Develop Your Prophetic Spiritual Gift

It is also important to have the right relationship with God and to belong to a spirit-filled church community. The gifts are intended to edify the church. A believer cannot exercise and develop this gift when alone, away from fellow believers. The importance of being established in a community of believers is a significant part of strengthening this gift. Being effective in this gift requires being established in a local church, where gifts such as this can be exercised. It is significant that these gifts are judged by the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 14:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-26).

It is also important to have a teachable spirit. The Holy Spirit’s gift is a wonderful gift by which there is so much to be learned. One cannot be proud and think he or she cannot develop much further. The believer with this gift must have a humble and teachable spirit. Correction and encouragement must be welcomed. If we are not teachable, the Enemy can use our gifts in the wrong way or we can develop an erroneous view for these gifts, which will lead to self- destruction.

Aside from having a teachable spirit, we must have a sensitive spirit. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are usually exercised in a public manner. We need to be able to cultivate a sensitive spirit towards the Holy Spirit. God is not a God of chaos. We need to be able to be sensitive to God, in order to show us how to deliver His message. Word of knowledge is from God, thus we need to listen and to be connected to Him more than anything. Moreover, sensitivity will give us the right timing and the right way to go about things.

Like any other gift of the Holy Spirit, everything must be done out of genuine love for people. If we seek to mirror Jesus in our lives, we must have a servant heart, as we use our gifts. Paul stated that it is possible to develop great gifts, but we cannot do it without love (1 Corinthians 13). If we fail to use our gifts to honor God and to serve Him, then we have a great tragedy, which is experienced by most Christians over the years (John 13:34-35; John 15:7; 1 John 4:7-21).

Aside from a heart that loves, there is a need to have a sincere desire to be used by God to advance His kingdom and to gain glory for His name. The power of the Holy Spirit will not flow if we do not desire it. God will not use us against our will (Psalm 37:4; Psalm 145:16-21; Psalm 21:2). According to King Solomon, the desires of the righteous, which is in this case to be used by God, will be granted (Proverbs 10:24). Like Paul, he desired to impart through the spiritual gifts for believers to be established in the faith (Romans 1:11).