What you speak to in someone will rise up in them

People are often quick to see faults and problems and put others down. God sees potential and lifts people up with a message of hope which brings light and life into their circumstances. Those who seek to move in the prophetic should do so also.

Whatever you speak to in a person tends to rise up in them. If you speak to the negative it will surface. If you speak to the positive future God has for them, the hope it brings will raise that to the surface.

God’s dealing with Gideon is a good example of this. Gideon as a child had grown up in the 40 years of peace and prosperity. Barak and the prophetess Deborah had ushered this in when they delivered Israel from the Cannanite king Jabin who was oppressing them. Israel however had done evil in the sight of the Lord by worshipping Baal, so God gave them over to the hands of Midian for 7 years. God then sent them a prophet who prophesied:

“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘It was I who brought you up from Egypt and brought you out from the house of slavery. I delivered you from the hands of the Egyptians and from the hands of all your oppressors, and dispossessed them before you and gave you their land. And I said to you “I am the Lord your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live. But you have not obeyed Me.””’ Judges 6:6-10

The angel of the Lord (some interpret this as the pre incarnate Christ) then appeared to Gideon under the oak at Ophrah. Ophrah (6084) means a young hart or stag which is how God saw Gideon. Gideon however was hiding from the enemy in a wine press while he was doing women’s work threshing wheat. The optimal place to do this would be on the top of a hill where a breeze would separate the grain and chaff.
The angel said to him (6:12) “The Lord is with you O valiant warrior.” These words are the direct opposite of the way he is behaving.
This obviously affects Gideon deeply. He had probably been remembering battles won in previous generations against insurmountable odds, such as those that Moses and Barak had faced. As he mulled over the words of the prophet he obviously felt powerless to act upon them and feels anything but a valiant warrior.

 

Most people on meeting an angel, if they recognise it as such, are overawed by the experience. Gideon addresses the angel with a reverential “O my Lord.”
His reaction then shows that he has the spark of a warrior in him even though it is subdued by his circumstances. That spark comes out as a righteous anger. Gideon quotes back to him his own words as a question, and the prophet’s words, comparing them to the reality of the situation that he was in. When in doubt in a situation this is often a good thing to do:

“If the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.’” Judges 6:13

The Lord counters with “Go in this your strength (your belief in the words of the prophecy, and God’s power to help) and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?” Judges 6:14

Gideon’s response to the challenge to rise up and do something about what God has said about the unjust situation is ‘You’ve got the wrong man!’ “O Lord how shall I deliver Israel? Behold my family is the least in Manesseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.” Judges 6:15

God’s word to Gideon, which was phrased in such a way as to allow faith to rise up and fight prevailed. He eventually went on to become a valiant warrior and was used by God to deliver the people from the Midianites. He had to pull down the Idols in his life and those around him, and take a stand against immorality first though.

Sight has to do with what you can see, vision has to do with what you can be.

Click here to listen to a message about Gideon on becoming an overcomer - no fear.

The difference between flattery and prophecy

When you approach the prophetic knowing the difference between flattery and prophecy is very important.
When you flatter someone you are telling the person nice things that they want to hear about themselves and the situation that they are in. However, this does not challenge the status quo and leaves the person unchanged. Flattery often speaks to the flesh in someone, reinforcing it.
Prophecy is telling the person nice things which God wants them to hear. This does challenge the status quo, and if acted upon will purify that individual and change their situation. Prophecy often speaks against the fleshy nature.

“Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; they speak a vision of their own imagination, not from the mouth of the LORD. They keep saying to those who despise Me, ‘The LORD has said “You will have peace”’ ; and as for everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, they say ‘Calamity will not come upon you.’” Jeremiah 23:16+17

“For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.” Ezek 12:24

 

Next.
1. Introduction - friendship with God.
2. Friendship is higher than service.
3. OT prophet. The Spirit came upon them.
4. God wanted prophecy for all in the OT.
5. The wrath of God.
6. God is a merciful judge.
7. John the Baptist - the prophet between the OT and NT
8. NT prophet. The Spirit within we can all prophesy!
9. The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus.
10. Spiritual gifts are for building not destroying.
11. What you speak to rises up.
12. Prophesy truth not facts.
13. The primary purpose of prophecy in the NT.
Media
Speaking in Tongues
The Word of Knowledge
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