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.
Thanks for your encouragement, Helen! I do try to be sensitive to the culture, but it seems they aren’t so willing so listen. Perhaps it is what my calling is all about.
I have all of the signs. I joined a ministry that activated my prophetic giftings so strong until I had to research what was going on with me. I could see, know what demonic forces or spirits were around and their assignments, smell what sin a person was engaged in, and a very strong warfare intercessor. I’ve had encounters with going to the “threshing floor”, angelic visitations, divine revelations, divine utterances, could feel the presence of God like he was sitting in the room, experienced deep worship, and prophetic dance. This happened to me for at least 2 years while I was functioning in ministry as an elder. But the pastor took a wrong turn and became demonic and unrepentant for his actions. I left that ministry and most Pastors know about my giftings, but this particular pastor scrutinized my name and put out that I practiced witchcraft. I was a psychic and had mental issues. I live a life of worship and prayer so that I can tap into God’s presence at anytime. I know nothing about witchcraft and it definitely is no working for me if I did know. The church that I currently attend is prophetic but he will not train anyone or recognize their giftings. So my gift has dwindled to stagnancy and I’m frustrated because I do not intercede or do what I was doing because I’m held back. I love the ministry and the Pastor but God is calling me strongly into ministry again. I have dreams about being a Pastor and see myself laying hands. I hear sermons and texts in my head with revelations of the scriptures. What do I do?
Hi there Kai,
I’m sorry to hear of the trials you have experienced. I have put my best advice about what to review when not being released into ministry in this article: http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2011/11/07/why-is-my-spiritual-gift-or-ministry-not-being-released/
Unfortunately I don’t have time to delve deeper into personal issues online, but I do pray you find a key to help you move forward and trust the above article is of help.
Yes I can relate to most of these. Specifically I can relate to at least 1 through 9.
I think every prophetic gift needs to be “scrubbed” as in cleansed. The result or the methods of the scrubbing are on the list. John Sandford (not the horror fiction writer, pls note) teaches on the prophetic gift/office and speaks of the dark night of the soul, a crucible of purification of faith and vessel.
My church holds a “Super Blessing Sunday” service on Super Bowl Sunday – followed by pancake breakfast, of course. It is a service where we bless each and every family that comes forward and pray prophetically into their lives. This year, by unusual circumstance, I was a “roving praying person” which gave me incredible freedom to follow the leading of the HS and to deliver personal words for various individuals. It didn’t really hit me till after how much trust my pastor instilled in me to let me rove like that, but that has not always been the case.
Let the fire – and the pain of the fire – make God’s mark on you and purify motives and tenderize your receptors, burn flesh out of the equation, and braise obedience onto your very soul and spirit.
mmm, its surprising how much I can relate to regarding all this. I have been a Christian for 21 yrs, and I have always had pictures from the Lord but only began moving in Prophecy about 2 yrs ago. About 6 wks ago, I had a word from Haggai 2 and wrote it down for the pastor. It was ignored, so 2 weeks after this it was his Birthday and i sent him a card and put the same word in and my phone number so he could text or ring to tell me his thoughts? Ignored again….. the wks passed and I was hurt and angry. so my Sister asked the Pastor after the service, how come he had not acknowledged it? He said he appreciated it, but was too busy, but says I have a gift.
Hi Karen,
Your experience with bringing a word to the Pastor but not feeling as though it was acknowledged or well received is one that many prophetic people in churches relate to. When I am teaching on the subject of prophetic ministry in church life, I encourage people when they give a word to the pastor, to leave it with your pastor and with God, to release it and not try to follow it up.
To use an analogy, with prophecy our role is like that of a post office or mailman. Our job is to deliver the word – put it in the mailbox – and it is the responsibility of the person receiving it to do something about it.
And I also teach that in church life, we should not place any expectations on our pastors to do anything or respond to the word that we bring. One reason is, the nature of prophecy is that it may relate to a later period of time and is not necessarily for right now.
Hope that helps. If you still feel hurt, the two ‘related posts’ that I have shared at the end of the article above may help. Bless you.
Hi. I have all but a couple of the signs. To compare it to something, I’d say it’s almost like having writer’s block. I’m almost tired..mentally and emotionally. I’ve had the gift since I was a small child. I also had a true knowing of God since I was 4. I am an intersecor prayer warrior, always have been, and I havent really been able to do that very much or well either. I know good from evil when it comes to people I know when something is bothering someone, If they’re sad, guilty, etc., just really sensitive to energies. Both living as well as the non living. We just recently moved, and our old house.. Energy everywhere. . Negative energy. And I know whatever it was tried on more than one occasion to kill me. Or at least hurt me badly. I would feel it touch me.. But on Halloween day of 2012, God spared my life from enemy’s attempt to take my life in a very bad car accident that by no other way than God, am I alive today. I’d tell you everything that happened, but such a long story. Too much happened, life threatening injuries. Doctors couldn’t believe I made it. I was good for awhile after coming home from the hospital, but after awhile I started to get discouraged, angry, you name it. I’m still healing. I thank God for my life, but I don’t want to feel like I do anymore. I feel distanced from God, which hurts because I was always so close in my walk with Him, nothing.. Not a thing could shake me and I miss it so badly. I’ve been going through trial after trial, satan attacking different areas of my life.. Trying to get and keep me down. I know he’s mad that I am literally a Walking miracle. I just want back what I had, what I felt, hearing from God for others etc.. But only I want it to be even stronger. I don’t know what to do anymore!? God Bless you and keep you always. ?