Prophetic Power

     Dear Friends and Partners I had a burden to write this letter, that the body of Christ may be blessed. I am aware that many of the people who receive this letter, may be already familiar with the spiritual truths I am going to cover. But I also believe that even the most experienced saints can receive more revelation as they maintain a humble and teachable spirit. The best teachers are usually the one's who are continually learning.   It is a wonderful thing to be fat in the Spirit, because then the enemy is not able to place his yoke around us. In order to stay fat saints we need to stay hungry for the things of God. There is always more to learn and receive from God, even in the most unlikeliest of places.
     I want you to know I have to be careful myself about closing my heart and mind, a little while ago I went to a conference, and the speaker that I wanted to listen to wasn't there that day. I pretty much looked at the guy speaking that day and thought to myself I gotta listen to this joker for the next couple of hours. Man this dude was loud and bubbly. I almost got tripped up by his personality and missed out on God's grace that was flowing through this man, who was sharing very anointed(spirit filled truths). God places people in the body of Christ that can minister grace (power,strength,enablement) to the saints, for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:12).   Did you get that? Every believer has a God given destiny and ministry to full-fill, and He will use parts of the body to help build them up. Even those who appear to be foolish or weak in the natural.
     We can receive many impartations through God's vessels and the messages they speak under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  We can also receive grace and encouragement through private prayer, worship, bible study, the prayers of others, prophesies, and even partnerships (Philippians 1:7)
     I want you to notice in 1st Timothy the apostle Paul is trying to remind Timothy about the prophecies (God given words spoken over him), in order to encourage him to fight the good fight. In 2nd Timothy Paul encourages Timothy with the fact that he had received a gift through the laying on of his hands.
     Conclusion: If we want to see people built up and to walk in their godly inheritance we would do good to follow the biblical pattern of prophetic proclamation and the laying on of hands.
     For instance, Jesus called Simon Peter (a stone) when he was nothing of the sort. Abraham was called the father of many nations when he had not even one child. God calls those things that be not as though they were. If I walk into a room and call some guy, you know who is no good, a man of God you might think I'm dumb, ignorant, or lying. No, I'm just being obedient to the spirit of God.
   It is also customary in the Jewish culture for the parents to lay hands on their children and to bless them (speak words of empowerment). This is prophetic in nature. The gift of prophecy encourages, edifies, and comforts... Jesus is coming back for a glorious church, not weak, ugly, and disgusting, and one of the ways God will build His body up is through the prophetic. The bride is slumbering and she doesn't even know she has a ministry to fulfill, she thought just showing up on Sunday was good enough. I want to tell you something, in a wedding the bride and the groom must be wearing matching clothes, we gotta look a like Jesus. Jesus walked in intimacy with the Father, and as a result He moved in miracles, signs, and wonders, and he has told us we can do greater things. God does not lie.
   God will use people anointed with this gift of prophecy to route out and tear down demonic strongholds, and build people up in the grace and truth of God's word. Sometimes you have to tear down before building up. This gift even releases people into their ministries in and outside the church with different callings and giftings.
     Let me share with you one way I have seen this much needed gift operate personally:
1. I lay hands on people in prayer with the purpose of the Spirit of God to come upon them
2. God will give me discernment, either a picture or a word
3. I speak it out
4. God does the rest. (Pretty simple)
     Example: God once led me to lay hands on a young man's ears and I prophesied that he was going to be hearing from God like never before. God was pouring His Spirit on me and I just poured out what He gave me in a supernatural utterance.  God used this prayer to minister grace to this young man and to activate Him. Later on he was so excited to tell me how God was speaking to him. Of course, people still have the responsibility of stirring up their gifts by faith and using them, but I want you to see there is a transference. I could share several more examples but I think you see what I mean, this is a powerful gift for building people up. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophesy, and what the body of Christ needs is sound biblical teaching on these things so that we may grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus.
     I have been greatly strengthened through prophesy myself. Once when I was seeking the Lord for an anointing upon my life shortly after I first got saved, a visiting minister saw me and cried out "the anointing" and then hit me in the head. I could of done with out the smack down, but how did he know that was what I was praying for? This dear brother moved in the prophetic. This should not be a once in a while thing, but a lifestyle. God would have us all to prophesy, and many of us probably prophesy without even realizing it. In the early church (Book of Acts) one church had three prophets, all can prophesy but some are called to this specific office for sake of the saints.
   I once despised this gift because of the many abuses and counterfeits, but the Lord had to correct me. We are commanded to not despise prophecy and to quench not the Spirit of God. Could it be that certain churches are missing out because of a neglect of prophetic speaking and the laying on of hands?
     One minister once tried to convince me that laying hands on people was the old way. I am aware that the Spirit of God can come upon people even as they hear the word just as the Spirit did at Cornelius household, but this is a biblical pattern not to be taken lightly or quickly discarded. Paul and Barnabas were even released to do the work of evangelism after having hands laid on them.
     Their is an impartation of power available, but as a warning don't let just any nut lay hands on people. There is a transference, and we want to transfer the Holy Spirit not another kind of spirit. People are hurt and need healing and the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. God also desires to reach out to the lost, and people can be set apart with the laying on of hands and with prophetic utterance.
     The devil tries to push people into extremes. Either some groups refuse to lay hands on people for ministry in order to maintain some elitist hierarchy, or they lay hands on anybody apart from the leading and discernment of the Holy Spirit. Notice when they set Paul and Barnabas aside they (plural) were fasting and praying. When I was called into the ministry, I was fasting and praying and I heard the call, and God confirmed the call through anointed men who didn't even know me.
       We need to learn to recognize and to work with the various giftings and callings within the body, and be willing to send the saints out at the Lord's direction. You want to reap more souls?   Send (sow) more equipped saints out, and the kingdom will grow. Otherwise, you may face stagnation. When fruit is ripe, you don't let it stay there-you put it to use. People need to be trained, equipped, and sent out to impact the world around them.
     I've said it once and I'll say it again this is a team effort. It is near to impossible to work with people to extend the kingdom of God where there is pride and selfish ambition. It's not about you or me, it's about JESUS. He is coming soon and we need to be ready.
                             Sincerely and in His Love,
                                      John Michael Chase