THE PROPHETIC TEST
Psalm 105:1-22
INTRODUCTION: All of God’s children are given a God given dream and a God given destiny: Ephesians 2:8-10. Just as the Lord gave Joseph ten tests of character before he came into his God given destiny so we also will have our character tested by God before we can come into our God given destiny. Our God spoke something prophetic over Joseph’s life in a dream: Genesis 37:2-11. Many of God’s prophetic words and dreams are fulfilled only on conditions of our faith and obedience.
I. WHEN OUR GOD SPEAKS!
Our God has spoken into each of our lives and we need to have ears to hear and eyes to see what our Lord desires for each of our lives: Matthew 13:9-17. Only our Lord can open our eyes and ears so we can truly understand His Word to each us: Proverbs 12:2. God had spoken to Joseph and in God’s time it came to pass: Psalm 105:16-19. Until the time that was spoken over Joseph’s life came to pass, the literal Word of God tested Joseph. God’s Word is also testing our character until the spoken Word of God comes to pass in our lives.
II. EVERY PROPHETIC WORD MUST LINE UP WITH GOD’S ETERNAL WORD!
Every time people say “God spoke to my heart” or “God has given me a dream.” It must line up with the written Word of God, or that prophecy or dream was not from God. And even if God has given you a dream or a word from God if you are not walking in obedience to His Written Word you will never see the fulfillment of your God given dream or prophecy. This Written Word of God is what will test your character to determine if you will ever come into your God given dream. The promise of eternal life that God has promised us must be received or you will never have eternal life: Romans 10:9-10, 13; John 1:12-13.
III. HEARING GOD’S VOICE!
The best way to be able to recognize the voice of God is to spend time with Him in prayer listening for Him to speak. 1 Samuel 3:1-14; Jeremiah 33:1-3. We are not to despise prophecy but to test them: 1 Thessalonians 5:19-24. You need to know that even if you have a prophecy or dream given by God you do not know the whole story: 1 Corinthians 13:9. If we take what God has given us and are faithful to what we know of God’s plan then in the proper time He will reveal the whole plan to us: Galatians 6:7-10. Prophetic words are to be judged:
1 Corinthians 14:29. We judge by what others think about what we heard and also what does the Word of God say about what we heard? There have always been false prophets: Deuteronomy 13:1-5. Prophetic words are to be held unto! Philippians 3:12-14; 1 Timothy 1:18-20. We must not give up on what God has told us. When testing comes, hold on. Fight the good fight. We must not doubt in the dark what our God has revealed to us in the light! We must hold onto our God given dream! However, even as we hold onto our God given dream we must get to know God’s written Word or we will never come into our God given destiny. 2 Timothy 2:19-21; Psalm 119:9-11. If you want to be propelled toward your God given destiny, read and head God’s Word. Revelation 3:19-20. Just like Joseph, if you desire to come into your God given destiny you must obey God’s Written Word! Like Joseph we must turn away from wickedness. We must cleanse ourselves from ignoble purposes. We must allow our testing to prepare us for the good work that God has called us to do. That is The Prophetic Test!