Scripture Reading:

1Corinthians 14:31 For you can all prophesy one by one that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

 

By Pray-reading a Portion of the Holy Word

In our practice, first we need to learn to pray-read a portion of the holy Word. We should not merely read the Word, nor should we merely pray it. We must pray-read the holy Word.

By Paraphrasing a Short Portion of the Scriptures

In our practice we also need to learn to paraphrase a short portion of the Scriptures. For instance, John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” In this sentence there are three independent clauses. In order to make these three clauses into a prophecy, we should first pray-read: “Lord, in the beginning. Amen. In the beginning was the Word. Oh, the Word! How wonderful! The Word, the Word. The Word was in the beginning.” This is pray-reading. This is also a good paraphrasing. In our pray-reading we can expound the Word a little: “And the Word was with God. Thank You, Lord, You are with God. You even were with God there in eternity past.” However, in doing this we should not go too far. We should come back to the Word and pray, “Lord, You are God. The Word was God.” If we desire to prophesy, we must surely practice this.

By Composing Your Inspirations into a Short Message

for Your Speaking in the Practice of Prophesying

We also need to practice by composing our inspirations into a short message for our speaking in the practice of prophesying. If we will pray-read a portion of the Word and paraphrase it, we will surely receive inspiration. When I wrote the training outlines by paraphrasing the Word, new light came to me at a rapid pace. To pray-read and to paraphrase the Word are the best ways to receive inspiration.

It is good always to keep a small notebook in which to write the inspirations we receive. We should write something immediately after receiving an inspiration, even writing only one crucial word to use as a reminder when we do not have time to write more. After that, for our practicing of prophesying, it is good to compose a prophecy of no longer than three minutes from the inspirations we have received. If our prophecy is longer than three minutes, we can shorten it. If it is too short, we can insert something. We can even work together with other saints to practice and to learn.

When Mary, the mother of the Lord, came to see Elizabeth, her relative, both of them prophesied (Luke 1:39-55). Mary’s prophecy was a composition of short quotations from the Old Testament. This proves that Mary was very familiar with the history, the wording, and the points in the Old Testament. Her speaking did not result from an instant “inspiration” but issued from an accumulation of the word that had been stored in her being. If we have such an accumulation of the word, while we are speaking, all that we have stored within us can come up within our being to meet our need.

By Praying the Message You Write for Prophesying

We also need to practice by praying the messages we write for prophesying. After we write a message for prophesying, we need to pray-read our writing. By doing this, it will become constituted into our being. Then, we should go to the meeting and prophesy. I have the assurance that such a prophesying will be very good.

By Seeking the Infilling and the Outpouring of the Spirit

Finally, we all need to seek the infilling of the Spirit and the outpouring of the Spirit upon us as power from on high to be our impact (Acts 6:10; 7:55; 4:31). For this we must pray. Even while we are in the meetings, on the one hand we are listening to others, and on the other hand we should pray to get ourselves filled with the Spirit and to have the outpouring of the Spirit upon us to be our power and authority.

In this message I have passed on to you the way that I have learned. I hope that in your homes you all can practice at least once a week according to these few points. If you will do this, I believe that your speaking will be even better than mine. Then we will see that all the riches stored in the saints will come out.