 Okay. Good morning and welcome. Hope you can all see and hear clearly those especially online students. Thank you. All right. Let's pray and get started. Let's get started. Okay. I'll lead us in a word of prayer. Abba Father we thank you Lord for your grace and thank you Lord for the way in which you've carried us thus far. Father we ask you for your strength Lord to continue to walk with you in this new week. Father we ask for your blessings. We thank you for the classes we have at Bible college. We pray God that everything we learn Lord will equip us to know you well and to serve you well. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. So we've been talking about testing and interpreting personal prophecies and we said there is a process. God speaks to us but we have to also interpret and then the message has to be given out clearly. So we are looking at the process. We understood with regard to revelation how God speaks to us. So that is revelation. That's understood. Then of course there is a presentation. So presentation is the way we present it. So we can have self control. We can decide how we want to share the prophetic word that comes under presentation. Last class we were talking about interpretation and we said that though we may get a word from the Lord to rightly identify the meaning of that word needs some practice and even a single picture can have so many meanings. But the right interpretation is what will lead to the right application. So we have to do our best to present the right interpretation. So that's where we were at. Today we will look at application timing and confirmation. So let's go. Okay. So we saw how the image has to be interpreted correctly. Now once it is interpreted correctly it has to be applied into somebody's walk with the Lord somebody's life. So for that we have to ensure that the word has to be a genuine word from the Lord. And there are two tests that and for that we have to test the prophetic word, isn't it? To ensure that it's a genuine word from the Lord. Here in our notes on page 179 there is a scripture from 1st Thessalonians chapter 5 verses 20 and 21. If anybody is there could you kindly read it out for us? 1st Thessalonians 5, 20 and 21. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things. Hold fast what is good. Okay. Great. So we are encouraged here to not despise prophecies. Despise means to not to not regard them. Okay. So when that's the case when we don't regard prophecies when can that happen? When is it that we don't want to regard prophecies? Maybe because we don't understand what prophecies all about the power of the prophetic word or we've had a bad experience of some sort. You know we've heard certain things that we are not happy about. Then we don't want the prophetic. We feel like oh my life is better off without the prophetic. So these are the instances when one may despise or disregard the prophetic word. Somebody said something, leave it. But what does scripture say? Do not despise prophecies. So no matter what we have experienced with regard to the prophetic. God's power and God's way of working in our lives must be honoured. So okay I don't agree with the prophetic word but that doesn't mean I should disregard it. So put it on the shelf. Maybe it's not a genuine prophetic word but we'll know. We'll find out. But whenever somebody gives a prophetic word a good thing to do. Like see sometimes we know clear cut it's not at all prophetic that you leave it. But if you feel like yeah this person has heard from the Lord say thank you and you see it. Now maybe some parts of the prophetic word are not accurate. We'll find out but at least regard it. Thank you. Okay let's take it. We'll pray about it. We'll confirm. We'll see the confirmation later. So do not despise prophecies. Unfortunately this happens. People disregard the prophetic you know because of certain experiences and all that. But that's what the scripture says. Do not despise prophecies and test all things. Hold fast what is good. So it is our responsibility to test out the prophetic word. Whether it is accurate or it is not accurate. So how can we come to know whether a prophetic word is from the Lord or not. We've said the main test is the word of God. Is it a line? If it is very off the word of God then do not receive it. There are so many words that can be that are spoken which are so strange. Like they have no connection to the Bible you know. So in those times it's fairly simple. It's very easy. We can just say no it does not align to the word of God. So I'm not going to take it up. Okay. And secondly ask the question does the prophecy move me towards God and his will for my life or is it taking me away from God. So there can be a lot of good words. For example you know God is going to bless you. God is going to make you very rich. Right. Who doesn't like prophecies like that obviously. Anyone tells you like that you'll be like amen praise the Lord you know we want it. But ask the question is the prophetic word trying to you know make me feel good about it's all about me. Like okay you will be great. You will be a great minister. You will be rich. You will be blessed. But what about God like okay if I am going to minister it should be for the glory of God. So you know we always say this in any of our dreams. Ask the question who is the hero. Okay. So if I am the hero like if I am like oh I'm going to be this great wonderful woman of God man of God then we really have to test it further. Because ultimately even in whatever we do who is supposed to get the glory. God should get the glory even in our ministry and everything. So if God is the center of the prophetic word. If God is the center of that dream and it's all about the glory of God then it is from the Lord. Okay. So these are the questions we have to ask. So when the prophet said things like this who is it exalting. Is it exalting me. Is it exalting Christ. So that's another question we must ask. Now check with the witness inner witness of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. See the Holy Spirit is a gentle spirit and he bears witness to our spirit. Sometimes the prophetic word can be very you know very unbelievable very unbelievable. But even in those times somewhere in your spirit you can think that yeah it's correct. What this person is saying is so correct. Right. So look for the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit is confirming about that prophetic word you can be very bold. That yeah it is from the Lord. But it's possible that we hear a word from the Lord for example just simply I'm saying. Okay. Someone's a pastor and prophetic word is coming that you are going to have a big church in just this is a random thing. Okay. I'm just saying it. You're going to have a great church in South Bangalore. Whereas the pastor could be serving in North Bangalore. His whole life is dedicated there and maybe he's already gone past whatever you know many years. Many decades serving there and that's been his vision all along. Now the prophetic word is coming that your church will be established in South Bangalore. Right. Now you can wonder maybe in your spirit though it sounds very good. You're not having the witness of the spirit. Like no no I know God is going to help me have a church or a church building but not in South Bangalore. You know in your spirit that maybe that one part was missed out by the prophetic word. So depend on the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes the word can be so great even then you'll have a witness that it can happen. But sometimes the word can come forth and you have a witness that no it's not correct. Something is off right. So always listen to the Holy Spirit. There's nothing wrong with that because we are supposed to judge the prophetic word. And then is the prophecy in harmony with the plans and purposes of God for your life. So this is similar to the example that I gave us just now. Imagine your whole life you have served in different ministries of the church never invested in worship ministry. Okay maybe you and you probably cannot sing very well also. But if the prophetic word comes and says that okay God is going to raise you up to be in the worship ministry. Then it's hard right because your whole life God has taken you in one direction. Now suddenly the prophetic word is saying there's going to be a big shift in the direction. Such prophetic words we have to be very careful about because it usually God doesn't work like that. God usually works along the path that he's been leading us in. Okay for example you know maybe I'm serving God here in India. Okay and my vision is for India everything is for India. And so after serving for many decades suddenly somebody says God is calling you to Egypt. He'll shift you to Egypt and you will have a ministry there. You can actually question pray because it's very unlikely or unusual for God to suddenly change our direction so drastically. Okay so when we get prophetic words like that we have to pray and ask God for a confirmation. Don't immediately act on it. Then of course are there two or three witnesses, two or three witnesses. So two or three witnesses meaning for the confirmation of the prophetic word. One of course is let's say we have the peace of God in our hearts. And second the Holy Spirit is bearing witness with our spirit. That in itself is like a confirmation that God is saying that. Now over and above we may have scripture that speaks to us which is inspired and that is confirming that this is what God wants. Or there can be somebody else who comes and say the same prophetic word. Okay and so confirmation happens in many different ways. But if we have the inner peace from the Holy Spirit and also the witness of the Holy Spirit. In our spirit it's almost like yeah we know God is speaking to us. So sometimes we don't even have to wait for additional confirmations. There is a scripture 2 Corinthians 13 and verse 1 which says by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established. So we need at least two, at least two confirmations of the prophetic word. Now coming to the, yeah we are already talking about analyzing the word and applying it. So if everything is accurate we can actually act on it. And now when we are applying the prophetic word what we want to say is that the prophetic word will not reveal everything. For example you know the prophetic word might say God is going to use you very powerfully in the ministry. But that also means that the minister of God has to work hard, the minister of God has to walk in wisdom. You know all that is there, grow in grace, grow in anointing, grow in favor with God, with people. All that is unsaid but it's understood that one also has to live it out. That's when the word will be fulfilled. Just because the word comes you know you are going to be very successful in business. It does not mean that whatever the person does they make bad choices, they make terrible choices, they don't manage their money well, they will become successful. It won't work like that, right? So when it comes to application we must understand that there is a process. There is going to be a process. We have to live it out even though it was not said there is tremendous responsibility at the personal level for an individual to see the fulfillment of the prophetic word. Now when it comes to application, how do we take the prophetic word forward? First is test it out, judge the prophetic word. If it is correct, believe the prophetic word. You remember we read one scripture earlier, 2 Chronicles 2020. It says believe in the Lord your God and you shall be established. Believe in his prophets and you shall prosper. So this is what God invites us to do each time. Believe in God, believe in the word that he is speaking over our lives. So when the prophetic word comes and we are sure what's the first thing we must do? Believe. Okay, so believe is what we must do. And secondly, obey. Believing is one thing. Second is to act on it. So now that we are sure, we obey the prophetic word. But the third one comes which is somewhat unexpected for most of us because we feel God said it and therefore there is no problem. This has to happen. If God spoke something over our lives, nothing can stop it, right? Like nothing can stop it. But we are now talking about a process as far as applying that word is concerned. So there could be, there could be a period of waiting before that prophetic word comes to pass. Which most of us are not ready for. We hear a good prophetic word and we are so happy, right? And we say, okay, God, I know my future is going to be like this and you know, I am going to experience all these things. But then you wait for one year, two years, five years, sometimes some prophetic words take much longer than that. Maybe a decade, two decades and you're like, God, what is happening? Okay, but in those moments, what should we do? Tell me what should we do when we are waiting? Pray. Pray? Okay, what else? Any other thoughts? Believe, pray, prepare, okay. What else? Do the good work. Okay, yeah, do the good work. Just be consistent. Isn't it? Be consistent. Don't lose the focus. Okay. Okay, spiritual warfare, right? So everything and also this element of spiritual warfare, where do we learn this from? We learn it from 1st Timothy chapter 1 and verse 8, okay? Because Paul told Timothy, wage a good warfare by the prophecies which have been previously made concerning you. So that also teaches us that there is going to be an opposition from the enemy. God said it, so it has to happen. That's how we are looking at it, right? But the enemy will also oppose that prophetic word from being fulfilled. So that is where waging a good warfare comes in. So that can be a delay, you know, of course we said, you know, you prepare for all that God allows time. However, when it has to do with the enemy hindering us or delaying us in walking into the fulfillment of the prophetic word, pray through that prophecy. Okay, so that is like waging warfare. So how does it look? Something as simple as Lord, you spoke to me, your word says that I am going to whatever that is, right? I am going to complete my education. I am going to serve the Lord like this, speak that, declare that in prayer over and over again. Maybe nothing is happening. But that's where the whole praying through the prophecy comes in, declaring the prophecy comes in. It becomes our warfare because we are convinced that God has spoken, it will happen. And right now there is the opposition of the enemy which is delaying the process. Okay, and there's also something known as question. Like when we are speaking about this waiting time, right? Yeah. Like practically, like if we see, if we look ahead to people for an inspiration, there are people who waited for God's promise and all these are all fine. But my question is on like, if the time is too long, how to eradicate these questions which comes like, you know, because of taking time, maybe it's not the correct one. Yeah. Maybe I may be misinterpreted. Yeah. I might have understood wrong. Maybe this is not the thing. I got it. Practically these things will happen for sure. True. We can't tell like, there will be no question in our mind that if other human beings, if time is going on this, definitely questions will arise. Yes. Yes. See, there are two things, Anand. One is faith. So when we say in God's time, in God's time, many things like how on the mentoring our pastor said, like salvation is today, healing is today, you know, receiving what has been promised by the Lord for us is today. So there are many things for which we can put our faith to work and we can see them happen immediately. So the delay is not from God. The delay could be from our end because we're not applying faith. So faith is one element. So when we are waiting and things are not happening to grow in our faith. Okay. What am I missing as far as my faith is concerned? And I know it's a struggle, but then you go through it, right? Like, should I read more of the word? Should I confess more of the word? Should I fast? Should I pray? So you go through that whole process of rising up in faith. That is one thing. Second thing. And also I've heard pastor say this very often. We need a lot of patience. We need a lot of patience. Because, you know, it really, you really have to be believing and trusting God. Once you have confirmed, you know, doubts will come, questions will come. Definitely the enemy will put all that in our minds. But we have to make a decision. I'm going to be patient. I'm doing everything as far as faith is concerned. Right? Now, I don't know why it's taking so much time. Sometimes we don't have the answers. But in those moments, patience, right? Got to be patient. And I mean, ask any of the pastors, they'll tell you patience. Because, you know, you really have to trust God and believe. Yes, he has called me. He will do it. It's not working the way I imagined it to be, but it will happen. So that sense of patience, we have to develop and battle the doubts that keep coming. And actually it is a beautiful passage. I think in Romans, I don't know the exact number of it. But when patience has its good work, right? Then character is developed. Character cannot be developed without endurance, without patience. So, yeah, we have to just fight through that waiting period. See, I mean, I understood what you were telling me. See, if we have, if God promised to us about something, and it was taking a long time, you know, like, I'll come to a straight point. What happened is one of her church member came and asked me. So she was, she was divided from her husband. It's like 11-12 years ago. Yeah. God promised about a relationship. She has been praying from last 11 to 12 years. In between, she's going and coming back, going and coming back. It's not working. Okay. So, yeah, she's, I mean, as far as I know, as a, like, as a sister, she's very perfect. Like, we know people. So she came and asked me, like, you know, this is, this is what God promised to me. And why it's not, it's not even one year or two years. I've been praying from 11 to 12 years. Okay. So how to answer them? Patience is, should be there. Yeah. In this situation, I agree. I agree with you. See, patience is very much there. I was talking more in the context of, you know, maybe ministry, work situation. But in a situation like this where there's involvement of the will of two individuals, right? Also, we may have to engage older folks. I mean, elders of the church or whoever can counsel them. Okay. So I don't know if that is happening. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I see. So, see, this is how we would approach it on. And I'll just tell you in such a situation where there are two individuals involved and there are many other aspects to it. We also have to apply wisdom. Okay. So there comes in Godly counsel. Godly counsel can be to begin with spiritual and they can also provide some practical inputs. But if it goes beyond, we may have to bring in professionals. Okay. So professionals meaning you may need like actually like psych psychology from that area. Or if it goes worse, you may need legal counsel. Right. To there are many things immediate is that so that aspect where our effort has to be put in also is something which has to be done. Yes, God said it. But then remember, I told earlier, there's also the human element. So we don't know whether something, some step has to be taken. If we don't take that step, it won't move. Even though God wants it. Yeah. God never keeps time. I mean, keep us waiting. It's by ourselves. Maybe it's like on any other perspective, we can't say like God's correct timing, perfect timing. Yeah. And we're talking about this. And we say like God is only, I mean, making us wait for the perfect time because he wanted us to learn things. Yeah. In that perspective, we can tell. Yeah. See, there is a timing for all things. We agree with that, but I am talking in the context of, you know, faith, like believing and receiving. So the things that have been given through the work of the cross. We are very clear. He carried our sicknesses. He carried our griefs, you know, by his stripes, we are healed. So there are many things in the cross, the work of the cross, which have already been given. Now those matters, there is no waiting involved in that. That's what I'm saying like salvation is now healing is now deliverance is now it's supposed to be like that even in Jesus's ministry. That's how it was. Okay. Now I know we're all growing in faith. So it may not happen instantaneously. But it's all the provisions of the cross which we can believe God for that we can receive from. But yes, there are matters which are time bound for which I'm saying patients without patients character cannot be built up. So even God that way provides time in those areas of our lives where, you know, we will have to mature. But we need to be clear about what are the things that God is ready to give immediately and what he wants us to wait for. Now, for example, if I say about healing, you know, maybe God will give in his own good time. If I say things like that, it won't be theologically correct. So I should not apply the waiting for healing. Now, yes, it's true. People are still waiting for healing and it's not manifesting. That's another story. But 2000 years ago, it's already provided. Got it. So you need to distinguish on the matters where we one must wait. See, take for example Apostle Paul. He was born again and he wanted to do ministry immediately. So we read about it. He tries to go preach. He goes to Jerusalem. Nobody accepts him because they think, oh, this persecutor is pretending. We'll all get into trouble. Who knows? You know, it might be one of his plots. So he does not get accepted. And over time, you know, God kind of nurtures him. And he's a more well-rounded minister when he finally comes on the scene in Acts chapter 11. Right? So in life, there is that process of maturing which we cannot short-circuit. That's that will take time. That cannot be done immediately. Yeah. Does that make sense? Okay. So some matters we have to go through the process and there are many others that are a provision from God. Okay. So we said how to receive from God, believe, then obey, engage in spiritual warfare for the matters that have a due time. Or there is the right time for the fulfilment of those promises. Wait on the Lord for those. And the prophetic word also needs to be prayed through. We see this in the book of Daniel. Daniel prays for the release of the people from Babylon because it was prophesied by Jeremiah. So there are many prophetic words. For example, today we talk about the tabernacle of David. I will rebuild the tabernacle of David. The prophetic word is there. We as believers can pray and say, Lord, you said you will rebuild. We want to see the rebuilding of the tabernacle. Okay. So things like that, just because God said it doesn't mean automatic. There are certain things which God expects us to pray through as well. So we must take the initiative. Yeah, and a very nice statement in our notes. I'll just read it out. It is on page 185. And it says, remember that the greater the prophecy and the greater the plans of, greater the plans that God has for your life, the greater will be the preparation that God will take you through. So what I said earlier, there's no short circuit. The process has to be completed. So the greater, if we are saying, yeah, God is calling me to this and that, more preparation, more preparation. Okay. So he'll do that preparation and the areas which were not addressed in the prophetic word are as important as the areas that were addressed in the prophetic word. So for example, if a business person has a prophetic word that they are going to excel in their business. But maybe they are quite bad in managing their money. Even though it was not said in the prophetic word that you must improve your money management skills. It is as important. It was missed out. Okay, or let's say a minister of God, they are saying, you know, your ministry will be so blessed. But maybe that person is having a lot of trouble in their personal life, you know, in their marriage and their relationship. Nothing in the prophetic word address the personal life. But that is also equally important. So we cannot just say God is only interested in my ministry. That's why the prophetic word is only about my ministry. Got it. So whatever was not addressed is also equally important. Now understanding the timing of God in personal prophecy. So this is very interesting. And as I said earlier, a prophetic word could be fulfilled immediately or it can take a couple of years or many years. A good example is Abraham, right? Abraham, God told him, you're going to have a son, but God didn't tell him when. So Abraham is waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting 25 years. So sometimes the prophetic word is for later. It's not for now. This is going to happen, but it may happen a good number of years from now. So that's where the element of patience comes in faith and patience. We know for the Lord one day, a thousand years is like a day. Okay, Psalm 90 verse 4 says that. So God's way of looking at timing is so very different from us. So even though, you know, we look at scripture like Revelation 22 verse 12, where God is speaking about his return, right? The return of Jesus. The scripture says, behold, I come quickly. Now where is quickly? 2000 years. Think about it. Then what is quickly for God? Then God is saying quickly, but it's not quickly for us. So God's timing is something we have to gauge, tune into. And according to his timing, certain things will happen. And we must trust him for that. Yeah, there is something known as prophetic foreshortening. And a good example of prophetic foreshortening is in Isaiah chapter 9 verses 6 through 7. This passage we usually read during Christmas. Can someone read it out? It's in our notes, page 187. For unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given. And the government will be upon his shoulders. And his name will be called wonderful counselor, mighty God. Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the Ingees of his government and peace, there will be no end upon the throne of David and over his kingdom. To order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward. Even for our the seed of the Lord of hosts will be performed this. Okay, great. Thank you. So you see, there is a prophetic word. Okay, this is the prophecy of Isaiah about Christ, the Jesus, the Messiah. Notice, in what he has said, there is a gap of 2000 years because it starts with, for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. That is Christmas. Jesus was born. And the government will be upon his shoulder and his name will be called. So all that carries on. But when Jesus was born and he died on the cross, that didn't happen. Isn't it? Yes, spiritually we know the government will be upon his shoulders. But this is talking about the rule and reign of Christ. We are going to see it in its wholeness. When is that going to happen? The second coming of Christ. So it's actually talking about the birth of Christ. And just in the next sentence, it's talking about the second coming of Christ. So prophecy works like that. Even when a prophetic word is released, a prophecy may have, let's say three parts. The Lord is blessing you with a ministry. The Lord is sending in people to help you in the work of the ministry. The Lord is giving you these resources for the ministry. You see, there are three things but there can be a small time difference in all the three things. Though we expect everything will happen immediately. Not necessary because look at this. There's a 2000 year gap which is what is known as prophetic foreshortening. So even if we receive one sentence, parts of the sentence can be fulfilled at different times. It can happen. So all this requires us to understand the prophetic word as we apply it. Another important aspect is disappointments. Disappointment because someone said something or we felt that God will do this at this time in our life. But it didn't happen. What happens to the believer? We are discouraged. We are disillusioned that it did not take place. But just be cautious. We've understood now that God has his process, his timeline. And so to gauge his timeline is very important. And when it comes to the release of the prophetic word, simple word of prophecy, we tell all believers don't get into telling date and time. We can just say like okay God will do this. Maybe you're feeling it in your spirit that it's September 21st. But hold on, better not to share the date and time. Maybe we generally leave it for those who are in the office of a prophet or those who are in that grace gift of prophecy. But for simple prophecy by believers, we say just omit the time. Don't give anybody timelines. Because even if God is impressing on your heart, I would say it's safer not to. You can just say, believe God, trust God, it will happen soon or something and leave it. I think it's wisdom. See, I'll tell you why. Because we don't know in most cases whether people will assess that prophetic word and apply it accurately. It has happened very often that we tell them, you'll get married next January. December comes, January comes, person is still here. And then they're like, God said it didn't happen. They are so discouraged, they are so disappointed. And we don't want that. Now why it didn't happen? There can be thousand reasons. Maybe that person didn't look. There can be many reasons. But they start thinking God's word is not true. Prophetic words are not true. So best to avoid timelines. So we leave it to the people in other sorts. So disappointments happen. People get discouraged if they don't see those things come to pass. And we've discussed most other things over here. So there's a note on congregational prophecies. So there is a prophetic word for an entire body of believers. The inner witness of the spirit. We ask whether more than one person has the sense that this is from the Lord. If yes, then yeah. So it can't be that a word is given and then nobody has a witness to that word. I think the last section here says that even prophets make mistakes. So just the way we have in teaching the word of God, you know sometimes it's possible that teachers make mistakes. I remember one teaching. Okay, in that teaching it was said, new levels, new devils. That simply means as we are growing in the Lord, there will be more spiritual warfare. Like you're growing greater in the Lord, more opposition. Growing greater, more opposition. But recently I have seen people take back that statement. That teaching came from a particular person and a set of people. But nowadays that is not accepted. Because people have come to the understanding that we are seated with Christ in the heavenly places. So I mean which devil is higher than the heavenly places. Every devil is below us. Higher level, higher devil, whatever devil is there, the devils or the demonic powers are below. The Lord Jesus and the believer who has authority. So that concept doesn't stand as far as scripture is concerned. But there was a time when people were teaching that. They were saying, oh get ready, we'll face more difficulty if you rise up in the ministry. So the point is, you see now the teaching, the teacher has changed his stand. Now will we call that teacher a false teacher? What do you think? Because first they said higher level, higher devil and now they are saying, there is no such thing, we have believers authority. How would we assess that? Yeah it could happen, maybe in the interpretation there was an issue. But now they have come to the realization and corrected their stand. Very similarly when it comes to people who are prophesying, even someone who has a genuine call of God may make a mistake. So the point is, we should not call them false prophet. False prophet has a completely different definition. Somebody who is leading people away from God and by their fruit you will understand. They are not a real prophet. But a usual believer or a normal prophet, just because they make a mistake for us to say, oh they are false, they are false, that wouldn't be correct. So just keep that in mind. So if there are no other questions, we will stop for today. And some very interesting parts to move on to interpretation of dreams is what we will do next. Alright, requesting one of us to pray. Father we thank you for this day, for this time Lord. Once again we come to your presence Lord. And thank you Father as what we have discussed about understanding prophetic Lord Jesus. All things whatever we discussed, give us knowledge to understand more and more about your word Father. Thank you for teaching through mention. Thank you Father we praise you, we glorify your name. Thank you in Jesus name I pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Thank you Nikhil. Thank you everyone.