21. Prophesying change!

Can prophesying by the Spirit initiate a change in our circumstances and situation? Since God’s words carry the power to create, the words spoken by the Spirit too carry the power to effect change. The prophet Ezekiel was commanded to prophesy and as he did, death was reversed and life was restored! He was told to:-

1. Prophesy to the situation: The Spirit of the Lord set Ezekiel in a valley of dry bones and was asked, “Son of man, can these bones live?” – (Ezekiel 37:1-3) It looked impossible but still the Lord said to him, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them,’… I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and you will come to life…'” – (Vs 4-6) And as he prophesied there was a rattling sound and the bones came together, bone to bone. ‘I looked and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them but there was no breath in them.’ – (Vs 7-8) We might be setup in a situation that looks so ‘dry and dead’, but prophesying by the Spirit can begin the change in our circumstances and situation! Prophesying over those who are not saved can initiate repentance in them. – (1 Corinthians 14:24-25)

2. Prophesy to the Spirit: The change thus begun in us and our situation has to be sustained by the Spirit for it to outlast. “Prophesy to the breath and say to it,’ … Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.'” – (Ezekiel 37:9) And as he prophesied, ‘breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet – a vast army.’ – (Vs 10) This parallels an event in the new testament! Jesus had prophesied over the disciples that the Spirit would come upon them in whom the change had already begun. ‘Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven …’ – (Acts 2:2) and they became ‘alive’ in their spirits! ‘Then Peter stood up with the eleven … and addressed the crowd‘ – (Vs 14) and they in turn “were cut to heart’ – (Vs 37) but they too had to receive the Holy Spirit to be born again and for their repentance to last.

3. Prophesy over the nation: Just as prophesying over individuals can transform them, so does prophesying over a nation transform it. The Lord said to Ezekiel: “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones have dried up and our hope is gone …’ Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people … I will bring you back to the land of Israel … I will put my Spirit in you and you will live and I will settle you in your own land …'” – (Ezekiel 37:11-14) Prophesying by the Spirit over a nation will set the course of history scripted by God for that nation to follow. It’s time that we rediscover these truths and prophesy change over our nation at a time when its going through a social, religious, economical and political upheaval! Amen.