Interpreting Personal Prophesy

In Acts 21 there is a strange sequence of events that can make us wonder if Paul isn’t paying attention to the word of the Lord. He is repeatedly met with opposition from his friends who are prophesying (correctly) that he will find nothing but heartache and pain if he completes his travel to Jerusalem. Accompanying those prophesies are strong personal warnings against continuing his trip. Paul seems to smile, and nod, and then say, “Thanks, guys, but I’m going anyways”. What gives?

I actually love this passage because it tells us some important things about prophetic words given to us today:

1. The interpretation of the person doing the prophesying does not always sync up with the Spirit’s prophetic intention. Have you ever seen it? God speaks through someone, and then that someone keeps on speaking long after God has stopped?

It reminds me of the true story of a friend who was a first-time pastor in a congregation that was new to him. One lady stood up and declared, “Thus sayeth the Lord…” then proceeded to judgmentally lambaste the congregation over what was apparently horribly wrong with all of them. Everyone was silent wondering how the new, young pastor would respond. Before he could say anything, someone else stood up and boldly said, “Thus sayeth the Lord, I did NOT say that” and sat back down.

This illustrates the fact that sometimes we hear incorrectly; other times we are right on target with what the Holy Spirit is saying, but we decide we also know exactly what the prophesy must mean. Many times the one prophesying is not supposed to “help God out” and unpack the word; that is most often the responsibility of the hearer.

2. Prophesy is not meant to be a “bully club” to force us into actions that conflict with the direction we are sensing the Lord is taking us. Accountability is good, and we should listen to the advice of those close to us. However, demanding that the Word of the Lord I give should require someone to do what I think they ought to do will quickly turn into spiritual coercion, or even abuse.

Listen to prophetic words gratefully, and seek to understand the intent God has for you in giving that word.

3. To correctly interpret prophesy, we need to be viewing it through an eternal lens. Just because someone prophesies that something challenging is about to happen to you, it doesn’t mean that God’s intent is that you avoid that challenging situation. It may be the Lord preparing you to face it, so you can be shaped.

Paul responded not with a reaction that would benefit him temporarily, but with an understanding of God’s larger work in which he was involved.

Readily receive personal prophesy—as long as it doesn’t contradict with what God has already revealed in His Word. Let it radically impact your life. But remember to test it (1 Thess 5:19-21). Just because someone is speaking God’s specific words to you, it doesn’t mean that they are the mouthpiece of God for all that He has planned for your life.