IS GOD COMPLETELY PERFECT?

So we continue from where we stopped last week.

From you people's discussion 2 weeks ago on the character of God as regards Esau and Jacob

I'm going to pick out this statement then explain it (I think everyone should understand better from what we've been discussing since)

" I think most Christians are always trying hard to paint the perfect picture of God being a loving father"

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:48 NIV

My first response will be these words of Christ. Like I said before, to understand the character of God, the person we look at is Christ. And this is because Christ is God Himself revealed to mankind as man.

When we read scripture, we have to look carefully.
Who said this?
Under what circumstances?. To whom was it said?
Why was it said?
Was it God speaking through the person?

It guides us better in know what is written to us and what is written for us.

What is the meaning of the word Perfect? It simply means to be without flaw.

God is completely, 100% flawless. And this is total truth.

No one is "painting" God as perfect. Even if God has to be painted perfect, it won't be an imperfect man that will be given the job to do

Even the old testament that we find difficult to understand when it comes to the character of God records this about Him:

He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

Deuteronomy 32:4 NIV

God does no wrong! Not one single wrong. If you read anywhere that God did something and it sounds wrong, read again. If that is what the writer truly intended then God be true and the writer be a liar

We will not hold the words of any man true over the true revelation of God of Himself by Himself to man

God is the standard of perfection, we should never doubt it.

If God who is the word perfect itself is declared imperfect, this would mean He has been judged by a higher standard that found Him not worthy.

Is there any standard higher than Jehovah?

Jehovah is the standard itself!

Now, is it that we are just taking the word that God is perfect? Are we examining it in any way?

Well, it's not just a thing of they said God is perfect so we just have to agree He is perfect even when we don't understand certain things. Nah. His perfection can be proved and seen.

Like I said earlier, we see it in His words. God is true to His words. Also His character, He is perfect in this. Constant also. So if I say that God lied yesterday but is true today then I will have to be the liar

God's character is perfect, never waivers. The Bible wasn't doing wordplay when it says God is the same yesterday, today and forever

His character also produces certain actions and I think this is where many people get it wrong. They can't reconcile the actions to God.

For most people I know, it is God being Just and the resulting actions from this character that causes confusion.

In February, by God's Grace, we will be discussing God being Just, the wrath of God and its complete satisfaction in Christ

Now, if we were to ever doubt that God is perfect or He changes (Old testament and new testament) then we will have to doubt our salvation to cos this means God is not true to His word and person

This whole eternal life we claim we are carrying up and down, it would be a charade too since we can't say where God is perfect, imperfect or saying the truth

Every time you come across something you don't understand, remember God is perfect. So read it again from the lens of who God is as revealed in Christ. There is this phrase in Yoruba, I actually had to stop saying it

O mu kan wo kan pa, o wo kan wo kan ye

It means God who kills one as He wishes and makes another to live just as He wishes. I used to say it a lot before while praying and one day the spirit stopped me.

Like how can you think such of me?

How can a just God be killing as He likes for pleasure?

Is that God?

I looked for the origin of this supposed praise of God and I found out it was from Job 🤦🏿‍♀

Jesus did not call Him this: the one who kills anyone as He likes (When it is not game we are playing)

Jesus did not also portray Him like this. Everywhere Christ went, He gave life. He healed, He brought the dead back.

It is also not true of what Christ said about Himself (Christ is God)

I have come to give LIFE and in abundance

So who are we going to listen to about God? Job or Jesus?

QUESTION: Ok pls in this context is Job truly wrong or he said it in a particular context

ANSWER: Job was wrong. Remember when we read Job, we went through it slowly for this reason. God did not kill Job's family. God did not take everything from Job. For Job to have said God kills as He wishes would mean He was accusing God of murder. Asides the fact that God cannot murder, His nature cannot. We read it clearly and saw where all of that came from. God's awareness of a particular situation doesn't mean He penetrated the deed Himself. God is actually aware of everything, both good and evil. God Did NOT murder Job's family [ANSWER ENDS]

QUESTION: Given that he is aware of both good and evil pls does it mean he permits the enemy to do us bad or the enemy just does it independently without God's concern

ANSWER: Now, God is good. He created all things and made man in His image. He also gave man dominion over everything created. Man fell and sin came into the world. This is where the problem begins. Every evil that happens to us, it's not because God permits, it is because man Chose

The moment man Chose to eat from that tree, man permitted sin into the world.
Sin is nature not deed now. And that nature is that of Satan

It is this sin that brings all manner of evil (Note that sin here doesn't mean lying or stealing but the nature itself. The state of being fallen). It is sin that Brought death and every calamity you can think of. God did not make man to live and die, or fall sick. The plan was way different but man Chose something contrary to God's plan. So the permission for sin and its allowance into our lives and certain situations was given by man himself

If I tell you don't eat an apple, if you eat the apple you will die. And you decide to eat the apple, then you get to see what this death truly entails, is it not the person that ate the apple that will take the blame? While I might be sovereign and know all the effects eating that apple might cost you, it is still you who ate the apple and brought the resulting effects. My knowledge of it doesn't make me culpable

So this is established, that man at the fall gave permission for sin to enter by eating that which was forbidden. Does this mean anything can just happen to us or the devil will do as he wishes with us?

This is where Christ comes in.

You see, we've been given dominion over EVERYTHING and sadly a lot of us believers do not walk in it. We do not even know it

We are not here trying to fight the devil or sin. No, someone already fought and this victory handed over to us to operate from

So to a large extent, we have control over the permission the first man handed to the devil by eating the forbidden

The first man also brought eternal death (this is the wage of the sinful nature). But God still found a way to slip in something for us, His original plan

That when we die and sleep, we will wake from this and be restored completely to the first order

He practically created a loophole to the grave and it's link to eternal death

He gave Himself as an antidote

How does God do all these things to save man and still be responsible for what He saves man from?

[ANSWER ENDS]

God is Good and He can only do Good

It's an aberration for God to do evil.

This is not consistent with who He is

ROMANS 9: IS GOD UNJUST AND UNFAIR

So we continue with the questions from Romans 9.  We stopped at verse 13 the last time so we continue from 14 today.

What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!
Romans 9:14 NIV

What inference do we make from the explanations in Chapter 1 to 13. Do we say that God gives unequal privileges to people? Is He unjust in His dealings with men? Not at all!: This is untrue of God. He is Just!

For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
Romans 9:15 NIV

When we hear this statement, most times we take it as God will be good to whoever He chooses to and do bad as He pleases. This is wrong interpretation.

Remember, this verse is also a quote.

So let's go to the original text of this quote.

"God said to Moses"

Why did God say this to Moses?
What happened before He did?
What were the circumstances surrounding this statement?

The text is in Exodus 33:19.

Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
Exodus 33:19 NKJV

Here we see God tell Moses the statement quoted by Paul in Romans 9.

God did not just stand in the sky and tell this to Moses, there was a conversation and situation leading to it.

To understand this verse, we take it in the context it was spoken in. In Exodus 32, the people tired of waiting for Moses who had gone up to the mountain to meet the Lord had made gods for themselves

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”
Exodus 32:1 NIV

God had been really good to these people, bringing them out of Egypt, providing manna, etc. But despite all what God did for and in their midst, they committed idolatry

God was not supposed to show them any mercy. That was His cue to abandon them.

Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”
Exodus 33:3 NIV

Here we see the mercy of God at play. Though these people had sinned greatly, God was still willing to keep His promise to Isreal. As the conversation continued, Moses asked that God should still go with them. They couldn't go on their own

God actually agreed that He'd go with them even after all they did.

Then Moses says this:

Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
Exodus 33:18 NIV

Note that this is what Moses said that brought the reply we are examining

And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Exodus 33:19 NIV

Here is what God is saying,  you people have done the most terrible thing ever. You are not one bit deserving of my mercy but I the Lord will be making a display of my goodness before you._
_You will see it and know that this is true of my nature and name. Though you are unworthy, I'm about to let you know that my mercy (my benefits and blessings) are dispensed regardless of what you've done. It has never been based on human merit.

Let's note that Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Nah. Mercy is getting something we are undeserving of. Mercy is nobody's right, it is God's goodness displayed before us all.

Let's equate this in Romans 9.

Remember the Jews were angry and jealous of the Gentiles cos they also had received the gospel and they felt they were undeserving cos the promise was made to them alone.

Paul quoting this scripture is trying to respond to them that God will extend (and has already extended) His mercies towards anybody no matter how undeserving we feel they are. The Jews did not get the mercy of God because they were deserving. So the Gentiles will not be asked to deserve God's mercy to get it

He gives His mercies and compassion as He wills (regardless of what man has done)

Now, let's still go back to Moses' question.

Lord, show me Your Glory

Remember this statement: Christ in me, the Hope of Glory

God's response of Mercy and Grace, He satisfied in Christ. Though the world is undeserving, every single one of us, yet God still reveals His Glory to us, in Christ. His Mercy and Graciousness is Christ given to all men

So whenever we read or quote "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy upon and be gracious to whom I will be gracious too....", have it in mind that this is already satisfied in Christ. It is a case of some very special favor unmerited but it is not about one man as we love to think or unfairness by God, nah. This is God reaching out to man undeserving with Himself.

Again, let's stop quoting this verse to support God loving one person more.

God is not unjust or unfair. He loves everyone uniquely. Not one person more than the other

It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
Romans 9:16 NIV

After that quote, Paul concluded with this. We see we are on the same page with him now

For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”  Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
Romans 9:17‭-‬18 NIV

God raised Pharaoh just to harden his heart? No.

Pharaoh's heart was hard right from the beginning, we could see it in the way he treated the Israelites long before Moses was sent. All of this period, God watched. Pharaoh grew in hardness, wickedness, and power, God watched

God did not interfere in Pharaoh's rise to power. Looking at it sef, if God killed Pharaoh in His sleep another wicked Pharaoh will arise

Also, the Israelites would never have understood what was happening. They'd never have been reminded of the promise and would have preferred to stay in bondage if it happened another way

So God had to come in at such a time when Pharaoh had risen to power and save the way He did.
In so doing, the Israelites were reminded of their identity (who they meant to God) and His promise

He hardens who He wants to harden

Read as he allows the hardness of a man.

God didn't bring a kindhearted Pharaoh and changed his heart.

Pharaoh's heart was wicked, God did not interfere with it. He simply allowed his desires to come to play

One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?” But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ”  Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?  What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?
Romans 9:19‭-‬22 NIV

Here we see Paul quote what might be on the mind of the Jews. If God saves whomever He wants and can add the Gentiles as He pleases, why then have we been saddled with certain responsibilities as the chosen ones.

Paul's response is that the question is disrespectful. God is the Potter, He made us and has power over us.

Though He has chosen to extend mercy to not just the Jews but also the Gentiles, this doesn't mean anyone is exempted from right living. We should not say we can live as we want since God extends His mercy as He wishes

Now here is what I see, the Jews had thought so highly of themselves, like so highly.

So appaz, was a really great shock to see that God can give what He gave them to others.

They believed it was by what they did that they were special in the sight of God

And God burst their bubbles. He reduced all of their works to nothing by offering the gift of salvation which they saw as a reward to the Gentiles

This is seen in the response above

Sebi God didn't choose us based on anything we did or do. All of the laws we've been observing, everything is meaningless. We can as well live as we want

His will will always come to play since it's this way.

It is the same way with what God has done. He wanted to show his anger and to let people see his power. But he patiently endured those he was angry with—people who were ready to be destroyed. He waited with patience so that he could make known the riches of his glory to the people he has chosen to receive his mercy. God has already prepared them to share his glory. We are those people, the ones God chose not only from the Jews but also from those who are not Jews.
Romans 9:22‭-‬24 ERV

On the question of God choosing people or some predestined to be saved, so no matter what you do if God did not choose you it is all effortless. Well, this is a lie.

The wrath of God is just and every man deserved it, both the Jews that taught God was sleeping and waking up by their side alone and the Gentiles that were seen as rejected by God. But we see that God waited patiently (still waiting patiently), to make known His glory to the people He has chosen to receive His mercy

Who has He chosen to receive His mercy?

(We explained this with the story of Jacob and Esau in part 1.)

The answer is those who accept His promise. And what is this Promise? Christ

And this is what Paul was trying to explain, that God has chosen both Jews and non-Jews, all men actually, to make known His glory. This is actualized in their belief in Christ. So if the Gentiles believed, then they were as much chosen as the Jews.

So the explanation that people have of the verses are wrong.

God is not mean, unjust or unfair.

If He has already chosen who He wants in His heaven in this manner you stated, then it is probably a waste of time for all of us.

That's not what Paul was saying

What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.
Romans 9:30‭-‬32 NIV

Isreal believed that they were special and chosen but it is their works that made them special

The Gentiles, on the other hand, understood that they were undeserving of whatever God is giving and rested in the promise by belief in Christ.

Also, note that God told Isreal they were special and chosen (The messiah was to come from amongst them).

But Isreal didn't understand what it truly meant to be chosen. NIV said they stumbled over the stumbling block

Isreal had to stop thinking that they were chosen and are saved regardless or by works.

Like the Gentiles, everyone is chosen/saved through the same route: Belief in Christ

And this is made available to all men by God's mercy and Grace (not one person deserving of it)

ROMANS 9: "JACOB I HAVE LOVED, ESAU HAVE I HATED"

So I will just take time to explain Romans 9 from the very beginning, as a start. We progress from there.

Now, here is the background to Romans 9

The Jewish Christians had an issue with the Gentiles being accepted into God's kingdom. They felt like it was all too easy for these Gentiles. They were jealous of the Gentiles and it was beginning to bring in resentment.

the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs is the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
Romans 9:4‭-‬5 NIV

This is the legacy of Isreal, that the Messiah comes from amongst them.

But when the Messiah came, Isreal wasn't receptive of Him but the Gentiles were

This is where the mumbling begins

It is us God gave the Messiah (the one we refused to accept), why are the Gentiles now getting access freely?

Is it that God doesn't keep to His word? The promise was meant for Isreal so if this Messiah is truly the promise, the Gentiles shouldn't be getting it this way.

Here is Paul's response to this:

I don’t mean that God failed to keep his promise to the Jewish people. But only some of the people of Israel are really God’s people.
Romans 9:6 ERV

It looks like the Israelites have missed their Messiah by not accepting Him but does this now mean that God failed in His promises to them? Paul says NO! Last year while we studied this chapter, I read somewhere that Isreal also means those who are ruled by God.

It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
Romans 9:6 NIV

By that definition above, not all who are descendants of Isreal are ruled by God. ERV already broke it down. Not all of the people of Isreal are really God's people (that is ruled by God)

This means that not all of Abraham’s descendants are God’s true children. Abraham’s true children are those who become God’s children because of the promise he made to Abraham.
Romans 9:8 ERV

Anyone who walks in the footstep of Abraham (Faith) is a true child of Abraham and God, for it is by this Faith the promise is received.

Now, the promise made to Abraham was broken down in the next verses (from verse 9), we see how Sara gave birth to a son and how Rebecca also conceived. I believe this is where the questions start (please follow from the start carefully so we take nothing out of context)

(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)  It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
Romans 9:11‭-‬12 KJV

The elder shall serve the younger. Why? For the purpose of election, that it wouldn't be by works or by birthright

Remember Paul was trying to clear the entitlement of the Israelites in this chapter which is why he referenced Rebecca. Even Isreal (Jacob), your father wasn't chosen because He was the firstborn (Firstborn sons then had a right of inheritance).

He was also not chosen because he worked or did something to be chosen. He was chosen before he was born. And Paul was very careful to mention that both children had not done good nor bad, so this is to state that God's election wasn't based on what bad anyone of them has done or will do

He did this so His purpose according to election might stand. It is by that purpose according to Election the Israelites became and were to not speak against the Gentiles becoming God's people. It is also by that purpose according to the election (Grace, Mercy), that you and I are called children of God, because none of us are relatives of Abraham.

We've examined God's purpose of election and interpreted with context what Paul was trying to say to the Israelites (you can scroll up and read again).

QUESTION - I'm sorry but I don't know why election is sounding like picking some and excluding some to me

ANSWER - The purpose of election here is not to pick one and exclude another (we will see it that God actually blessed Esau). Rather this purpose of election is to make all worthy

This was like a foreshadowing of what is to come in the future, where men who do not belong to the line of Abraham, who had no right to the inheritance would have access to it. The purpose of election is not that of pick one and drop one, it is that of inclusion

Everyone not worthy by works or birthright brought in by the mercy of God. It is this purpose of election that has us standing as children.

The Jews would never have accepted you and I

By birthright, Jacob was not entitled to the inheritance, neither was he by works.

Paul stated clearly that God chose even while they were without sin and it wasn't based on the future (maybe God looked and saw their sin). The criteria were not works. Now, if Jacob was first born and Esau the younger brother, Esau would have been chosen for this purpose of inclusion in this place too. So it wasn't about persons now but God's plan to include all men in the promise [ANSWER ENDS]

Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
Romans 9:13 NIV

I believe this is where the questions start flowing.

How is God who is so full of love, all good and no evil, how is He hating somebody? An unborn child for that matter? Now, this is where we pause and throw whatever we have deduced from this scripture away totally.

Let's branch to comprehension passages in the English language a bit. You know the question of
"Who said this? To whom was it said? When was it said? Why was it said according to the passage?" We apply it while studying scripture also

First, let's check this statement as written in context with the rest of the passage. We already went through what Paul was trying to say and where He is coming from. To judge this sentence which is a quote (we will address the quote too after) in the context it has been used, we see that what Paul was trying to say to them was this: God's purpose in loving Jacob is that of choosing Him to become the heir of the covenant.

Though Jacob never deserved. And since your father, Isreal never deserved also, why then do you stand against the Gentiles and say they are undeserving?

Do you not know it is God who chooses?

And in the same way He chose you, He has chosen the Gentiles. So this statement is that of acceptance (Jacob have I loved..) But what did Paul mean when he quoted Esau have I hated?

Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
Romans 9:13 NIV

We will come back here.... "Just as it is written.." Where did they write it?

Mal.1.2 - I have loved you, says the Lord. Yet you say, How and in what way have You loved us? Was not Esau Jacob 's brother? says the Lord, yet I loved Jacob (Israel),

Mal.1.3 - But [in comparison with the degree of love I have for Jacob] I have hated Esau [Edom] and have laid waste his mountains, and his heritage I have given to the jackals of the wilderness.
AMP

“The LORD says to his people, “I have always loved you.” But they reply, “How have you shown your love for us?” The LORD answers, “Esau and Jacob were brothers, but I have loved Jacob and his descendants, and have hated Esau and his descendants. I have devastated Esau's hill country and abandoned the land to jackals.””
‭‭Malachi‬ ‭1:2-3‬ ‭GNBDC‬‬

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the Lord. “Yet Jacob I have loved, But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness.”
Malachi 1:2‭-‬3 NKJV

Before I explain the verses here in Malachi, let's note that This is the first mention of Love and hate towards Jacob and Esau. Both men were already dead here, they had lived and their works judged.

This particular statement was not made while they were in the womb.

Their possessions were too great for them to remain together; the land where they were staying could not support them both because of their livestock.
Genesis 36:7 NIV

Esau was greatly blessed by God. He had so much possession that the land could not contain

So this is the first time God is mentioning Esau and Jacob using such strong words

We already ruled out that this is how God felt about them before He chose Jacob

This was much later.

And this statement was made loooooooong after both were dead.

Also, note that Esau and Jacob became nations before they died (both greatly blessed by the Lord)

Esau: Edom
Jacob: Isreal

What is the context of Malachi? What made God say that He loved one person and hated the other?

If we study Malachi well, we see that the grumbling from the Jews about the Gentiles concerning the Messiah had somewhat played in earlier times (Malachi). Isreal in the Malachi context is complaining to God that He doesn't love them anymore. According to them, God was not blessing them the way He should. Sebi it is Isreal God chose, why was it looking like they were no longer accepted

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob,
Malachi 1:2 NIV

This is God's reply.

Esau was Jacob's brother, yet I have loved Jacob. What is God telling them here? The Jews have always been God's chosen people. He chose them even when they were not deserving.

The problem was not that God stopped loving them. Rather that they had not been faithful to Him

It becomes clearer as we read chapter 1 to 3

Now let's go to Esau (Edom)

Note that we established that Jacob referenced to the Israelites in God's statement was as a nation not individual. So that Same angle for Esau (Edom) Why did God hate Esau (Edom, the nation)?

Though Esau was greatly blessed by God, he and his descendants did not live in faithfulness to God. To see the sin of Esau (Edom), let's go to Obadiah. Sorry, we will be using scripture to explain scripture. This is so we understand everything In context

Obadiah is just 21 verses but please let's all read

It is the answer to what we are looking for. This is where we see what Esau (Edom) did wrong that made God say I have hated Esau

How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!
Obadiah 1:6 KJV

All the hidden things about Esau searched out and laid bare in this chapter. We get to see exactly what he did wrong,  the true side to the story

God blessed Esau and made him into a nation, Edom. From having nothing to having all but this inflated Edom's ego

Esau, their father lived a life contrary to God's will and his descendants took it up from there

Like they did worse

God never said he hated or loved Jacob until long after both men had become nations and died.

Isreal, the nation, allowed themselves to be used by God mightily, of course with flaws/disobedience here and there but in all of these, they still had one or 2 men whose hearts were after the Lord. Moses, Joshua, David, Nehemiah, Samuel, Hezekiah, etc came from Isreal. Edom on the other hand, though made great by God, became a godless nation.

They counted God as nothing

The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?
Obadiah 1:3 KJV

They lived in false security. It was a "We don't need God" brag. Obadiah has a long list of sins but the major one was this

For thy violence against thy brother, Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off forever.
Obadiah 1:10 KJV

The reasons God hated Esau was because this nation Edom was opposed to Isreal and God's promise. Now, remember we didn't translate Love in its literal English meaning but rather based on usage meaning. Hate here means to not give special privilege or protection to Edom/Esau. Remember love for Jacob implies special privilege and inclusion where we do not belong

Hate for Esau is cutting off special privileges (in other words, Mercy). Why? Because Esau stood against the Promise which was God's Mercy foreshadowed

Let's fix all of these in the passage.

Before I move on, let's not forget the captivity of the Israelites at Babylon. Edom was involved

Back to Romans 9 and Malachi 1
(we fix in the passage)

The Israelites accused God that He didn't love them I.e they were not favored.

He says He has loved (favored/Chosen) Jacob but hated Esau

He hated Esau because Esau stood against the Promise of the Lord. This is to say those who stand against the Promise of the Lord are not chosen by God.

This promise of God to Abraham is Christ. Jesus is the blessing of Abraham

Back to Paul and the Jews.

Again, the story is they complained about the Gentiles being accepted into Christ, that they had missed the Messiah. Perhaps the Lord did not love them anymore.

So Paul's response in quoting is that God's word didn't fail. Isreal is not just the nation but those who allow God's rule. For the believer in Christ, allowing God rule is accepting the promise of God, Christ!

As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Romans 9:13 KJV

This statement from all the explanation is not that of literal hate

Far from it because God really loved Esau (the man) and blessed him greatly. Rather, it is that of God's chosen people. The ones inside of His promise.

Jacob I have loved:

The ones who have accepted my promise and are in my promise, I have loved them (they are my chosen people)

Esau I have hated:

The ones who stand against my promise are not my chosen people

So if the Jews felt they were chosen and the Gentiles had no place, then they should know it wasn't just about being from the nation Isreal but rather the promise in the nation, Isreal and being in it by Faith.

So this is the explanation for Romans 9: 1-13.

QUESTION - And also can we actually be punished by our father when we do something wrong

ANSWER - Only in the sense of loving discipline. Christ already took all of our punishments. No believer stands condemned [ANSWER ENDS]

QUESTION - Is it not understandable that Esau will hate Jacob & Edom hate Isreal? This guy stole his blessing with the help of their mum?

ANSWER - For this, what exactly did Jacob steal? Note that it is not the blessing(s) of God or the inheritance. God wasn't in support of this also. This was Rebecca and Jacob's doing. She was trying most likely to bring the prophecy to pass.

So Genesis 27

If we read through, we see that Esau was blessed also but Jacob received that of the firstborn. If we move further to life after Jacob ran away when he was coming to beg for forgiveness. Before he even got to Esau, Esau already forgave him. He was already greatly blessed also and he moved on from this hurt

It wasn't this stolen blessing by Jacob that Edom was angry about or fought against, it is that of the Lord; the promise. [ANSWER ENDS]

FOLLOW THE SPIRIT

Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went.
Ezekiel 1:12 NIV

So there is our key text for the year again

I will like everyone to know it by heart. Let it be what you live by this year.

As the Lord revealed, we've come to know that this year is the year of the spirit. Not just for Word Alive but believers all over the world. There is a move of the spirit happening in our time, as never seen before and it begins this year.

I was speaking with someone and they mentioned a prophecy from the 1920s about 2020. According to the prophecy, a fire of revival will spread like never before and new generals will arise from all nations. Immediately, I connected with all we have been getting

Sadly, I couldn't get the prophet's name but I am surely finding it. The person shared a lot of things from that prophecy and they were so accurate

Exactly what I've heard

My interest piqued immediately I heard it was over 100 years ago. It shows one thing, that what is about to come upon us, this move we are about to experience, it's not a coincidence.

So many lives and destinies are attached to it. A lot of things will change for so many of us. It is very much strategic for such a time as this

I don't know if we've all taken note but it seems like the enemy got more strategic. He's moving so smoothly in the world

Everybody is selling Juju (kayamatanga or so) openly and it is normal

Things we'd never have done years ago have been normalized. And this will get worse as time goes

But guess what, God is also raising an army for such a time like this. He knew this time would come long before my grandmother was born. He spoke about it through the prophets of those times
And slowly, in all of our various life walks (smooth and unsmooth), He has been leading us right here

Becca sent me a video from Kenneth Copeland, He had pretty much the same to say about this year being the year of the spirit

Nonso sent one too from Prophet Tomi Arayomi

Got another from Nkiru by DDK and it was also the same prophecy

I've had discussions with friends not on Word Alive and when they share what God told them about the year, I'm asking if they are me

I'm reminded of this scripture :

Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.
Amos 3:7 NIV

When the Lord GOD decides to do something, he will first tell his servants, the prophets.
Amos 3:7 ERV

When the Lord decides to do something

We can say for sure that the Lord is about to do something. If our spiritual antenna is active, you can sense it strongly and connect

This particular prophecy is dated earliest (to my knowledge) to the 1920s

We see that God did not just decide to do something. It's been decided long ago. And I just heard this in my spirit now to share with you all

That all the things that appeared to have gone "wrong", every decision and painful situation, they've all brought us to this place

The spirit says we might not know it but this is exactly where He has been leading us to
All of the lessons
All of the pain and shame
The Fallings and failings
Struggles
Standing back and standing strong

This is where it has been leading you all along

Preparations have been ongoing long before you even knew God. All of you from various places, nations, and continents whose physical paths might never cross but with paths aligning. Everyone heading in the same direction. Each step (though looking like a failure on your end), a closer one to this

God is doing something and if we are sensitive in the spirit we can testify to this. A shift is happening

Probably you've been hearing shift happening every time and it's beginning to sound cliche but really something is changing and it begins already

Back to our scripture.

Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.
Amos 3:7 NIV

Now that we know that God always tell people before doing anything (not to take permission but rather out of love for man and so men will act in like with the season upon them) and He has revealed though so many

So what next.??????

What do we do? How do we act in this season? Or are we just supposed to stand still and wait

Are we supposed to find everyone we think God wants to call for this and speak to them? What exactly is our reaction?

I've had plenty of questions myself since the Lord revealed these things. Like I just want us to fast forward and get a download of everything, all the hows, and details

And this has been the response of the Lord:

Follow the spirit

For some of us, a lot of things might come up this year, it will look like this leading na inside carnal or gutter Laslas you go end. Ignore the physical reality and the pain that will come from the changes happening

Just follow

Let's visit our key text again

Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went.
Ezekiel 1:12 NIV

There is a forward movement towards this prophecy and move of the spirit we are about to experience. Because this move belongs to the Spirit, only Him knows where everything will be happening. Only Him as all the details

Because only Him knows and God is so gracious, The spirit was sent to lead us to this place where everything will happen. The forward movement to this place started long ago, now more than ever we cannot afford to miss our way or get distracted

Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went.
Ezekiel 1:12 NIV

If we read from verse 1, the description of the living creatures is amazing. It sounds like they probably will know all or navigate on their own with all of those features. But no, he direction is straight ahead, as the spirit led.

Something caught my eye in the next verse after 12

The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.
Ezekiel 1:13 NIV

As they followed the spirit, Ezekiel saw that they looked like burning coals of fire. Torches

Now, Ezekiel had described these creatures before. I doubt he'd have missed out on this description if he saw it in the verses before. Ezekiel only noticed this particular appearance as he watched them follow the Spirit, not looking left or right. See, there is a revival of fire about to Burn. The spirit just reminded me of what He said on Men becoming flammable this period

The fire of God will be spreading back and forth without stress, just by following the spirit

The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.
Ezekiel 1:14 NIV

Speedy movement as we follow the Spirit. Some of us whose fellowships with  God are zero and are wondering how they fit in in all of this.

Don't wander too much. Speed comes

As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel.
Ezekiel 1:15‭-‬16 NIV

I was trying to understand this verse for a while. Who owns the wheel? What are they doing with the creatures in Ezekiel's vision

What is their purpose? How is a 4 legged wheel intersecting another wheel?

We can Google Ezekiel's wheel

Not one picture perfected this wheel intersecting wheel cos it is impossible. Let me explain what this means to us

If we scroll down, we will see that the wheel was later used to bring in the throne of God, which is where God sits. God sitting on the throne and brought in by the wheel. Then the wheel moving with each creature as they followed the spirit.

The wheel is also intersecting

Here is what I got from this verse:

As many of us that are believers and carry the presence of God (the creature and the wheel), as we follow the Spirit, our paths will be intertwined. Probably are already

As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went.
Ezekiel 1:17 NIV

Though paths and purposes are intertwined, let's note that the living creatures were not led by this

Rather it was the path/purpose (wheel) that followed the direction of the creatures (the believers). And the creatures followed the lead of the spirit only.

In this season, we will not be led by ambitions, purposes, career paths, seemingly spiritual paths, etc. We will be led only by the spirit All of these things will fall under

Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
Ezekiel 1:20 NIV

Look at the progression

Spirit first
Creature follows
Paths/ambitions/purposes

Now, how come the paths/purpose/ambitions aligned with the movement of the creatures as led by the spirit? Because the spirit inside of the creatures lived inside of them too

Wow 🔥

All our paths and ambitions this year, they must be subjected to the leading of the Spirit. Follow! God will not give you a purpose or lead you in a path outside of the leading of the Spirit

When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.
Ezekiel 1:24 NIV

When the creatures moved (followed the spirit without looking sideways), Ezekiel heard the voice of the Lord. Some of us want instructions all at once. We want God to say everything now at once

I understand the frustration. But see, the words will come as we go after the spirit, one after the other. The plan will keep unveiling

I don't know if this move is happening in Lagos or Ibadan. I don't know if we will all be asked to leave our work and go. I have plenty questions but the instruction is simple: Follow the Spirit

As we do, the plan will be unveiled fully

All God is about to do, the spirit knows the fastest route

Let me give a logical sample

If I go to Italy tomorrow and the mission is very important, I can't afford to be doing trial and error method or just walking around till I find my way. I use a tour guide. I meet people who know the city well and allow them to lead me. If I had time, probably I could afford to walk around, miss my steps then find my hotel hours back. But there is no time for all of that for this Italy trip so I make sure to stay with those who know the road. We do not have time to waste

Romans  8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

The Greek word used here is ago and it means to gently lead. While He is very patient, The spirit will not force us. This season, we will need to willingly follow

I believe this is what the Lord was referencing for the revelation I shared, that many though walked to this place with us, might not continue further. Not because God doesn't want them to but because of their own choice.

I pray none of us willingly damn the leading of the Spirit

Again, I see the shedding of weight, unnecessary weight. Not fat now, people/things/attachments/distractions/career

For those that this applies to when that time comes, be ready. For some, it has started already. It might be costly and painful, but drop.

Also, don't postpone anything. Don't say I will start to do tomorrow. Now is the time!

Be very alert and sensitive as you follow the Spirit. Don't make the tiniest decision on your own.

Wait for God to speak and keep following the spirit.
Do not look left, do not turn right
Look straight ahead
Wherever the spirit leads, follow!

I pray we all receive Grace to stand firm and follow closely without losing sight of Him and regardless of all it might look like we are losing.

Amen

HANDLING PROPHECIES IN RELIGIOUS BODIES

Guidelines for all leaders in charge

-Please do not despise prophecy. I understand that if the prophetic is not managed properly, it can destroy a lot of things but then let's not forget that is probably one of the most important gifts of the Lord for the building/growth of your church/body and the people the Lord has given to you.

Do not treat prophecies with contempt
1 Thessalonians 5:20 NIV

- As you accept the prophetic in anybody or gathering that you head, don't allow anything go within your congregation or the people you lead.

I'm the assistant to my pastor in church but I never give prophecies in Church even when I'm the one leading or preaching. I write it down and submit to the head pastor. I still got something for the church during service today, I wrote and gave to her. The pastor doesn't announce immediately also, I've noticed. She probably takes time to examine what was sent to her

Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:19‭-‬22

There has to be training and order within the body of Christ. If we do not guide the process of the prophetic carefully, things can get pretty flaky.

So yes, embrace the prophetic but make sure there is proper guidance, training and order put in place to avoid anyone being led by the flesh corrupting the church in the name of prophecy

- Create a friendly Prophetic environment for the people under you.
- Make sure to align your group/body and yourself with mature Prophetic voices to aid growth

They might not be your members but you should have mentors too. Same way we have Pastors we are accountable to, it's important to have people that have been walking in the Prophetic for long amongst us. They will help us in cases where we don't understand certain things. The Lord will also use them to correct us when we are going wrong.

As you grow, a time will come when you will start getting messages for your mentors.

All of my mentors in the Prophetic (both active and passive), in the past one year, I've seen God actually pass very important messages to them through me. Another thing I noticed is, recently, they've all started allowing my gifts and this is because they've watched it grow. Though they still watch and check what I'm doing but I'm more free to deliver messages to people.

Infact, they bring names of people for me to pray for or direct anyone that comes to them for prayers to me. This is funny because, I had to run everything by them as at a time.

For those of us that are in a hurry to give words, I know the spirit is speaking to you but please do not despise the leading of those in charge.

Don't go and be doing your own thing

The time will come when they will leave you to speak directly to the congregation without telling them first, until then go through them.

Do not be quick to give private messages to members of your body also or church without running with the pastor.

Because in the past people have given wrong messages for various reasons that shook the body of Christ and this is one of the reasons most churches stay away from the prophetic.

Now that we see it is building up slowly around us, don't spoil it by not being accountable. Especially for corrective and directive messages. You should NEVER reach out to your church member on your own for this.

Prophetic Protocols in The Church and any Spiritual Gathering

Protocol simply means a guideline of how things should occur. There are rules as far as prophecy is concerned in the body of Christ. Majority of the rules will be determined by the leaders of course but I think they are mostly same in most bodies.

So from all we have learnt, we will all be answering concerning the rules.

1. Should words be given during a service or first be judged by leadership

2. Should we have a Prophetic free for all or all words should pass through trained leaders?

3. What types of words do you think should be given in a service?

4. Should corrective words for an individual in the church be given before the congregation?

5. How about Directive?

6. What is your reaction as a member when Prophetic words are given?

7. Should everyone be allowed to prophesy in the main services?


Things to note as you develop a Prophetic Lifestyle

Basic Life Character

1. Have integrity as a person. How people see you largely determines how they process the message you give.

2. Be kind and let love be the order for you.
It's hard for someone that knows you don't like them to take you serious when you deliver a message.
Also, it is hard for you to hear clearly about someone when you are having hateful thoughts towards them.

3. Don't be spooky.
You can operate in the Prophetic and act normal.
Don't let people feel uneasy around you.


Authority and Accountability
- You must submit to authority. This is a must. If you don't want to, leave the prophetic alone. The church doesn't need more chaos

- As you grow and your leaders allow you to express more freely, accountability is still not removed.

-Help others to grow in their Prophetic giftings also

You can pick a Prophetic partner or partners. Pray with them regularly over other people. Write down the things you receive and share with those you are accountable to

The word

The word is your go to, you must be grounded in it.
A large percentage of prophecy comes directly from scripture.
The remaining percentage that is not explicitly stated can be traced here also.
The word of God is our map in this journey

Be a clean Prophetic Vessel
Our lives and backgrounds are the filters the word must go through usually. Insecurity, bitterness, rejection, pride, control, selfish ambitions etc are dangerous filters for a direct word from God. It is easy to misinterpret the message or share our own view as God's view.

We can't afford to be defiled Prophetic voices. There are a whole lot of these out there.
People who are defiled by the lack of right living (they can't even share certain things cos of the state of their lives or they pervert God's words to make themselves feel good), wrong motives, greed (some people will lie to you that God said and collect money), desire for personal gains (God said we should marry 🙄), recognition or power

All of these things taint and defile our voices. We need to be watchful with them

Also, a whole lot of us are tingled by prophets. We like looking for prophets up and down. Please be careful, be very careful. I have numerous bad experiences that I have seen. Stop looking for what is not missing up and down

Someone traveled all the way from a city to another to visit a prophet, when she got there, she lost her memory and became Prophet's wife for years. She had children and husband. She was visiting the prophet concerning her husband.

Test all spirits and put your bumbum in one place. The end is here already. There are a whole lot of false prophets. If you don't know what you are doing, you will become casualty data for the evil they do.

I know this prophet, e do miracle, e raise the dead

The person that is giving you the gist, who are they? Are they grounded I the spirit? Can they discern if the prophet is false or not?

Don't follow anybody to anywhere without praying about it please. What you want to hear, God can use people around you to tell you. He can tell you directly.

My very close friend was charmed by a prophet shortly before her marriage. They canceled wedding and everything just scattered. He saw her on the road and gave an accurate description of her life and happenings. She believed only the spirit of God could reveal to him. He sha told her she needed to do some things. She visited him for counseling in his house. We don't know what happened there but when she got back, she and her husband to be started fighting over everything.

I was home in 2017 and met her, I practically came home for wedding now you say it's not happening again. I knew something was wrong the way she was talking. I started praying with her and linked her with my aunt to also pray for her.

During the prayers, she confessed the pastor abi prophet gave her something to put in the house so that God will reveal. That was when trouble started. In fact the week we were praying with her, she still visited the prophet, he asked her to go naked so he could pray for her but thank God she was getting sane small small

My point in all of these, if she could discern herself, she'd have known something was wrong. If she had been exercising her hearing ears and spiritual eyes, she'd have gotten something sha

This is one of the greatest lessons I learned from my late spiritual mom

First, you are your own prophet.

You need to take charge of your life. Don't be a victim of evil circumstances.
God will send people to you but God will also speak to you to. He will let you know who He sent and who He didn't sent

Lovers of God have been given eyes to see with spiritual discernment and ears to hear from God.
Proverbs 20:12 TPT

If you forget anything you learn in this group, don't forget this scripture. Don't!

You can hear! You can see!

Ears that hear and eyes that see— we get our basic equipment from God !
Proverbs 20:12 MSG

Seeeeeeee. Basic equipment for spiritual living. Hold on to it.

Intimacy with Jesus is the Highest Key to the prophetic

Remember we took the intimacy series before this, that wasn't coincidental

“You show that you are my intimate friends when you obey all that I command you.  I have never called you ‘servants,’ because a master doesn’t confide in his servants, and servants don’t always understand what the master is doing. But I call you my most intimate friends, for I reveal to you everything that I’ve heard from my Father.
John 15:14‭-‬15 TPT

Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives
Galatians 5:25‭MSG

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit!

I pray we all live as we've been called, that we put these things into practice and we enter a new life of living in the Prophetic, that we subject ourselves to the leading of the Spirit at all times. And when the times when we need to put in use something from this teaching, the spirit brings it to our remembrance.

Amen

Thank you so much everyone.

We've come to an end of the Divine Communication Series

RECEIVING A PROPHETIC WORD FROM SOMEONE ELSE

So last time we talked about giving prophecies and things to note for the person giving, today we will be talking about the receiver and how to receive prophecies.

We need to understand that not every Prophetic word given to us will be from God - we are humans. So when we receive a word, the first thing to do is examine it.

Examine the word

And don’t be one who scorns prophecies, but be faithful to examine them by putting them to the test, and afterward hold tightly to what has proven to be right.
1 Thessalonians 5:20‭-‬21 TPT

A lot of people out of fear despise prophecy. We've already established that prophecy is not a bad thing, it is not wrong.

When someone gives you a word, thank them and take the word. Now when I say take, I do not mean accept all. Just collect the word somewhere (probably write down or save)

Then go back and examine what is said carefully.

Now here is the thing, this process of examining should be done regardless of who gave the word.

Even if it is Apostle Paul that appears and give you a Prophetic word, you must examine it.

If you get it directly from the spirit, you must examine it still.

If it is from someone you don't like or someone that has given a prophecy to you before that turned out false, still examine it.

We already discussed how to authentify that a prophecy is from God, so check the notes there for this part.

After examining, what is said might not be against the word of God but it doesn't look right for you or look like it is yours, just write it down and pray over it.

If it is yours, when the time you will need it comes, you will be reminded.

I've seen cases where I tell someone something and they are like, I can't relate, it is not for me.

Then after a long time, they come back to say, ehnehn Remi, that thing you said that time, it is happening now o. Please, can you tell me the remaining thing you said that day? I've forgotten

Most likely, I've forgotten too cos my memory is yet to carry all of my own personal prophecies before we talk of yours.

If you are given a word and you can't relate at that time or you don't understand, please write it down.
Examine and still pray over it. In due time, everything will make sense.

Sometimes someone will tell you something, some part will be scriptural and the other part wrong, this doesn't mean you should throw everything said away.

Pray over everything.
Ask God the unscriptural part, if the person misinterpreted from their own knowledge of what was shared and what part of the prophecy belongs to you.

So the basics when you get a prophecy are:

1. Thank the person

2. Don't be rude to them even if you can't relate

3. Go and examine on your own

4. If you have access, give feedback to the person that gave the prophecy (might not include all details). This is to also encourage them and help them trust the spirit revealing to them even when things don't make sense

If the prophecy is false, ignore it. Don't brand the person false prophet all around town

It could be you giving a prophecy that is not correct tomorrow, this doesn't make you a false prophet.

So just assume that was an error on their side except the Lord reveals otherwise

In religion, a false prophet is one who falsely claims the gift of prophecy or divine inspiration, or to speak for God, or who makes such claims for evil ends

How to Examine The word

- Is it scriptural?

-Did it edify, exhort or comfort me?

-What was the spirit the word came in? Is it consistent with the nature of Christ?

-is all of the prophecy or just a part of it from God?

-How does it affect my life, family, job, commitments, etc?

-Does this word destroy or bring life?

-Is it condemning or convicting?

-Does it glorify Jesus


After examining, next 2 steps is

-What is the Interpretation?

-Do I need to take action immediately or apply something now?

For interpretation, most times we like to rely on the person that gave the word but I've found that it is not every time they get interpretation for the word they give.

Sometimes, they are just here to give a word and go. Don't force an interpretation out of them to avoid wrong interpretations.

If they don't know the interpretation, it is fine. It is your prophecy. Go and ask the Spirit to interpret

The minute we receive a word, we enter a Prophetic process in our lives. We must do something with the word received. We have to allow the spirit to lead us here, to know when to take action and what action to take.

Three steps in the Prophetic process

For prophecy to be fulfilled in our lives, there are steps we should follow.
So many times we get a word and nothing happens after. We know the word was truly for us but somehow it didn't come to pass.

Usually, prophecy doesn't give us the inevitable, what it gives us is potential. Prophecy is God speaking forth His mind/will/plan for a particular situation

What we do with it and how we respond to God's will that has been made known most times determines if and when it comes to pass.

1. The revelation

This is the stage of the prophetic word or message received. God's will send/relay to us.

2. The Interpretation

Now that we have received the word, it is important to know the meaning. Gain more insight into what you've heard/received. Know what God is trying to say exactly, His timing and what the prophecy means for you.

3. Application
Now that we know/understand the meaning of the message, what do we do?

Our response to prophecies most times determines what happens next.

E.g
Like 100 people get a Prophetic word for me that I'm going to be a billionaire in 2020. Of course, I will jump at this and be happy.

I start singing up and down I'm gonna be a billionaire, billionaire ye yee 🎶

I don't ask God if I should look for work or if it's the Holy Spirit inspiring me to do something that will bring billions my way. Or probably He is directing me to certain people

I sleep away 2020 while waiting to be a billionaire (my enemy please, not me 🙄)

100% certain that this my enemy here is not ready to be a billionaire. And might not become a billionaire that year.

So it's very important to ask God what next after getting to know His will.
Ask Him what is expected of you for this to be fulfilled.
Do we need training or preparation?
What changes do we need to make?
What area of our lives should we apply the word?
What time should we apply what is revealed?
( Timing is key also)

It's important to stay in prayer and follow God's lead into His will that He revealed.

Other keys include:
-Being accountable and let your authorities work with you.
If you get a word that you will become a king, it doesn't mean you should start disrespecting the present King or acting anyhow. Submit to those above you even if you feel the plan God has revealed for you is bigger than them.

- Timing as I said earlier is very important

- Always hold up your word and your course of action to scripture.

- Never stop praying

THE PROPHETIC 3 - Receiving And Giving Prophecy

We receive prophecy from God for people in several ways. I will just list some here for us.

1. Prophetic words:

This comes as a clear stream of words to our mind/heart. Like a clear knowing, that comes from within us.

2. Rhema
Revelations or word that we get for others or even ourselves through scripture

3. Word of Knowledge and Word of Wisdom

Word of knowledge is the Holy Spirit transmitting His specific knowledge to us about something or someone, that we could never have known.

For example, me probably praying for someone or speaking with you and I begin to share exact details about you/something you are going through and no one told me this.

E.g Jesus and the woman at the well

Word of Wisdom is getting a divinely/supernaturally inspired answer to someone's problem or situation. Something that the human mind could never think up on its own.

These 2 are actually very important in counselling and when praying for other people.
I've had cases where we are praying about something and looking for direction, then the word of wisdom comes on what to do.

I remember praying for my family one time and I got a word about an aunt, everything going on in her life and the role my great grandmother had to play in it.

When my parents asked my grandfather, it turned out it was true. He kept asking how they knew his mother did that. God so good, He also gave a word of Wisdom for that situation. If you have a ministry in healing and deliverance, I believe these are important.

4. Dreams
This is another way we can receive prophecy for people. Prophetic dreams usually have interpretation.


5. Visions
-Inner Visions: These are pictures we see that happen on the page of the mind.
 I actually receive a lot this way... I'm praying, meditating or walking and it's like someone is playing a movie inside my mind and I'm to watch.

-Open/outer Visions:
We see things displayed to a person that they are actually seeing with their physical eyes.

The first time I experienced this was in July 2015. Twice the same day. I was waiting for someone and my spiritual mother who was then in the hospital appeared to me and was discussing.
I thought I was hallucinating but it happened minutes after again

Before then I used to think, you need to sit down quietly or be praying or be a "super Christian" before you receive visions 🤦🏿‍♀

For most people, visions are generalized. Like It's just vision but I'm breaking it down here for us so we can see where we relate with and know it is actually God speaking to us.

A whole lot of people get inner visions but do not know

6. Physical sensations

Sometimes in receiving a word for people, we experience physical sensations. Like our body reacts in a way we are not used to and we sense God speaking to us about someone at that time.


7. Tongues (Of course accompanied with his sister, interpretation)

We receive Prophetic words through interpreted tongues.
This is not seen often as most believers do not embrace the prophetic.
If you've been to White garment churches, it's very possible you have seen this.

The good thing is, things are changing. I've seen and been in meetings where believers operate in the Prophetic without restrictions. Tongues being given and interpreted randomly by 2 people who don't even know each other and it is usually correct (from the ones I've seen)

8. Prophetic Songs (or worship)

This could be spontaneous music, dance or any other form of art as a means in bringing forth a word from God.

It is not the spontaneity that makes it Prophetic, but the words or art form shared.

Sometimes, it is drawings. Someone just picks up a pen spontaneously and begins to draw or illustrate things as messages from God. Songs are the most common for me, personally.

Practical points when giving a Prophetic word

1. No need to be mystical or hyper-spiritual:
You don't have to roll on the floor and hit yourself or do some special dramatic stuff before you give a word. This doesn't mean anyone that does this is faking it o, I'm only saying you don't have to do it 🙄
It is not a prerequisite

2. Speak clearly and naturally

You don't have to use King James version to deliver the word or add Thus saith the Lord for effect.
If the word is from God, the spirit will confirm it.

Again, note that the spirit can use these words directly when speaking through you. This doesn't mean you have to add it yourself always.

Being dramatic actually puts pressure on both you and the person you are giving a message to

3. Know when to speak and when to just pray

Sometimes God shows us certain things for us to pray about it, not speak on it. Sometimes we are to speak, but not immediately or it is to be done privately. So when you get a word, don't be in a rush or hurry. Ask God

4. Give the word in the right spirit
This is very important. A lot of us Christians give prophecies and even share the word wrongly.

Sometimes we give the word from a place of control and manipulation, anger, judgment, bitterness or resentment.

Sometimes we give it from a place of I'm right and you are wrong. Like
" you better listen to God's prophet or else"

Or else what?

The motive of every word should be to display love, compassion and God's desire for His people.

Even hard, corrective words must come in the spirit of love

5. Avoid prophesying your pet doctrine
 When we give a word from God, we should put aside our favourite opinions or prejudice.

There are so many people putting out their own opinions as to the word from God. This makes it difficult for people to trust prophets. Be sure it is not your feeling you are sharing

6. Refrain from Scolding

Don't lecture people through prophecy. Share whatever God asked you to and move (Except you have a leadership position over them and are directly involved in the message received, even at this the lecture doesn't have to be immediately. Allow the word do its thing)

No condemnation while giving the word. Condemnation doesn't come from the spirit of Christ

I remember once praying for someone and I heard it that the person is light spiritually. In that instant, I knew to say that will come out as condemnation to the person so I just kept on praying. And much later I explained to the person the importance of fellowship with God. Why he needs to study the Bible and pray.

Also, it could have instilled fear. And fear is also not of God

7. Avoid publicly correcting leaders through prophecy

This is for us newbies and it is very important. I know God is using us and speaking to us o, but please honour those in leadership, please.

Even if it is not prophecy, avoid unnecessary public criticism of those that have been here before us.

This one, I'm actually begging cos there is a whole lot of this in our world today.

If you get a corrective prophecy for a leader, it's best to run it with another leader while praying for them. Or reach out directly if you are led.

8. Timing is important
Know when to speak.

9. Don't go about gossiping with classified info
If God shares something with you about someone, don't gossip about it with others especially when it is a detail not so good. The Lord trusted you with that information to help His child at that time.
Do not abuse this gift

10. Do not speak if there is a bit of confusion
If you are confused about a message you get, pray over it. Don't be in a rush to speak.
Rushing could lead to you relaying a message to the wrong person

11. Purge negative emotions
If you have an issue or misunderstanding with someone and you start getting a strong/hard corrective message for them, it is most likely your emotions doing the work.

Sometimes, we bring our personal issues in and brand it as prophecy. I know this can be done unknowingly which is why it is important to pray before sharing to someone you've had a misunderstanding with or have something against.

Ask the Holy Spirit to purge all negative emotions that might want to speak through you in guise of your Prophetic gift. If you have issues with someone and you get a prophecy that is negative, it's best to be an intercessor except there is a clear instruction to reach out.
If there is, run it by a leader


12 Major Principle is edification

Does it edify? Does it build? If the message pulls down more than it builds, pray about it and Refrain from sharing

13. Deliver the word and leave it alone

Most times, we overanalyse prophecy. This happens with me a lot. I've had to be very conscious of it.

God: Go and tell person a that I see their suffering and I'm stepping in already.

Me: Ehn... Person A that I saw enjoying yesterday, over enjoyment is worrying them sef. Which kind suffer. I'm not going o. If it's mistake na, I will now look like a false prophet 😭😭😭

After stubbornness, I oblige and go then person A confirms that the word is true and I'm there looking at myself like 🙄

Also, sometimes the word is not for you to understand. There are cases where the prophecy only makes sense to the person you are sent to. Just share

Another thing, when you deliver a word to someone and they don't say anything. Don't try to over-expand with your understanding. Just deliver and leave it alone.

The spirit inside of you is not false. I used to worry about this at some point too but with time I realized months later these people will come and be like, ehnehn Remi that thing you told me that day (I've forgotten btw), it clicked yesterday o. Something happened bla bla

So just deliver and leave it alone


13b Deliver and leave it alone:

After giving a word, don't try to force action or quicken the word or make it happen. Your job is to give the word and you've done it. It is God's work to keep His word

Eg. I see a vision that someone is giving Joshua 10million naira this week.

The week is ending and 10m is not here, then I proceed to give Joshua that 10m in Fulfilment of the prophecy.

This is not my business. Don't try to force action on a Prophetic word given through you


14. Prophesy life

There are some people that the only thing they see is bad, every time.

While it is possible that we can see negative things before they happen, I believe the Lord reveals to redeem, so ask for what God will have us do in that situation.

Don't come and gloat that you saw Nigeria burn down. It's not God's will that such should happen. Stay in prayer. Cry to God. Stand as an intercessor

There is no special medal in being a prophet of doom

15. Be governed by Love

Always, let love be the aim.

There are so many things to note when giving prophecies. Shared most of these from my own experience.