The foundation of my ministry is to love like Jesus loves. Barely a day goes by when I don't seek God's presence to be loved and learn how to love others better.
When I was asked to speak at the Overcomer's Conference and give a corporate prophetic word I knew it was going to be on love. But as I studied, I started to have a deeper revelation about how love is unattainable without the prophetic. For we don't really know how to love people unless God shows us what they need. Some of us don't even realize we are “being prophetic” but if we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit we will love people well. For those folks that are scared off by a “prophetic word” let me remind you of what it says in Scripture:
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy… the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. I Cor 14:1, 3
The key word here is “and.” Pursue love AND earnestly desire the spiritual gifts. Do both. Don't do one without the other. Out of all of them (Listed in I Cor 12), especially that you may prophesy. Why? Because its for the building up of the church.
The way to love is to prophesy by giving a word that will build up, encourage and console people. The Lord is happy to share with you what someone needs to be encouraged. Everyone is able to encourage, build up or console! I doubt some have the “gift” and others don't have the “gift” to give an encouraging word. But prophesy is a spiritual gift along with others like healing, miracles, faith etc. So maybe that's why it seems to fall into the unattainable and “for others only” category. But you don't need to worry about not getting it because according to Scripture these gifts are given by the Spirit as HE wills not as WE will … ever feel like God does what He wants without your permission sometimes? When it comes to gifts I say “bring it on according to your will!” But I'll be honest … it freaks me out in a good way when I experience any of these:
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. I Cor 12:7-11
But the connection between love and prophesy that I never saw before was this … if we want to see the miracles, healing, faith and prophesy as outlined in I Cor 12:7-11 we need to build up the church with prophesy. Do you want to see miracles, healing and faith in action? The Paul says the early church was “eager” to see those things. Are you? And we are to “strive” (work hard) to “excel” (be the best at) building up the church (which is to prophesy).
So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. I Cor 14:12
Prophesy is sharing the loving heart of God in a way that encourages, comforts and edifies. Its to tell people who they are even though they are not yet. It's to declare how God sees them even in the midst of their brokenness. It's to say I see you like God sees you.
I promise you it's really fun to express God's love for people. You can't separate love and prophesy. They are tied together.
All gifts must operate out of love. Without love it’s just a tool used to manipulate for favor, pleasing man not God. For puffing up and internal pleasure. A sense I’ve done well and God must be pleased with me.
The intentions of love will be overlooked and often ignored by man. Even hatred to the point of death like the cross. God looks at the heart not the outward appearance. That’s why you desire the higher gifts – of the spirit which doesn’t demonstrate love but embodies (becomes) love for the glory of God to operate through. No less is required of you and no more will be displayed than that which is expelled through pure love.
To desire the manifestations of these gifts without love is idolatry and wickedness. It’s witchcraft and void of the power of God. Too many pursue gifts and not power.
Love is the key to changing the world to reflect Christ and the power made perfect within you – that which is Christ, the hope of glory. Only in your weakness (as the world sees it) is you strength. Taking the power of the cross to nations begins in the heart and displayed to the world. So little is taught on the power of love that the body is suffering from malnutrition to the point of starvation. And yet living water is upon them and surrounding them like a flood – a mighty flood of many rivers joining together that no force of wickedness can come against. For God is for his children to be glorified through love so when on display the presence changes anything that comes in proximity to it. To be known is to be loved. To be loved is to be known … and know the Creator that creates and demonstrates love for His own glory – which fills the earth as it is in heaven. So no man is left without excuse. That all have heard and seen that which the glory of the Lord presses down, shakes up and runs over. The overflow of the love of God to man so that man may be found innocent and pure in the eyes of God.
Since all love casts out fear it is love as a weapon (which only destroys darkness) but also as a defense to the invader that comes to kill, steal and destroy. His plan fails as he comes upon the shield and cannot get near. All who come to receive love will find it. Once found it will abound like steadfastness, never failing or retreating. From everlasting to everlasting.
That which comes upon you, changes your DNA and the work in you .. so what is released through you is no longer you but the power of God – which never fails and always does more than imagined.
Take hold of it now – receive that which had such a high cost it can never be repaid. You’ve fully received now freely give. The power of the LORD is upon you! You are a new creation! The old is gone – out goes anger, strife, bitterness, rage, bondages, sexual immorality, perversion and all lying and deceitful spirits. They cannot survive the flood of love that washes them away. Now filled with peace, joy, contentment, passion, purpose, clarity, purity, generosity and love.
This revelation of love is so that all may know the love of God is deeper, higher, wider and more powerful than anything you’ve known. Desire more, pursue love, prophesy to one another the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
Thank you for sharing this beautiful message. It resonates with me because I believe in the power of love – God is love – when we are in Him, we experience fullness.
I receive the Word, which is power.
Blessings,
Edith