One of the things I am passionate about is helping people to grow in their spiritual gifts—especially prophecy. [1]
People regularly share with me that they believe they have a gift of prophecy, but are not sure how to begin developing it.
Sometimes they express fear or embarrassment about stepping out with a prophetic insight, because they lack confidence.
I also come across prophetic people who tell me that they used to flow in the gift of prophecy but feel it has become blocked or closed down in comparison to how it used to be.
These Christians long for the ‘good old days,’ when they felt released in their gifts and saw miraculous things happen as a result.
This is why, over the next little while, I am going to be producing some articles on how to move forward and break through limitations in relation to prophetic gifts and ministry. [2]
Identifying a Limitation is Good News
Identifying a potential barrier to the growth of your gift or ministry is good news—for it is the first step to empowering you to break free and enter into the ‘more’ that God has for you.
In fact, in God’s Kingdom there is always more!
And you can turn that seeming obstacle into a stepping-stone to greater growth and fruitfulness.
Signs that you are Being held back in Your Prophetic gift
Here are eleven signs that there may be a limiting factor holding you back in your prophetic gift or ministry.
If you do not have a gift of prophecy, replace the words ‘prophecy’ or ‘prophetic ministry’ with the name of your gift or ministry.
See if you can identify with any of these:
1. You used to believe you were called to prophetic ministry [3] but now you are not so sure
2. You are wondering why your prophetic gift seems to be hidden and not recognised by other Christians or by leaders in the church
3. It is a long time since you stepped out, took a faith risk, and did something new in the use of your prophetic gift
4. You are drifting and have a lack of direction in your prophetic gift or ministry
5. You feel barren and are wondering where the fruitfulness is that you were promised or initially experienced when you started out
6. You recognise that difficulties in the use of your prophetic gift began with an event that occurred in your past
7. You are not sure what to do to get to the next level of growth in your gift of prophecy
8. You have been hurt or wounded in relation to your prophetic gift and haven’t gotten over it
9. You are not receiving opportunities to use and bless others through your gift that you would like to have
10.You are content with your current level of experience and do not have the motivation to press through for growth in your prophetic gift
11.You do have opportunities to use the gift of prophecy, but it is not flowing as smoothly or as accurately as you would like, or have known in the past.
Over the next little while we will be looking at how to overcome some barriers to growth in your gift. Many of these will apply to other gifts, not just prophecy.
Some of the things I will be considering include:
- Fear
- Not knowing where to start
- The effect of past hurts
- Apathy
- Not being released or given opportunities
Feel free to forward or share these articles with others who may be helped by them.
Notes:
[1] The gift of prophecy is the Spirit-empowered ability to receive and convey a message from God—to make known the Father’s mind, intention and purposes.
[2] If you are interested in developing your gift, the e-book ‘Grow Your Prophetic And Prayer Gifts’ is a tool to help you identify which stage of development you are in and move to the next level.
[3] By prophetic ministry, I do not mean a role or position. Prophetic ministry occurs when you use your prophetic gift to love and help people in a way that brings them closer to God and releases them into His purposes. As Paul says, ‘the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.’ (1 Cor 14:3)
Related Posts:
Why Is My Spiritual Gift Or Ministry Not Being Released?
Break Free Of Hurts That Are Blocking Your Prophetic Gift
4 Barriers to Hearing God’s Voice – and Biblical Insights for Breakthrough
© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog
Enliven Ministries: In the David McCracken Ministries family
Helen Calder is a prophetic minister and writer, and founder of Enliven Ministries. Helen has a unique gift of equipping in prophetic ministry and prayer. She is known for Enliven Blog (est. 2009), an online resource that reaches thousands of people globally.
All of the above!!!! When I recognized my gift and was led by the Holy Spirit to speak to my pastor who is a Baptist Preacher, didn’t know how to handle it. I was made to feel as though something was wrong with me and when I was led again to speak to his administrator she quickly made the changes that the Lord had requested and I was watched like a hawk and felt so uncomfortable. I was excluded from the people that I was in fellowship with, I was talked about from the pulpit. It was horrible to see church people who say they believe in the Lord and had faith carry on in such a way toward another member in the Body oc Christ just becauce I was growing and wanted to know the plan God had for me and my spiritual gift. God revelaed those things to me and I was so excited that He had spoken to me and wanted then to be excited with me and for me. It took pressing in prayer, fasting,, reading tne word and spending lots of time with the Lord to get what He gave me. I wanted it just that bad, but I didn’t EXPECT the gifts of Prophecy, Intercession, Exhortation and Faith. Trust me, the process is NOT what I expected and the PAIN as well. . I was on fire for the Lord and for the past YEARS, Its like what was all of that about???? you can’t be thru with me God and those same people will think that I was a false prophet or crazy. I am unchurched and the Lord is with me and I feel as if I am in a holding pattern and waiting. Does this makes sense to anyone???? Its’ always good to know that you are not alone.
Hi Carolyn, I’m so sorry to hear of the troubles you had early on when you tried to express your gift. So many times people around our lives, in positions of trust and authority who should most represent the Father to us actually misrepresent Him badly. This can cause a lot of damage and it takes healing, forgiveness and realisation of the true nature of our Heavenly Father to move us forward again.
The expression of the prophetic gift in the NT flows from within the life of the church (1 Cor 12-14). Perhaps the stirring you feel now is the Spirit calling you back into fellowship–there are so many wonderful churches and leaders that do receive, embrace and encourage the gifts of the Spirit. Something for you to pray about. No church or leader is perfect, and I have been through a great deal of hurts myself in the past, but I believe with all my heart that the church community is the place to thrive and operate in our gifts and to fulfil the deep calling of God in our lives.
I’m praying for you today that you will be encouraged in your walk with God, and your spiritual gift of prophecy again.
Caroline, I too have faced most of the things you’ve faced. Those of us blessed with the gift of prophesy or discerning of spirits are often overlooked, misunderstood and ignored in the church. I too am unchurched at this time, not because I want to be but because I went through so much verbal abuse I had to step aside for awhile. I love God, I love people, and I love church. I believe God is bringing us closer to Him so we will hear His voice more clearly. No way is God finished with you or with me. He brought us out of bad environments to protect us. Don’t give up.
He promised to NEVER leave us or forsake us. I was prophesied over several years ago by a proven prophet in that church and since then I have faced persecution and hurt. I’ve also been given dreams that showed me “behind the scenes” looks at some of the goings on in the church…clearly from God. These
were things I suspected but until the dreams, no real evidence. Since then, these prophetic dreams have shown themselves to be true.
Thank you, L, appreciate your soft heart towards God and your wisdom. So good. Thanks for sharing it with us :-) May 2015 bring a healing and mending time for you also.
Thank you soo much and I enjoy your articles they are always encouraging. I get a whole lot of insight and confirmation to let me know that I am on the right track with my gift regardless of what has happen. I am stronger and I look forward to being in place where the Holy Spirit can really flow. I had to grow and things had to happen in order for me to draw closer to the Lord as well. I had to encounter people who rejected me in order to depend on and learn to hear the Lord. I forgave long time ago and it was very painful. Great days are ahead. take care and God Bless..
Hi and thank you Carolyn, it is lovely to get the feedback from you. Indeed, great days are ahead, what a wonderful thought :-). You have allowed Father to take you to a new level through the testing and your response. May you be richly blessed in your walk with Him!
Psalm 66:10-12 says,
For You, O God, have tested us;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
11 You brought us into the net;
You laid affliction on our backs.
12 You have caused men to ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water;
But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.
Hi helen, I can identify, and I believe my prophetic gift is being held back, it can be so challenging, when god has been pruning you,which has been occuring with me, and pruning involves cutting of the dead branches that will not bear any fruit, because god wants me to be more fruitful, I had a fresh supernatural revelation of this last week, after I had received a prophetic word from faylene sparks, and then I received another word from apostle collette toach who is with apostolic movement international; I felt too and I was wondering what is next, I identify with many of the above that you have listed, stepping out when god gives you prophetic insight, is not always easy, but my confidence, has grown in this area, sometimes too you want to have opportunities to use the prophetic gifting, and the opportunities just dont seem to be there, I feel I have the faith for god to take me to a new level of growth, I can identify too with feeling let down by one of the pastors, at my current church. I can be so challenging at times, but as pastor pauline said, nothing is wasted what you go through in god, I am very encouraged by the blog, helen you are an inspiration.
best wishes luv Beverley
Thanks Beverley, you have a wonderful gift of enthusiasm and I love your passion for God. You also have some wonderful insights and I pray that 2012 will be a year of moving forward and fruitfulness for you.
HI EVERY ONE , AS I BEGUN TO LOOK FOR MORE INFO ON HOW THIS GIFT IS USED I STUMBLED ACROSS THIS WEB SITE. I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO START OFF BY GIVING GOD ALL THE GLORY. I REALIZED I HAD THIS GIFT WHEN I PRODICTED MY FATHER GETTINT SICK, THEN 6 MONTHS LATER DIEING. THAT WAS HARD BUT THATS WHEN MY MOM KNEW 2. OH I WAS ONLY 14YRS OLD GOD USED ME FOR SOME TIME THEN IT WENT DORMENT USED BUT NOT MUCH .NOW ITS AN OVERFLOW, TO MUCH TO BEAR AT TIMES BUT GOD STRENTHENSE U I’m hearing so clear its scary but its soo great. I want to tell u how it got this way. COMPLETE SURRENDER,, WORSHIPPING HIM BEYOND ME,, IN PUBLIC 2 NOT ONLY AT HOME UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS CALL TAKES U TO DIFFERANT LEVELS AND U WILL ENDORE HARDER SITUATIONS THEN THE REST. BUT ALWAYS RELYING ON GOD TO GET ME THROUGH. IF IN UR WEAKEST MOMENT U CANT HEAR FROM GOD TO PUSH THROUGH THEN HOW CAN U DELIVER. THAT ADVERSATY ALWAYS CAUSES CHANGE GOOD/BAD . WHICH ONE ARE U PRACTICING? BEGIN TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH OUR KING JESUS FROM THE HEART NOT CARING WHO SEES U AND LET HIM COMPLETELY TAKE CONTROL OF U AND WATCH, OH AND PLZ REMEMBER GOD SAYS YOUR GIFT WILL MAKE ROOM FOR YOU, NOT YOU MAKING ROOM FOR UR GIFT .BE ENCOURAGED AS U PATIENTLY WAIT ON GOD. TO BE USED U MUST 1ST BE READY. MY SHEEP KNOW MY VOICE , AND HARKEN TO IT., SHAPING , MOLDING , TRUSTING ,MOVING, THEN EQUIPING.YOUR GIFT IS LIKE NO OTHER PEOPLE ARE INTIMADATED BY WHAT THEY DONT KNOW OR UNDERSTAND.FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN HURT IN THE CHURCH.WE FALL JUST GET BACK UP AND BEGIN SOMEWHERE MAYBE JUST ENCOURAGING GBU
I know this is an older blog, but I am experiencing something today that. After a really tremendous prayer time with 2 friends this afternoon, in which I had some key prophetic roles and words, I am now this evening struggling with a deep sadness. No one threatened my life, as Elijah’s was after the confrontation with 400 prophets of Baal. But I fee like I have new insights into his state of mind, unfortunately! I also know that I should not feel this way, so there is an added dimension of somehow dishonoring God with my sadness.
Have you ever felt a “let down” after a particularly victorious prophetic time? What do you do to either counteract it or prevent it in the first place?
Hi Wilma,
I do experience a natural tiredness physically/emotionally after prophetic ministry when there has been a big output. However, the sadness you mention sounds like spiritual warfare (although I could be wrong).
If we are involved in prayer or prophetic ministry, that is spiritual warfare in focus or effect, then praying a ‘dust off’ type prayer afterwards can be helpful.
This is where you break off (cancel) any negative effects from the atmosphere around your life personally.
On some occasions when I have ministered in an atmosphere or engaged in a spiritual battle that has affected me, I have forgotten to do this immediately, but remembered later when problems have occurred.
So I would recommend trying that or praying protection prayers as a team, or have someone personally pray for you.
Hope that helps. :-)
Thank you. Yes, it does. I had done that when I realized what was going on, and I’ve had minor ones, but this one was particularly deep. I got downright weepy, I am not proud to admit.
But we don’t hear much about this phenomenon – at least, I have not. But this occurrence underscored my need to be aware and guard against this.
Again, many thanks!