“I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.” – Joel 2: 28

To experience the power of the living God in our lives is beautiful, profound, and life-changing.

But in our walk, there may be times when we need God to give us discernment when we have supernatural encounters with His Holy Spirit.

Scripture is saturated with stories of average people who prophesied when the Spirit of the Lord came upon them.

A clear example of this can be found in 1 Samuel 10:10 when Saul saw a group of prophets coming toward him, prophesying in the Spirit of God.

And in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul urges members of the church to prophesy because it is a special gift from the Spirit.

Yet interestingly, aside from the major prophets of the Bible whose prophecies were recorded, we don’t know the exact nature of all the other prophesies that came from God.

So if we have prophetic visions or dreams that come to us in the night, how do we know it’s from the Holy Spirit?

Well, the Apostle Paul gives us four specific criteria for divine prophesy that we can use as a rubric (1 Corinthians 14):

1. Does it strengthen others?
2. Does it encourage others?
3. Does it comfort others?
4. Does it edify the church?

So if we ever receive visions, we must pray for understanding and confirmation, evaluate if they line up with Scripture, and determine if they serve to lead us or others closer to Christ.

Since each of us have a unique and personal relationship with God, it will ultimately be up to us individually to discern God’s voice.

But when we know it’s Him, we must listen!

Be blessed,

Alexia

Prayer: God, I know you are limitless and you use your Holy Spirit to speak to your children in any way you desire. If you should ever give me the gift of prophecy or cause me to have a vision, please help me to discern your message clearly so that I will be obedient to your voice. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.