Lesson 5: How to Evaluate and Effectively Apply Prophecy to Our Lives.

by Dr Ern Baxter.

At the beginning of their walk with God, both Paul and his spiritual son Timothy illustrate the right and effective way to apply personal prophecies to our lives. Many of us in recent years have been blessed of God to receive personal revelation and direction through prophecy. Our problem has been, "What do we do with the prophecy?". Are we to receive it passively with the hope that God will fulfill it sovereignly apart from any effort we might exert? Or we are to express our faith in the prophecy with aggressive action? These scriptures should be helpful.

1. Personal Prophecy at the Conversion of Saul of Tarsus.

Acts 9:10-18 - The Lord revealed to Ananias the prophet the course that Paul's life would take and how he would suffer for Christ.

2. Personal Prophecy in the life of Timothy.

1 Timothy 1:18 - By the personal prophecies ministered to him, Timothy would be able to fight the good fight of faith. (NB: Sam Storms spoke excellently on this at the Life in the Spirit conference last year). Prophecies of this nature help us to set our course and eliminate the element of confusion and uncertainity.

1 Timothy 4:14-16 - Timothy was warned not to neglect his spiritual gift, but to be absorbed in it.

2 Timothy 1:6-7, 14 - Timothy was told to keep the gift fresh and to guard it through the Holy Spirit.

3. Personal Prophecy Must Always Be Proved But Never Despised.

1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 - The Lord wants us to be neither gullible nor skeptical.

4. Always Wait on the Lord for Two or Three Confirmations to Every Prophecy.

2 Corinthians 13:1-3 - At the mouth of two or three witnesses every Word of God is established. Only when it is thus confirmed will you be held responsible to move in it.

1 Corinthians 14:29 - Prophets are also required to speak two or three.

5. It is dangerous to hear a Word from God and not do it.

James 1:23-24 and Matthrew 7:26-29.