Prophetic Do’s and Don’ts From an Experienced Prophet

The Do’s

How to Receive a Word

1. Do listen to every word when you’re receiving a prophecy. Too many speak in tongues during this time when they should be listening. You might want to record the word on your electronic device or have someone else record it for you.
2. Do your research on the prophet before you allow him or her to minister to you. Look them up on the internet, ask others about them and most importantly, get the Lord’s seal of approval.

How to Give a Word

1. Do encourage—edify, exhort and comfort—others through prophetic words.
2. Do ask before giving a prophetic word to someone.
3. Do seek prophetic training if you’re a prophet before walking in the office of a prophet.
4. Do allow a senior prophet to mentor you. Make sure that your mentor is at least two or three levels above you in wisdom, experience, and knowledge.
5. Do press in to what the Lord is saying.
6. Do speak the truth in love. Prophecy is grounded in love.
7. Do exactly what the Holy Spirit instructs you to do.
8. Do use prophecy to guide others concerning the Lord’s will.
9. Do allow prophecy to point others to Jesus Christ, not yourself.
10. Do prophesy with humility yet with boldness and authority.
11. Do pray before you speak.
12. Do speak a word in season.
13. Do admonish through prophetic words.
14. Do maintain a prophetic mindset or mentality.

The Don’ts

Don’ts When Receiving a Word

1. Don’t allow a prophet to minister to your spouse unless you are present if possible.

Don’ts when Giving a Word

1. Don’t exchange money for prophecy. Remember Simon the sorcerer in Scripture.
2. Don’t lay hands on anyone without asking permission first, or you might get hit.
3. Don’t lay hands on or prophesy to a wife without first asking the husband. The husband is the head.
4. Don’t say, “thus saith the Lord” before or after giving a prophetic word if you’re unsure that God said it. This phrase was used in biblical times for prophets to identify whose god they were speaking on behalf of. All prophets are not from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
5. Don’t always prophesy doom and gloom. If you tend toward these types of prophecies, you might be dealing with a spirit of rejection as a root cause.
6. Don’t prophesy to people you don’t like unless God instructs you to.
7. Don’t spend a lot of time in dialogue before and during prophetic ministry.
8. Don’t ask questions of those you are prophesying to because you might allow the answers to guide your prophetic flow instead of letting God guide you.
9. Don’t compete prophetically.
10. Don’t give prophetic words based on appearance.
11. Don’t tell everyone that they’re an apostle.
12. Don’t ever use prophecy to control others.
13. Don’t be lifted up in pride regarding your prophetic gift. Always bring attention to the giver, not the gift. It will keep you humble.
14. Don’t be afraid or intimidated when releasing the word of the Lord.
15. Don’t allow others to prostitute your gift.
16. Don’t prophesy when you’re extremely tired as you might have a tendency to speak carnally when you are exhausted.
17. Don’t give words about marriage, pregnancy, moving and extremely personal information unless you are confident the Lord released you to do so. {eoa}

Dr. John S. Veal is the senior pastor/prophet of Enduring Faith Christian Center and the CEO of John Veal Ministries. Dr. Veal is a highly sought-after conference speaker due to his uncanny prophetic accuracy, humor, candor and unconventional preaching style. He has traveled the nations, presenting a myriad of prophetic trainings and ministry. He currently resides in Chicago, Illinois, with his wife, Elisa, and their three children.