Should I Prophesy to Everyone When Offering Healing in Public?
Getting “words” for people can and does open up doors for the gospel to be shared with people who might not otherwise be interested. I’ve seen this work and it’s a blessing.
I’ve also seen it NOT work and it’s embarrassing to be with someone who keeps trying to get words but “misses it” every time. In such a case, I felt like Peter, wanting to say, “I don’t know this man!”
I do not believe that “prophecy on demand” is supported by Scripture. I believe in prophecy and have given words as the Spirit willed, but if the Spirit is not moving that way, I don’t believe it’s wise to try to “lead the Spirit” and give a word anyway. That can get “off” in a hurry.
2 Peter 1:21:
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
I believe in being used by the Spirit and desiring to prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:1), but I don’t advocate “using the Spirit” instead of letting Him use you. If you are desperate to prove that you are just like your favorite preacher you saw on the internet (who I’m sure won’t show the “swing-and-a-miss” moments on his site), you could in a worst case end up trafficking in familiar spirits as you grope in the spirit realm for any “voice” with a word of knowledge that will “read someone’s mail.” This is a danger for anyone in a case where he feels like he has to “perform” for some reason. The idea that if you just operate in enough faith, you can prophesy to anyone, is beyond Scripture. That would be like saying that you can MAKE God use you in “working of miracles” whenever YOU want Him to do so.
Certainly, we should be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. If He is giving you a word for someone, be bold and give it. I just don’t see that a gift that operates (like the others) “as the Spirit wills” can be activated at YOUR will with everyone you meet. I sometimes flow in the “power gifts” and if I could make them manifest every time I minster to a sick person, I would! But I can’t, and neither can you.
So don’t let anyone pressure you into trying to give words to everyone you meet, even if that person flows that way a lot. Let God use you the way He sees fit.
This issue of “gifts on demand” is covered even more in the discussion below.
See also: