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Chapter Five – The Prophet and The Prophetic by Pastor Roddie Nelson

 “The educational system of a country is worthless unless it [revolutionizes the social order].  Men of scholarship, and prophetic insight, must show us the right way and lead us into light which is shining brighter and brighter.” – Carter G. Woodson

 What Is the Prophetic?

To define the prophetic in a word or phrase is difficult because the prophetic is so vast in its application.  In my experience I have found that to simplify things, I define them  based on how they operate through me so when I give a definition it is my own understanding of the word as it functions through me.

The word prophecy itself has several meanings.  For instance it can be defined as foretelling, or the ability to tell the future.  Another definition is a divine utterance given by a prophet.  Both of these are accurate descriptions; however, there remains a question.  Can only prophets give heavenly utterances and are those utterances always about the future?  As we discussed in Chapter one, when we come into the realm of eternity we don’t just operate from a future standpoint.  When we see from a divine perspective we see past, present, and future.

“If I live in the heavenly realms, in the heavenly places, everything I touch will become spiritual, vital, purified, and eternal.” (Wigglesworth)

 In I Corinthians 12 we have listed the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Of those nine, four are specifically  connected to the prophetic.  The word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, prophecy, and discerning of spirits.  Briefly lets discuss each one and then after I will give an example of how they flow together.

Word of knowledge- This is when someone under the influence of the Holy Spirit receives knowledge or information concerning a person, place or thing.  God is Omniscient which is infinite knowledge or an unlimited knowledge.  God has all information and sometime He chooses to disclose that information to us.

Word of wisdom –When this takes place a person is given a divine plan of action concerning an issue.  The Holy Spirit enables someone to receive direction, understanding, or wisdom in a particular area.

Prophecy – This is the ability to speak under divine inspiration the heart and mind of the Lord. 

Discerning of spirits – This is the ability to distinguish the motives and influences controlling individuals and circumstances.

Many times the Lord will use multiple spiritual gifts to get His point across.  I cannot tell of the number of times people have said to me; “How did you know that about me.”  The truth is I had no idea prior to the Lord showing me of anything concerning their life.  I had a lady tell me that I was “all up in her junk.”  She said she thought I was going to tell her what flavor of Kool-Aid she liked to drink.  The Lord reveals a word of knowledge not to expose someone, but sometimes to release another gift so they can receive what they need.  I will give you an extreme example.  I was invited to do an Apostolic and Prophetic conference for a church.  When we arrived to the city we were preparing to have a meal with the mayor of the city.  The first person that I get introduced to was a beautiful young woman.  She was very lovely to look at.  She had a very gentle spirit and I felt an attraction toward her.  Let me make clear that the attraction was not physical but spiritual.  We engaged in a conversation and I began to tell her about my wife and children and she told me a little about her background.  During the meetings the Lord revealed to me something that shocked me.  He gave me a word of knowledge concerning her.  He told me that she had been a prostitute before receiving salvation.  She had since quit the practice, but her past was such a burden.  I did not reveal this in the open because this would have been devastating to her as well as to the members of the church.  I was not sure how to handle the information, but at the right time I was able to reveal to her along with her pastors what the Lord had showed me, but that she needed to understand that when He looked at her, He did not see her as a prostitute, but as His daughter and that He loved her and as far as He was concerned, she was pure.  Tears filled her eyes and rolled down her face as the Lord ministered inner healing to her.  The Lord gave the word of knowledge in order to release the word of prophecy that broke the heavy yoke of burden off this daughter of Zion.

I had a man come to me toward the end of a meeting.  He was an executive.  He never had been to this particular church before but he had heard that a Prophet of the Lord was there so he came to see what was going on.  I walked up to him and as soon as I saw him, the Spirit said to me that He had a major business decision that he had to make the next morning and that he thought he had made the right decision.  I told him that the decision that was before him was ordained by God and that the Lord had instructed him to move away and establish his business in another nation.  He had not even told his wife yet.  This was a word of knowledge and a word of wisdom.  The Holy Spirit gave me the information and then He gave me the wisdom and direction for that man.  He left there with an answer that came from the heart of God.

The prophetic is the ability to hear from heaven and change earth.

The Bible says in I Corinthians 14:31:  “For you can all prophesy one by one , so that all may learn and may be exhorted.”

If only prophets can prophesy then this scripture would mean that every believer is a prophet.  Of course this is not true.  There is a difference between the office of the Prophet and the gift of prophecy.  This will be discussed in Chapter 5.  In order to understand the prophetic, I believe we must determine the purpose of the prophetic.  There are three main purposes according to the word.  The first is to edify, exhort, to comfort  men (I Cor. 14:3).  The second is to be a witness to  the unbeliever because when he hears the truth of prophecy, his heart is convicted (I Cor. 14:24-25).  The third and ultimate goal of prophecy is to reveal the presence of the Lord and lead people toward His bidding.

Definition of Prophecy – The ability to hear the voice of God and convey the message in order to encourage, strengthen, and build up.

One of the hardest things that Christians struggle with is the ability to hear God’s voice.  Jesus said in John 10:27: “My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me.” Jesus desired that all of His followers would get the revelation that through Him we have obtained access to the voice of the Father and we should be able to hear this.  Prophecy is a gift from God, but the ability to hear His voice is not a gift but a divine right based on relationship through Jesus Christ.  We are told that we are heirs and joint heirs with Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:17).  Jesus expressed the heart of the Father through His communication with Him.  Our desire should be to have a relationship with the Father as sons of God and because we are heirs we have the right to His ears and His voice. 

Before one can ever fully operate in the prophetic at a deep level, they must first cultivate a consistent relationship with the Master.  When we develop a fulfilled relationship with Him, then everything that we prophesy and live will be motivated out of the desire for Him to receive all Glory, Honor, and Praise.  Many people want to operate in the gift and they can; however, it is better to operate the gift with love for people and a desire to please the Lord.  Keep in mind that everything that is good and perfect comes from Him, NOT US! (James 1:17)  Don’t allow the prophetic to make you think more highly of yourself.  This is Pride.  Prophetic people cannot operate in Pride. (Prov. 13:10). If pride caused Lucifer to turn on God what could it do to us?

The Anointing

To anoint means to rub down completely.  When someone was anointed in the Old Testament they were covered with oil and sanctified and set apart for a specific purpose (Ex.40:15).  After Elijah had his great victory at Mt. Carmel, he had one final assignment.  He had to anoint a Prophet in his place and a King (I Kings 19:16).  In the New Testament the word for anoint was to smear oil in order to consecrate someone for a specific religious office (Heb.1:9, II Cor. 1:21, Acts 10:38).  Jesus was anointed without measure (John 3:34).

The Anointing – The Spirit of God given without measure to those who have been set apart for a specific purpose.

This is not like faith where we only receive a measure (Rom. 12:3). When the anointing is released it comes in its fullest.  It takes the fullness of God’s anointing to complete the assignment that is given to us. If David did not receive the anointing in its fullest state then he would have never became king because it is the anointing that destroys the yoke.   He went around for 15 or more years  knowing the anointing was on him without the position.  We must understand that when we receive the anointing we receive it in its fullest; however, what the anointing is to accomplish could take years.  David walked in the fullness of the kingly anointing before he ever received his kingship.  God does not release his anointing based on our current state of affairs but what he sees in the future.  David walked as a king before he was recognized as such.  What we must remember is that giftings are birthed but anointing is a supernatural endowment given to believers for a specific assignment.  David was gifted at playing music but the anointing in him inspired a lifestyle of worship.  He was trained to take care of his father’s flock but he received amazing strength to fight off the lion and the bear.  King David had the right to kill King Saul for rejecting him and for trying to kill him, but he understood the anointing that even when he had the right and the opportunity he withheld his emotions because of the respect for the anointing.  David was not in awe of the position, but the anointing that was placed on Saul’s life caused David to beware.

Anointing is vital because if we try to operate in any supernatural gift without the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we open ourselves up, and those we prophesy over, for all kinds of doors for the enemy.  The words that are inspired from the Lord and then released by a man or a woman have the potential to create our future.  When words are spoken they create either life or death, blessing or cursing (Prov. 18:21).  The operation of the prophetic takes a leap of faith.  The most important thing is to only give what the Spirit gives you.  Do not add or take away.  Just release what you get.

I Corinthians 13:9 says: ‘’For we know in part and we prophesy in part”

The anointing is released in its fullest but the word may be given only in part.  What this means is that when we step out with the anointing and speak only what the Lord gives us, then He will begin to show us the rest.

The anointing will break resistance to the prophetic and it will accomplish what is declared through the people of God (Jer. 28:9). God is looking to anoint voices to prophetically proclaim His Kingdom purposes in the earth.  Are you ready to receive the anointing to prophesy.  Your destiny and that of others is only a divine word away from coming into existence.

“In order to fulfill everything that a sovereign God has ordained for your life, you must use the power of the Holy Ghost to reach your potential and destiny.” (Jakes)

There are several questions concerning the anointing that need to be answered before we go any further.  What is the source of the anointing?  What is it’s purpose? How can we recognize it?  We have heard the preacher talk about feeling the anointing, So does that mean it is emotional?  Others have described it as feeling heat, electricity, or energy flowing through their body.  Does that make it physical?   Still yet, others have said that you can only get it from someone else that has it.  Does that make the anointing relational? Others have attributed the anointing to a person of insight and intelligence.  Does that make it mental? Some have described it as something so far out of reach that only the elect can receive it. A tangible gift held in reserve for only the most devout of Christian. Does that make it material? And finally, how many times have we declared the anointing based on someone’s talent.  Does that mean it is based on aptitude?  Many of these things may be a by-product of the anointing, but they are not in and by themselves the anointing.

What is the Source of the Anointing?

Isaiah 61:1 tells us that the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me and has anointed me to preach, bind, proclaim, comfort, and give. Jesus repeated this same verse in Luke 4:18.  So many times we focus on the to or the do and we don’t look for the source.  There are famous motivational speakers and self-help “gurus” who do something that is amazing but they leave off the most important thing.  They speak about positive attitude, self-realization, and the discovering of purpose.  The problem is that although they reveal a truth they forget to mention the source of that truth.  I can believe in myself and the greatness inside of me, but I can never be satisfied until I discern and acknowledge the One who deposited that distinction within me. The source of all truth and the foundation of all anointing is found in the person of the Holy Spirit.  Before Jesus made his first step toward history, He had to receive the Holy Spirit.  In John 1:32 it says that the Spirit of God descended and came upon Him and remained or rested.  Very important is that the anointing did not come and go.  It remained.  When the dove comes it has the desire to stay.  Acts 10:38 says that God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit.  Even the Christ, the Son of the living God had to be anointed for His special mission.  II Corinthians 1:21 says: “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God.” (emphasis added)

I believe in the transfer of anointing and the releasing of spiritual gifts upon someone else; however, if the Spirit does not anoint them for that service, they will fail in any attempt.  Many spiritual leaders have made the mistake of putting the wrong mantle on the wrong person.  King Saul would have loved to put the kingly mantle upon his son Jonathon, but it was David who was anointed to be king.  I want my children to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, but it is not my decision for them to be in ministry.  That call and that anointing must be confirmed and bestowed upon them by the Holy Spirit.  Every anointing is a releasing of the Holy Spirit upon an individual to fully function in the purpose for which they were created.

What is its Purpose?

There are several purposes of the anointing. Here are some of them.

Confirmation of the call.

The anointing will announce a person’s mantle.  An anointing comes for the office you have been called to.  Just because someone says they are something does not mean they are.  I can call myself a Prophet but without the anointing it does nothing except promote a title.  Let me give an example.  It was January of 2005 and I was on my first trip to Cali, Colombia.  The first church I went to had about 500 people in the first service.  I had prepared what I thought was a wonderful message.  Up until that time, I had always been considered a Pastor and teacher.  I always used notes to preach.  Right before I took the stage, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and told me to put my notes away.  I did not like this command, so He and I had a little discussion.  I told Him that this was my first service and first church and what I had should be sufficient.  He told me that He had a specific word for the church and it was not what I had intended.  I reluctantly agreed, but I had no idea what I was going to say.  As the Pastor introduced me, he said something that shook me a little.  He said: “We have with us today a Prophet from the United States who is going to give us a specific word from the Lord.”  As I walked up the stairs, still pondering on what was about to happen, I asked the Lord to please help me and to release the anointing.  I started by saying, “I am not a prophet. I am a Pastor.  As soon as I said that, the Spirit of the Lord seemed to take over my mouth.  I gave a prophetic message to the church. I prophesied over the Pastor, his wife and many of the congregational members.  Every church after that introduced me as a Prophet and  I would say the same thing.  I am not a Prophet.  I am a Pastor.  Every time, I would prophesy over the church, the Pastors, and many of the people.  I preached 20 times and each message was completely different and totally prophetic.  Not once did I use notes.  I never gave a card that said “Prophet Roddie”.  I never introduced myself as Prophet.  As the anointing was released, it confirmed the calling and the mantle.  Let me make a quick point here.  Title and positions are not nearly as important as purpose.  I would rather fulfill a purpose than to have anyone bestow upon me a title.

Releasing of the Supernatural

Jesus was anointed with power and went doing good and healing all (Acts 10:38).  The anointing causes the person under its influence to do supernatural things.  When the prophetic anointing is released, it enables a person to do the works of Jesus.  Please note that it is Him doing the work through you, not you doing it through Him. When the anointing is being released signs, wonders, and miracles take place.  In I John 2:27 it says that the anointing which you received from Him, abides in you.  The Greek word for anointing here is chrisma which means a special endowment from the Holy Spirit.  In the next chapter we will talk more about this endowment.  Basically what it means is that we are given the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead (Rom. 8:11).  If we have the same Spirit we have the same unlimited ability flowing through us.  The anointing abides within us and can be accessed or stirred up when called to action by faith.

Validate His Presence

Where the glory of God dwells, the voice of the Lord is heard.  The prophetic anointing will authenticate the Lord’s authority and His glory will be manifested.  There are far too many services that are event focused instead of glory focused.  Ichabod,  which means the glory has departed, is running rampant in the Body of Christ.  When the anointing is truly being manifested, there is always a validation of His Presence.  True prophetic anointing always reveals the nature of God.  The purpose for any manifestation of power or anointing is to make public His glory.  When Jesus performed His first miracle during the wedding at Cana, the bible says in John 2:11 that He began manifesting His glory.  This is the number one reason for any miracle, healing, prophecy, or gifting being released.

How can we recognize Anointing?

There are 5 main questions to ask to know if something is a true anointing.

Number One – Did something impossible transpire?

This is important because prophetic anointing makes things to happen that are impossible.  If God gets involved the impossible turns to possible (Mark 9:23).  Do the blind see, the deaf hear, the barren become pregnant?  Paul said we came with a demonstration of power (I Cor. 2:4).  Words are not enough.

Number Two – Does the Kingdom appear to be established on the earth?

The kingdom is made up of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom.14:17).  The Kingdom is in the Person of the Holy Spirit.  Righteousness is positional.  Are people getting right with the Lord?  Peace is presence.  It is a place of rest.  The peace that goes beyond understanding (Phil. 4:7) will enter when the anointing is flowing.  Joy is pleasure.  I was asked this question.  What is true joy?  My response was that true joy is taking pleasure in Him and understanding that He takes pleasure in you.  That is where you find joy unspeakable and full of glory (I Peter 1:8).  When the anointing is touching, people feel a sense of pleasure in the Lord.

Number Three – Does the Word become Alive?

Prophetic anointing without the Word is neither prophetic nor anointing.  The foundation for all prophecy must meet the requirements of the scripture.  When the word becomes vibrant and alive and nearly tangible, you can rest that the anointing is being released.  When information is transformed into revelation, the anointing is doing that.  When you hear a scripture that you have heard or read a thousand times and something happens internally that you can not quite explain, the anointing is the answer.  When faith rises from the preaching of the word, the anointing is glowing.

“The anointing only falls upon truth.  God will not put His seal of approval on something until He is sure that it is His.” (Jakes)

Number Four – Are lives transformed?

Not just for a moment, but for eternity.  Are people saved, healed, or delivered.  Are marriages put back together?  Is financial provision being released?  Does the fruit remain beyond the service?  Can you take it home?  I was in a meeting when I was about eleven.  During that meeting there was an outpouring of the Spirit of God.  After the meeting, several people got pulled over for drunk driving because they were still under the influence of the Holy Spirit.  Many reports came of how people could not sleep.  Some laughed all night. Others cried.  Manifestations of healing and other miracles were reported.  When the anointing is released it is effective even when the service ends.  Remember that the purpose of the prophetic is to encourage, exhort, and build-up.

Number Five – Does worship seem to be on the hearts of those releasing the anointing?

When I experience the prophetic anointing,  my first response is to worship.  I know the source of the anointing and all I want to do is give honor to whom honor is do.  After a manifestation of the presence and power of God, I am so overwhelmed that many times I break down and cry because I know that He showed up.  When God begins to show off,  if we don’t worship Him, we will worship ourselves.  When that happens, the pure prophetic anointing turns into idolatry.

The anointing is spiritual and comes from the Holy Spirit.  It is a spiritual endowment bequeathed to His sons and daughters.  It may manifest itself physically, emotionally, mentally, relationally, or otherwise, but understand that these are indications of the anointing, not necessarily the power itself.  Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:8 that the Spirit blows like the wind; you may not be able to see it but you feel the effects.