How to interpret personal prophecy
Note: This month I’m posting a series of devotional thoughts from Acts. Many of these are reposts, some are new. I’m “working out the kinks” for submission to a compilation of short, pastoral writings in Acts to be published later this year. If you have suggestions, corrections, or comments, please let me know!
In Acts 21 there is a strange sequence of events that can make us wonder if Paul isn’t paying attention to God. 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 words 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 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. But before he could say anything, someone else stood up and boldly announced, “Thus sayeth the Lord, I did NOT say that” and sat back down.
Sometimes we simply 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 prophecy must mean. Generally the one prophesying is not supposed to “help God out” and unpack the word given; that is most often the responsibility of the hearer.
2. Prophecy 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, expecting that the Word of the Lord I give should require that someone do what I think they ought to do can quickly turn into spiritual coercion, or even abuse.
Listen to prophetic words from others gratefully, and then seek to discern the intent God has for you in giving that word, not necessarily the interpretation or intent the one giving the prophecy might have for you!
3. To correctly interpret prophecy, we need to be viewing it through an eternal lens. Just because a person 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 that the Lord is preparing you to face it!
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.
So, readily receive personal prophecy, 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.