians 2:16) So He instructs us to share it--share the message He's given us. This part can be very difficult sometimes. And more often than not, God wants us to share. And His love compels us to (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). If gentle promptings fail, then His word becomes a fire. So we release it then! We choose to please God. We choose to encourage and exhort others in the faith. We choose to get away from ourselves and share.
And there you have it--some typical steps to prophetic training! The cost may be high, but the cost is worth it. There is so much satisfaction in helping yourself and others attain to God's perfect will. It is so precious to be in tune and one with God. There is so much value in the gift, because there is even greater value in the Giver. There is so much importance in knowing God's heart.
"Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy." 1 Corinthians 12:31
But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.
I hear many whispering, "Terror on every side! Report him! Let's report him!" All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, "Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him."
But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten.
In this segment of Jeremiah, 20:8-11, we see here what it means to be trained as a vessel for God to speak through. We see the hardships and humblings involved, and we see how God's passion burns within as He makes His will known. We see the development and training of a prophet.
Now in the Old Testament, true prophets were sometimes rare. And everyone knew when someone was blessed by God with the gift of hearing from Him. So God spoke to a few as He willed.
Now Jesus has come for us, and it's time to remember the Lord and remember His benefits (Psalms 103:2). Every saved and filled person can be prophetic. We may not all be prophets--there's a lot of responsibility that comes with that title--but we can all be prophetic. We can all hear from God in a way that overshadows our own knowledge. We can all receive a heavenly revelation that points to Christ. We can all receive this gift and learn from the Giver how to best use it.
"For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged..."
1 Corinthians 14:31
"...Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus."
Revelation 19:10
This is our New Testament identity, and this is our New Testament ability, if we are abiding in Jesus. Every one of us can be used by God to supernaturally know His will.
And this is a training process. It may just require steps! Samuel, Elijah and Elisa had their schools of the Prophets. If there's a school, then it follows that there is a progressive learning involved! Many today call it the school of the Holy Spirit. I think that's a good term. Here are some steps involved in this learning. They may or may not be in order according to your own experience--God is dynamic and speaks to us all in ways we can best understand! The point is that God usually takes the gifting from step to step:
1) Reading the Word. This is where it all starts. We are nourished and transformed by the Truth. (Romans 10:17 relates to steps 1-3)
2) Hearing God through the Word. God typically will speak to you about yourself--your own identity, inheritance, and importance to Him--before He will speak to you about others or your own shortcomings. He brings you to the potter's house, and usually confirms you before the shaping begins. (Jeremiah 18) He may make a certain scripture passage jump out at you, or have a Christian friend share with you a verse that He's laid on their hearts. And the Lord will also develop within you that still, small voice that comes through the Word (1 Kings 19:12).
3) Acquiring Faith. Faith comes by hearing! And the more faith you have, the better you hear, and the more that you can hear. That's why we only prophecy according to our measure of faith (Romans 12:6). In general, God will only tell you what you have faith to accept. But the one who can accept a word from God--a personal, specific message--should accept it! (Matthew 19:12) I've heard people say that before God speaks through a prophet, He speaks to a prophet. Yes! Generally speaking, at least.
4) Internal work develops more and more. We grow in faith, and we grow in hearing. It's a cycle of teaching that the Holy Spirit takes us on. We see God confirm His Word, and that reassures us that we're hearing from Him. We see Him tell us something, and then we see it come to pass (Isaiah 55:11). And when He tells us something, it may just test us (Psalms 105:19). We may think it is impossible, or that we're just hearing our own imagination, but then God comes and confirms it. And that builds faith!
I remember once that the Lord told me He was sending me to kids from Kansas city--kids who would later come to know God and His salvation. And I thought He meant I was actually going there--literally traveling to KC to follow God's voice. But within two weeks, I was ministering at the Hospital and met a guy my age who was from Kansas city. He needed a ride to the hotel he was staying at, and the Lord also healed Him of the pain He originally went to the hospital for. So, we also learn to not be presumptuous with hearing and acting on god's voice.
5) We know God's Will. In one area or another, He shows us His will and His plans. He may tell us. He may show us. (Job 33:14-15) He may allow us to just know by having His mind on an issue (). But He will reveal to us things unknowable--He will give us insight into His plans.
6) We share God's voice with others. By this point in time, we know it's Him--we have the faith that comes by hearing. We are His sheep, and so we are now able to really discern and trust in His voice. (1 Corinthians 2:16) So He instructs us to share it--share the message He's given us. This part can be very difficult sometimes. And more often than not, God wants us to share. And His love compels us to (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). If gentle promptings fail, then His word becomes a fire. So we release it then! We choose to please God. We choose to encourage and exhort others in the faith. We choose to get away from ourselves and share.
And there you have it--some typical steps to prophetic training! The cost may be high, but the cost is worth it. There is so much satisfaction in helping yourself and others attain to God's perfect will. It is so precious to be in tune and one with God. There is so much value in the gift, because there is even greater value in the Giver. There is so much importance in knowing God's heart.
"Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy." 1 Corinthians 12:31
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