Prophecy

Hey guys, for the past week or more I have been investigating the ministry of Shawn Bolz. I first came across Shawn in a message that he shared at Bethel Church. Here is that podcast: https://soundcloud.com/krisvallotton/shawn-bolz-open-heavens-2015

I LOVED it!!! It moved me. It is worth your time.

So, what does Shawn do? He prays for people and God gives him words of knowledge and prophecy for them. Like this:

(by the way I’m going to recommend that you share this, visit his YouTube page and subscribe, and buy and read his book.)

Are you crying yet? I was too.

God knows you.

He sees you.

He forgives you.

He loves you.

He has a purpose and a plan and provision for you.

He has a future and a hope for you.

Interested?

Yea, me too.

That’s why I ordered his book Translating God. (Which you can get for under $10 at Amazon)

What is Prophecy?

“…For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.” – Revelation 19:10

Prophecy reveals Jesus. His heart. His nature. His Love.

Shawn is fond of sharing this Scripture wherever he goes:

“Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives–especially the ability to prophesy.” – 1 Corinthians 14:1

All true and healthy prophecy (and spirituality) is rooted and founded in love. God is using Shawn Bolz (among others) to reintroduce prophecy (and specifically the spiritual gift of “words of knowledge”) to the church in a really healthy way. Bolz has seen and been through all the ways prophecy has been abused and unhealthy. He said that for a while he was swimming in the vomit of the prophetic community that surrounded him. His testimony is quite interesting. And yet, Shawn still finds love in his heart for those who have misused prophecy and spiritually abused others! He shares Jesus heart of forgiveness and restoration.

My background with prophecy

Ok, first of all I have to confess I have come a long way. I used to be the sourpuss wet blanket to anything “ookie”. I was the biggest skeptic (which I’ve noticed is quite similar to the word sceptic).

For instance, I remember being the arms-folded, scowl-on-your-face religious prick with a stick up his you-know-what at a Vineyard church conference. There was a man there who, like Shawn, had quite a track record for giving very accurate words for people. So he was given the mic and told to share what God had given him for anyone in the room.

I didn’t like it. I suppose I thought they were taking things in a witchcraft kind of direction. A misdirection if you asked me.

It didn’t seem on the surface that his words were very accurate that night and he soon gave up. But, a pastor friend did share with me later that those very same words actually did end up being right on.

I went to a session where I was going to learn something of the prophetic. They asked for volunteers for the Lord to use for giving words of knowledge. I volunteered because I really wanted to see if it would work. I was immediately put on the spot and made some stuff up, excused myself and went and sat down embarrassed. “Well, this is a joke”.

It was the same conference that I sat in a talk with Robby Dawkins who told of story after story of how he had prayed to raise the dead… and failed. Failure time and time again. I actually took great comfort from that! Why? Because I once received a word from God to raise the dead. I tried in front of a funeral and failed. It was that event that caused me to lose my faith altogether for a seven-year stretch of the worst hell I have ever experienced, that honestly I would never wish on my worst enemy.

Robby has since raised the dead, and will likely do that again.

I, however, just pray to raise the dead animals my cat brings to the back door… Baby steps.

I would highly recommend Robbie’s book “Do What Jesus Did” – I bought many copies of that as well.

So yea, I tell you all this to say, I sympathize with those who judge and reject the ministry of Shawn Bolz and those like him. I used to be that guy. Thank God he set me free.

The apostle Paul used to be “that guy” too. Before he encountered Jesus for himself he thought he was doing God a favor by killing those who strayed from the one true faith and the one true God by following Jesus.