Why do some believers receive a prophetic word and see it fulfilled while others never seem to walk into what God has promised?
During a recent message, evangelist Daniel Adams said the difference often isn’t the prophetic word itself, but whether spiritual barriers are preventing God’s Word from taking root.
Drawing from Mark 4 and Jesus’ Parable of the Sower, Adams outlined three biblical barriers he believes can keep believers from experiencing prophetic breakthrough.
Prepare Your Heart
Adams said the first obstacle is the condition of the heart.
“A prophetic word is meant to be planted but hard hearts can’t receive seed,” he said.
According to Adams, unforgiveness, offense, fear, pride, disappointment, trauma and distrust can all become walls that keep God’s Word from penetrating deeply into a person’s life.
He challenged believers to examine themselves by asking questions such as, “Is my heart soft toward God right now?” and “Have I truly forgiven the people who hurt me?”
“A person can hear God speak clearly and still reject what he says,” Adams said, “not because the word was wrong, but because the heart was hard.”
Order Daniel Adam’s New Book, “Delivered” on Amazon.com!
Cultivate Fertile Ground
Adams said receiving from God requires intentional preparation.
“Receiving isn’t passive,” he said. “It requires preparation.”
He encouraged believers to cultivate healthy spiritual ground through Scripture, prayer, worship and repentance.
“If you’re not filling yourself with the Word, you’re filling yourself with the world,” Adams said.
He also urged Christians to guard what they allow into their hearts and minds, saying worldly influences can dull spiritual sensitivity and make it more difficult to hear God’s voice.
Partner With God’s Word
Finally, Adams emphasized that prophecy requires faith and obedience.
“A prophetic word is an invitation, not an automatic outcome,” he said.
He pointed to biblical figures like Joshua, Caleb, Mary and Timothy as examples of people who responded to God’s promises with faith and action.
“Many believers assume that because God spoke it, it will happen no matter what they do,” Adams said. “But throughout Scripture, people had to respond in faith.”
Rather than continually seeking new prophetic words, he encouraged believers to faithfully obey what God has already spoken.
“God isn’t just looking for people who want prophecy,” Adams said. “He’s looking for people prepared to steward prophecy.”
Adams concluded that while spiritual warfare is real, one of the greatest obstacles to prophetic fulfillment is often the believer’s own heart.
“When the heart is healed, when the mind is renewed, when the soil becomes fertile, the seed of God’s voice has room to grow,” he said. “God doesn’t just want to speak to you. He wants His Word to produce fruit through you.”
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
