In a recent conversation filled with wisdom, correction and encouragement, Joseph Z and Pastor Brian Gibson tackled the subject of growing in the prophetic, offering insight for both new believers and seasoned prophetic voices.
Z emphasized the importance of cultivating spiritual hunger: “The devil doesn’t put that desire in people, that’s the Holy Spirit knocking on their door.” But with that hunger must come maturity, training and humility. “You can have the gift, but without etiquette, without training wheels, you can hurt people,” he warned.
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The two leaders discussed how the gift of prophecy often begins with comfort, exhortation and encouragement—but must develop into greater maturity. They explained that misuse of the gift, especially by young or untrained believers, can lead to manipulation, pride and even a false prophetic identity. “The most dangerous of all of them—you got real prophets, then you got false prophets—but I think the most dangerous of the whole bunch is in the middle: the novices,” Z says.
The Three Stages of the Prophetic
- Revelation – This is the initial insight received from the Holy Spirit. “You get the fire, you feel something, you sense something, and that is powerful,” Z says.
- Interpretation – Understanding what the revelation means. “You want to show me a prophetic person that grows in maturity—I’m going to see somebody that is under authority,” Z states.
- Application – Delivering the word with people skills and wisdom. “Application is where you gotta have this really unique thing called people skills,” he explains. Without it, even a true word can “hurt people or hinder the body of Christ.”
Z and Gibson also discussed the emotional toll prophetic people face—especially feelings of rejection and internal “traffic” that must be spiritually managed. They urged prophetic voices to be grounded in the Word of God and guided by healthy spiritual leadership.
“Prophets make prophets,” Z concluded. “You train prophets through fathering, imitation and being rooted in Scripture.”
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If you want to grow in prophetic gifting, understand the stages of the calling and learn how to avoid common pitfalls, watch the full video above for more teaching from Joseph Z and Pastor Brian Gibson.
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
