ARE PROPHECIES REAL?
INTRODUCTION:
Prophecies are what God is saying to
us in the now. God actually intends to speak to all peoples by way of instructions, cautions and guidance for the overall good of mankind. But many have gone too far from God and would not hear anything God is saying, i.e until you become a child of God and make Him your Father it will be difficult for you to hear God speak. Even when you hear they will look to you as fables. Animals of the same kind understand themselves very easily. God is a Spirit. A man of the flesh can hardly hear God speak.
Prophecies are meant to guide us to the things He has for us both now and in the
future. Revelation1: 1, 3. In prophecies, God unfolds His plans for the now, immediate or distant future to His children. HE is only concerned about our future welfare, Jeremiah29:11. The scripture says forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth to the things which are before, Philippians 3:13. You must not stay put on your successes or failures of yesterday. When they are past, they are past. You can only refer to those successes as testimonies and the failures as a lunch pad to success. Prophecies create testimonies and are pace setters when hooked onto.
What is Prophecy?
Definition: Prophecy is the word of God conveying God’s mind and the unfolding of His plans to all people. The key words here are: The word of God. True prophecies are Word birthed, while fake prophecies emanate from the worldly and spiritually depraved men. 2Peter1:16-21. Prophecy is not the same as prediction. Prediction is a game of chance or a guess work, while prophecy is a sure change to come. True prophecy has only one source, that is God. And of course for every original, there is a counterfeit, whose source is the devil.
From bible days till now, God has and will forever be committed to fulfilling prophecies, Numbers 23:19, Isaiah 34:16. God brought His word of prophecy to pass on Abraham, Gen 15:4. And, behold,the wordof the LORD came untohim, saying, Thisshall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth
out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. Gen 21:1 And the LORDvisitedSarah ashe had said, and the LORD did unto Sarahashe had spoken.Gen 21:2 For Sarahconceived,and boreAbrahama sonin his old age,at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
God’s word concerning Ahab in 1Kings 21:21 brought to pass in 2Kings 10:10-17.
God’s word on Jezebel 1kings 21:23 brought to pass in 2kings 9:33-37. God’s word concerning the
birth of Jesus in Isaiah 7:14 brought to pass after about 500 years in Luke 1:26 -38. Time cannot annul prophecies because the eternal God watches over His word to fulfil it at the appropriate time. See Habakkuk 2:1-3.
In our time we see God demonstrate His faithfulness by fulfilling all the prophecies He spoke by the mouth of His servant, Bishop David Oyedepo several years ago. The African Gospel Invasion Project, the purchase of an aircraft, Dominion publishing house, building of a ‘tent’ that will seat 50,000 people and the Covenant University are just a few of the many prophecies that emanated from the word which, God has fulfilled.
This year (2008) prophecy “On the Eagle’s Wings” for instance was scripturally inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is bible birthed. Exodus 19:4 & Revelation12: 13-17. From these scriptures we can immediately see what the mind of God is for us this year:
(i) Divine speed and progress in all areas of our lives because when you are on the wings of an Eagle that is on motion you too will be on motion and will be travelling at the same speed with the eagle.
(ii) It is for you to be unreachable by your enemy the devil, and to be supernaturally exempted from all evils.
(iii) To be in the presence of the Lord. In His presence are fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore.
(iv) That we might be able to obey and do all His commandments.
(v) To be His peculiar treasures.
(vi) It is to bring us into our inheritance, prosperity and abundance.
WHAT TO DO WITH PROPHECY FOR IT TO FIND PRACTICAL FULFILMENT IN OUR LIVES
First of all you have got to understand that God has something to say to all people, no matter their colour, race or creed. But in every nation he that fears him, and works righteousness, is accepted with him. (Act 10:35)
(i) It is to be believed. Luke1:45. When we believe prophecies, they are turned in to a gift.1Timothy4:14. Remember before Jesus became a gift to the world (Jn3:16, Rom 6:23), He was first of all in prophecy (Gen 3:15 Isa 7:14; 9:6,7). When you do not believe prophecies you quench the Spirit behind it. 1Thess5:19, 20
(ii) It is our weapon for strategic war fare.1Tim1:18
(iii) They are to be read and heard Rev1:3, 1Tim4:13
(iv) It is for our meditation. 1Tim1:19, 1Tim4:14, 15
Don’t let us under estimate the power of meditation. It is one of the covenant trade secrets of the Bishop. I see God bring to pass every word He has spoken in your direction. Just believe them.