Hearing God's Voice: Discerning True Prophecy from Your Own Thoughts

Soulish and Spiritual Prophetic Words 

Today, I want to talk about something that weighs on a lot of our hearts:  how to tell the difference between a true prophetic word and one that stems from our own desires. 

We've all been there, right?  You feel that nudge to share a word, that prophetic message stirring inside you.  But then the doubts creep in.  Is this really from God, or am I just making it up in my head?

Sifting Through the Noise

Hebrews 4:12 has become a key verse for me.  It talks about the Word of God dividing between soul and spirit.  That really hits home.  Discernment is crucial. We need to be able to distinguish between a prophetic word from the Holy Spirit and one that comes from our own thoughts or interpretations. 

True Prophecy: An Event, Not a Fabrication

Genuine prophetic words are distinct experiences, unlike words we simply formulate in our minds.  Think about the powerful visions of prophets like Peter, John, and Isaiah. Their encounters with God were undeniable events, not products of their imaginations.

The Gift of Prophecy Belongs to God

Let's remember, the gift of prophecy is bestowed by God, not something we can conjure up ourselves.  Take King Saul, for example.  He initially prophesied by being around other prophetic people (see Exodus). But true prophetic ministry comes from the Holy Spirit, not from just hanging out with the gifted.

Guarding Against False Words

False prophets prophesying out of their own hearts are a real danger.  Discernment is essential to avoid being misled by those who may not be speaking for God.

King Saul: A Lesson in Discernment

King Saul's story is a cautionary tale.  He initially prophesied through the Holy Spirit but later sought guidance outside of God's will.  This underlines the importance of staying connected to the true source of prophecy.

The Pitfalls of Soulish Words

Words originating from the soul can be misleading and lack the power of true prophetic utterances.  Learning to discern the difference is key to operating effectively in our prophetic gifts. 

Tuning In to the Holy Spirit

How do we cultivate the ability to hear God's voice clearly?  It involves quieting the inner noise of our carnal minds, which can resist the things of God.  And pay attention to your dreams! God may speak to us through them, just like He did with Joseph interpreting Pharaoh's dreams.

Your Invitation to Deeper Connection

Don't settle for soulish words.  Seek a genuine connection with the Holy Spirit.  Pursue ways to deepen your discernment, as 1 John 4:1 instructs us to test the spirits to see if they are from God.

Growing in Your Gifts

By learning to distinguish between soulish and spiritual words, we can grow in our prophetic gifts and receive the true messages God has for us and for those around us. 

Let's keep learning and growing together in our prophetic journeys! 

I referred to the scriptures from memory (not all were spot on!  lol)   so here they are for your reference:

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Job 33:14-16 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. (15) In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; (16) Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,

Romans 8:6-9 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Was that a check in your spirit? or in your soul? 

1 Corinthians 2:14-15 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (15) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

Joh_10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Joh_10:27 (KJV) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Jer_23:16 (KJV) Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
Jer_23:26 (KJV) How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;
Eze_13:17 (KJV) Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,

Jeremiah 28:15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.


1 Samuel 10:5-6 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: (6) And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

......
1 Samuel 10:10-11 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. (11) And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?


I thought this was Exodus in the vid....
Numbers 11:27-29 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. (28) And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. (29) And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!

1 Samuel 28:6-7 And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. (7) Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

1 Samuel 28:15-16 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do. (16) Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

Jesus Rules!  

Finding the Prophetic Fire: How My Prayer Walk Turned into a Powerful Encounter

The Heart Knows, But the Spirit Reveals

Hey Jesus Freaks! 

I wanted to share a powerful experience I had recently on a prayer walk. As many of you know, seeking the Lord through  prophetic prayer is a vital part of my faith journey.  This walk was no different, and it ended up being a beautiful reminder of the power of God working in our lives, even through challenges. 

Now, for some context, things had been a bit rough. My lease was ending, finances were tight, and you know that feeling – like everything is just a struggle?  But even in the midst of this, I felt called to press into prayer. 

So there I was, walking and praying, when wouldn't you know it, the  opposition hit.  Suddenly, my car (which I like to call my "faith mobile") decided to show its true colors with low tire pressure.  Classic!  And of course, I only had enough change to air up one tire.  Just when you think you might give up, that's when that  prophetic fire gets burning! 

I pushed on, trusting in God's  faithfulness.  Let me tell you, by the time I got to church, I was a sweaty mess,  communing with myself  in the way Paul describes in 1 Corinthians.  But guess what?  The struggle to get there was part of the  prophetic revelation. 

During prayer that night, something incredible happened.  Through a  word of knowledge, a hidden issue in my heart was revealed – something I wasn't even consciously aware of.  This is the beauty of the  prophetic ministry at work in the  fellowship of believers.  We can't always see our own blind spots, but God can use His people to  manifest  the truth hidden within us. 

This experience solidified for me the importance of surrounding myself with other  prophetic Christians.  A church where the  Holy Spirit  flows freely is where true  transformation  happens.  It's where  words of wisdom  and  knowledge  can be shared openly, bringing  healing  and  encouragement. 

Remember, friends,  faith  isn't about the absence of pr

Let's keep seeking the Lord together in prayer and fellowship.  May the  **prophetic gifts**  continue to bless and empower us all!

In His love,

Conrad

Here are a few of the scriptures referenced:

2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

1Co 14:23-25  If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?  (24)  But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:  (25)  And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

2Co 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Psa 77:6  I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.

Gen 1:26  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

1Th 5:23  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Th 5:23  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

1Co 2:11  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

Pro 23:7  For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Joh 11:38  Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

Rom 8:26  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.


Mar 5:40-41  And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.  (41)  And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

Act 9:40  But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.


Mat 13:58  And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Php 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Joh 4:34  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

Heb 8:5  Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

Mat 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

1Th 5:18  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Eph 5:20  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Rev 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Hearing God's Voice: Separating Prophetic Truth from Personal Imagination

Praying It Through: Unlocking Prophetic Visions from God's Heart

As someone called to move in prophetic revelation, it's crucial to discern whether visions and dreams are truly from the Lord or simply products of our own imaginations. The Bible sternly warns against prophesying from our own human spirit (Ezekiel 13:2-3, Jeremiah 23:16-17). We must be faithful vessels, allowing God's pure revelation to flow through us uncompromised. 

This commitment to separating soul from spirit has been weighing heavily on my heart lately. Just yesterday, as I traveled, the Lord granted me a powerful prophetic vision - a candle's flame merged with an oil lamp, the elements superimposed over a human heart. I knew this piercing image did not originate from my own musings. It carried the undeniable mark of the Divine.

When I awoke early this morning, my first priority was to press play on the scriptures and let God's word saturate my spirit while my rational mind was still at rest (Job 33:14-17). As the holy writings washed over me, a verse from John 14:26 caused the previous day's vision to flash vividly again - "The Comforter...will teach you all things and bring to remembrance whatever I have told you."

Immediately, I perceived confirmation from the Lord about the prophetic image of the flame-filled heart. The vision was meant to be a soaking revelation, one He wanted me to prayerfully meditate on and apply His truth to. 

This is the crucial process of "praying it through" that the prophetic community must embrace. We cannot rashly run with every spiritual picture or dream. We must constantly bring this flow of revelation before the Lord, allowing the "sword of the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:17) - the living and active word of God (Hebrews 4:12) - to divide soul from spirit and discern the true thoughts and intents of the heart.

As I continue praying through this fiery, burning heart vision, I am discovering illuminating truths from scriptures like 2 Corinthians 4:6 - "God...has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ." The Lord has so much more to unpack from this symbolic picture!

Embracing this prayerful dialogue with the Divine is how we steward the prophetic responsibility Christ has entrusted us with. May we never carelessly "follow our own spirit and see nothing" as Ezekiel 13:3 declares. But may we continually commune with our God, seeking His pure spiritual discernment, until the full revelation arises like the "morning star" in our hearts (2 Peter 1:19).

God speaks to us in the morning hours:
Job 33:14-17 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. (15) In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; (16) Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, (17) That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

He Brings to Remembrance:
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

We need to make sure we aren't conjuring the vision:
Eze 13:2-3 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD; (3) Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!

Jer 23:16-17 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. (17) They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

Word Verification:
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.


Vision references:
2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: