Purposeful Prophecy 

Entering our highest calling through the gift of the prophetic

This past weekend I attended a prophetic conference held in a quiet Scottish town, organised by a small local fellowship. Meetings were held in the afternoons and evenings over three days. The female speaker has a hectic international ministry and had just flown in from the Netherlands. Few of those attending had heard of her before, so initially attendance wasn’t high. 

But as she taught powerful, clear, Bible-based messages and ministered in the Spirit, people quickly became aware that she carried a most unusual and heavenly anointing. Word quickly spread through the small community. Soon people were flocking to the meetings and there was evidenced a great hunger to receive from God.

Prophetic confusion

Understandably, there has long been a wariness about the prophetic. Many have become disillusioned when prophecies given haven’t come to pass. Some self-appointed ‘prophets’ are quick to offer grandiose words that make themselves look good and which puff up the egos of those eager to get direction for the future – but which spectacularly fail to materialise.  

Many have become disillusioned when prophecies given haven’t come to pass. 

I’ve long felt that the prophetic movement itself is something of a self-aggrandising cabal of big-name figures, most of whom manage to retain positions of prophetic authority despite highly dubious records. Then there have been prophet ‘stars’ like Shawn Bolz and Chris Reed (successor to Rick Joyner as leader of Morningstar Ministries), who were exposed (not least by this ministry) for obtaining their highly detailed ‘words of knowledge’ via thoroughly worldly means (social media accounts). A string of further exposés followed.

Integrity and humility

I have always been aware that the individuals that I see as having the greatest integrity in the prophetic are those who operate wholly out-with the prophetic movement; the ‘little’ prophets who have no desire to make a name for themselves, and who simply move from local fellowship to local fellowship as the Lord leads them. I’d like to highlight how a true prophet can be distinguished, by using the example of the inspiring yet humble lady that led these meetings (using only her forename).

Everyone who knows her is aware of Isabel’s life of integrity. She is equally known for her genuine humility. The humbling process has long been a characteristic of her life – she describes how, at an early stage, God stripped her (and her husband) of everything – her job, finances, reputation, giftings – and with nothing else to lean on, she was forced to rely on Him alone. Pride was dealt a severe blow as she learned the hard way. The Lord has been keeping her in a ‘lowly’ position ever since.

The Lord has been keeping her in a ‘lowly’ position ever since.

To be honest, had God not dealt with her ego in this way, the level of prophetic gifting that she has would have gone to her head and she simply wouldn’t have survived in the ministry. She was once offered a lucrative regular ‘ministry show’ on a well-known Christian TV channel – we can all be grateful that she turned it down.

Instead, she keeps a simple focus on Jesus, and on ministering to ordinary believers wherever she is invited and where believers are hungry to receive more from Him. She once traversed the Atlantic to minister to a small fellowship of just seven members, engaging with the same passion and dedication as she would to a gathering of thousands.

Limitless God

At all times, Isabel seeks not to limit God; He is omnipotent and infinite; His resources are limitless. There is no restriction on what He can do. As such, she moves in the supernatural and sees remarkable evidences of His power at work in both her life and that of those she ministers to. She has a vast storehouse of personal testimonies to share – one of the most recent being at death’s door with a terminal illness just months ago, and receiving complete healing, to the amazement of her doctors. We do well not to put limitations on God.

Isabel’s teaching is fresh and personal. It is not plucked from books, articles or sermons stemming from external sources. Rather, she determines that everything she teaches is based securely on the Scriptures and learned from firsthand experience. She has much to teach on countering flawed mindsets – strongholds that determine what we believe and our reactions in life – most of which, she says, come from our experiences and ‘imprinting’ as we grow up. Her teaching emphasises the fact that character is so much more important than gifting.

Her teaching emphasises the fact that character is so much more important than gifting.

Indeed, much of her teaching isn’t directly related to the prophetic at all, but on Christian living. She gave a powerful one-hour message on Sunday morning on the essence of living lives of total forgiveness. And more than anything, Isabel frequently returns to her favourite topic – intimacy with God. Intimacy, she teaches, means “knowing each other’s heart without limitation, and being able to share your hearts without reservation.” Our closeness of relationship with the Father determines the depth to which we are able to hear and discern the voice of God. Isabel delights in the fellowship she has with the Trinity.

Activating the word

The level of accuracy in Isabel’s one-to-one prophetic ministry is beyond that which I’ve seen anywhere. Grown men and women were not infrequently reduced to tears as she spoke truths that touched them in the deepest place, and which they knew could only have come from direct God-sent revelation. Isabel insists that everyone receiving a prophecy records it on their smartphones – otherwise they are likely to miss key parts, or mishear what was actually said. She encourages folk to transcribe their ‘words’, and to read them over regularly, reminding themselves of what God has spoken.

It is a common misconception to think that when a prophetic word is given, you simply sit back and wait for God to bring it to fulfilment. If it comes to pass, the word was from God. If it doesn’t it was a false prophecy. This, Isabel teaches, is entirely false. Certainly, we must avoid trying to self-fulfil our prophecy by trying to make it happen in our own strength. But we do need to play our part, and actively work with God in helping to activate our prophecies, showing our eagerness to receive all God has for us. If the word is truly of God – and we can often discern in our spirits if that is the case – then He will do a supernatural work to bring the prophecy into being.

She gave an example of once receiving a prophetic word from a reputable prophetic minister, that she was going to be used by God in writing. Isabel revolted at the word – she had no desire to write, and felt it was beyond her ability. But, to show her desire to be used by God in this way, she felt led to play her part. All she felt able to do was write one inspirational sentence on a daily basis – eventually increasing it to two, then three, which she sent to a trusted friend for accountability.

Personal prophetic words, for those who received them, were the icing on the cake ...

Unknowingly to her, her friend began forwarding her devotional writings to a Christian publisher, who, impressed with her depth of spirituality, asked permission to publish some of what she had written. In time, Isabel was being asked to write articles for the same magazine. Now, she loves writing, and has penned several full-length books, to significant acclaim. None of that would have happened, she is sure, had she not taken those tiny steps to partner with God in the unfolding of His purposes for her life.

Into the fullness

Isabel is very much of the opinion that a great many prophecies do not come to pass, not because they did not originate in the heart of God, but because we sit on them rather than pursuing them. She believes our lives – and indeed, the life of the Church in our neighbourhoods – would be transformed if we were to work with the Lord and so provide Him the opportunity to release the supernatural anointing on our prophetic words.

It is only in so doing that we ourselves become fulfilled, and enter into our true, highest calling as sons and daughters of the living God.

The worship throughout the conference was powerful; the fellowship warm and welcoming; and the teaching captivating, challenging and highly inspiring. Personal prophetic words, for those who received them, were the icing on the cake – receiving confirmation through a person unknown to you that God knows you, understands you, and is ever with you, with a plan and purpose for your life which He is willing to unfold – all of this, everyone present found immensely reassuring and faith-building.

Interestingly, on the same Friday evening as Isabel was speaking, elsewhere in the same quiet town a travelling psychic was entertaining an audience, while in another venue, a night of Unbelievable Magic was in progress. Sad to think that many were ensnared in the darkness of spiritualism and magic when just minutes away others were being deeply moved by the light and mystique of true spiritual revelation – from a loving Father who truly delights to reveal Himself.