Since returning from Bethel earlier in the year, I’ve been increasingly stirred to see believers know that they hear God. What I mean is I think we all hear God far more than we think. That’s what struck me at Bethel; everyone from the guy sitting next to me in the service to the kids who prophesied over me in the 15-minute prophetic session that every delegate had, seemed to understand that they could hear God and communicate his words to others. And I don’t think they are any different or the Spirit on them is any different. I think the difference is in the confidence and awareness that hearing God is not only possible (we’ve got that) but usual and frequent! The prophetic ‘water level’ is higher simply because of that awareness.
Anyway, that’s my theory. And recent experience is bearing it out.
For example, a young guy recently saved (18 months or so) from a lifestyle of addiction went with a team to train another church how to treasure hunt. As he leads his group of four he had written on a piece of paper the words ‘long black coat’, ‘long dark hair’, ‘bus station’ and the name ‘Sophie’ – all words that he felt God was speaking to him. The rest of the team had other similar words. Off they went to the bus station and there standing alone was a girl with a long dark coat and dark hair. Our guy boldly walked up to her and asked her if her name was Sophie. She was shocked – yes it was, but how did he know? He explained that the group were Christians on an extreme treasure hunt and that God had sent them – picking her out because he loved her and she was His treasure. He asked if there was anything they could pray for. After telling them briefly about a failing relationship the girl just opened up. “I’m broken”, she said. At this point another team member excitedly produced her piece of paper with words from God written on it. Except there was only one word – “broken”. Sophie was close to tears as the group prayed and ministered the love of God to her in the bus station.
Now that’s a word of knowledge that a few years ago you’d expect from a famous prophet who travels the nations! But this word was from a relative newcomer who spent just 5 minutes listening to God! Or what about last Sunday. I take a team to St Neots. Now usually on these trips I tell the team ‘if you get any prophecy then bring it – if not don’t worry’. But this time I felt the Lord tell me to challenge them all to prophecy. So I did. And they did! One lady picked out a guy at the back. “I see you wrestling”, she said, and Jesus is in the ring holding out his hand as if in a tag team – “come off the ropes and come to me”. As it turns out the guy was an unbeliever, first time in church. What’s more, he was a cage fighter and was amazed that God was clearly speaking to him!
Or what about smallgroup this week. We did ‘blind’ prophecy where someone stands in the middle with a blindfold on and then a random person is picked and the blindfolded person has to prophecy over them without knowing who it is. 4 people did it and all were incredibly accurate words. Caroline prophesied over a guy who’s involved with studying about sewage management ‘this is about poo! God is clearing out your spiritual system, removing stuff you don’t need and filling you with good nutrients’. (unpleasant to us but God designed our guts and gave caroline a great and incredibly accurate word!)
My point? We HAVE the mind of Christ. We just don’t realise it. But the more we realise that God is always speaking and that ‘all God’s people can prophecy’, the more it’ll flow and believers will be encouraged and the lost will fall on their knees and say ’surely God is amoung you’!!
