Part One in a series
by Debra Copeland

With so many doctrines floating around and so many misunderstandings of what the true prophetic is,
I thought I would give you my perspective in accordance with scripture.

Anyone can be charismatic, full of personality, loud, threatening, full of signs and wonders but does this make an individual prophetic?
What are some basics for discerning if someone is part of a cultish movement or truly acting as an oracle of God?

Rev. 19:10

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not:
I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus:
worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Does a true prophetic person want glory for himself?

NO!

Is a true prophetic person full of pride thinking they are better or more anointed than others?
or . . . 
humble in the fact that he knows he is a sinner just like the rest of mankind, given a mandate to speak a word.

Romans 12:3,4 and 6

vs.3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. vs. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
vs. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

Once a true prophetic person gives the word, that is all that is required of them. They are not responsible for the person to take heed or listen.

Does a true prophetic person suffer?

A true prophetic person does suffer because they are held more accountable.
Every prophetic person in the Bible suffered greatly, unlike the modern day fake prophetic who thinks they should be served instead of serving others.

Does a true prophetic person threaten others to obey him or her or they will be cursed by God?

In my own experience, the way the Lord uses me is that He will give me a word to give to someone, but it is usually for a confirmation of something He has already been trying to speak to that individual.
In other words He will not tell me to tell someone to go to a certain city or place without already speaking to the person first.  

Why?
Because it would teach people to look to man instead of seeking God for themselves.

The Holy Spirit might give me a word of knowledge and I tell the person to put it on the shelf until the Holy Spirit speaks to them directly. Whether a curse comes from disobedience is not our call, but God’s. Only He know’s what is truly in a persons heart.

The Holy Spirit uses me more to build up character and exhort the church onto righteousness. We ALL need to be exhorted as these are perilous times. He uses my ministry to sing the word of God because
so much of what is being taught in Church today is not biblical. It is the word that does not return void.

A person recently told me that our music is not skillful. I wrote back and told him Skillfull according to whom? Man? I serve a higher authority. Many churches today are filled with skilful people that have absolutely no anointing from the Holy Spirit to change lives. Instead, their focus is on how well they perform.

Many people today have self esteem issues. They want titles to show their importance.
But when it is all said and done, an individual has to stand before God… alone.

If we judge ourselves we will not be judged. I find that if a person is weak but trying to obey God,
God is more merciful to them. All of us are sinners!

To be prophetic is a GIFT! It is not earned. God uses people the way HE wants to use them.
We can take NO CREDIT for any gift but we can learn to use that gift properly.
Without being in the word of God you can be certain error will follow.

2Pet. 1:20

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture
is of any private interpretation.

(c) 2010