As the Son of man, Jesus lived minute by minute, day by day, by a very precise golden rule. Each and every day of His earthly existence. Without fail. Which was by the revelation of His Father’s will. What He said and did, from day to day, and from time to time, from one day to the next, was entirely and only by the revelation of His Father’s will.

From His life, it is also clear that when it comes to the will of the Father, that there is not only a “master plan”, but that there is also a “master clock” too. This is evident from the many times in the various gospels that Jesus, when speaking of His own death, said that this is “not the time”. In other words, not only was it the will of His Father, in this example, that He should lay down His life for all of mankind, but that there was also a precise time in His Father’s will for this to be done as well. In other words, the will of the Father is not just about doing the right thing, but it’s also about doing it at the right time. Hence the general saying, “timing is everything.”

Whilst it may seem obvious that Jesus heard from His Father, whilst He walked on earth, Jesus constrained Himself in all the ways that man is constrained. Which tells us that whilst Jesus walked as a man, He could only know both the timing and the express will for all the things He did and said if He heard from His Father, each and every day, the same way we are to hear from the Father. Which also explains why Jesus did not heal everyone or perform miracles everywhere He went. For He only did what His Father told Him to do.
.

.
The point is that this tells us clearly that Jesus knew the voice of His Father, not just as God the Son, but more specifically as a man. And since we are all made in His likeness, this tells us that, as MAN, we too CAN and should know and hear the voice of our Father in heaven too. Which is exactly what Jesus tells us when He describes this quality in His Word. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, AND they follow Me.” (John 10:27). Where following Him are all those who are led by “His Spirit” (Romans 8:14). It goes without saying that you can’t be led by the Spirit unless you hear from the Spirit.

This quality of knowing His voice is even more relevant when taken in the context of 1 Corinthians 14:31, which says, “For you are ALL able to prophesy ONE by one, so that all may learn, and all may be exhorted.” Firstly, that’s all it says. It says ALL can prophesy. It doesn’t tell us WHAT we can or should prophesy, but simply tells us we all can. Secondly, how is it possible that anyone can prophesy anything at all unless they first hear from the LORD? Or unless they know the voice of their Father in heaven? Which takes on a very specific meaning and context when we consider the instruction of Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:1 “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.”

When it comes to hearing from the LORD, and speaking a word in season from the LORD (to prophesy), there is a contrary school of thought in some circles of the church that has become doctrine for those same circles, which speaks of the “time of prophesy” being already passed and now over. In Ephesians 4:11-13, Paul speaks of the time of the apostles and prophets, and of the others in the five fold ministry, all coming to an end when the church arrives at a stature of maturity that “belongs to the fullness of Christ”. Can anyone say with hand on heart that the church has arrived at a stature of maturity resembling the fullness of Christ? In Genesis 8:22, it says that as long as the earth shall remain, there will be seed time and harvest. What else, but a seed, is the word of prophecy, that once spoken produces life (a harvest)? Which is to speak a word to a specific situation with a specific revelation of the will and purpose of God concerning it. And to add to this, this same circle admonishes those who prophesy as being those who, in doing so, “add to the written word” and are, therefore, in serious error. And in doing so, they bring a curse upon themselves (Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32; Revelation 22:18-19; Galatians 1:8). A timely question now would be if prophesying is considered “adding to” the written word of God, and therefore to the will of God, why does the very same Paul, who also writes both Ephesians 4:11-13 and Galatians 1:8 above, who therefore also knows about adding to the word of God, then also say in his writings in 1 Corinthians that “all can prophesy”, and that all should ”pursue the gifts, especially pursue prophecy”, but then doesn’t also specifically include in those same writings everything that we all can prophesy if prophesying is adding to the will and the Word of God? Can a house divided by itself stand?

For a start, Paul doesn’t tell us what to prophesy, because that is between God and the one He speaks through according to the timing of His will. But also precisely for that reason. Because there is “a timing” for all things in God’s master plan, which involves the timely operation of the gifts of His Spirit for that appointed time and that specific season. Telling a people ahead of the time will not be telling people “at the right time”. The LORD clearly says, “To EVERY THING, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). That is EVERY THING. Which covers the gifts of the Spirit. The season for prophecy will only come to an end when the church arrives at a posture and stature that is in the image and likeness of the fullness of Christ. Which is when this earth shall no longer remain. And until that season comes to an end, there will be an appointed time for each and every revelation, and for each rhema gift from the throne room of God to mankind, so that ALL may learn and be exhorted.

The gifts of the Spirit, including prophesy, are there for a specific function and purpose. Firstly, they are NOT for our own benefit, but for the benefit of others. Which is for the benefit of community. Which is for the benefit of the kingdom. Being the dominion of the King. But secondly, and more importantly, in the dominion of His kingdom, God calls us all to love our neighbour as ourselves, which is to love our neighbour as God loves us. And man cannot love as God loves unless man has been equipped to love like God does. Which is why it is essential we have the gifts of the Spirit. The gifts are the way in which the love of the Father may be imparted by man upon our neighbour. God cannot hold man accountable for not doing anything that He has called us to do if He doesn’t also make a way for us to do it. Secondly, the gifts only flow when they operate in the love of the Father. Love is the platform upon which the gifts operate. Which is why we first have to love our Father with all our heart and all our mind and all our strength so that before we then turn to love our neighbour as ourselves, which is as God loves us, we have the same love in us that He has for all of us. AND also only when they operate not only in the purposes of His will, but ALSO in His perfect timing. For it is His good will that we love our neighbour as ourselves. And it is our acceptable service to do so. And it is a perfect thing when we do so in accordance with His will and perfect timing. (Romans 12:2).

So for those who reject the prophetic and the voice of one in the wilderness calling all to love their neighbour as themselves, which is how God loves each and every one of us, they are in danger of placing themselves outside of “the fullness of Christ” which is needed in order to love their neighbour as themselves. With that being said, why does Paul especially single out prophesy? The same author tells us the answer. So that all may “learn and be exhorted”. And why is it important to the will and the heart of the Father that we all learn? For God says that my people perish for lack of knowledge. In other words, prophecy is the heart of the Father specifically expressed unto the body for the well-being of all His children so that none should perish. And why then also exhortation? So that the hearts of man may be encouraged by knowing they have both a future and a hope, which we all get from knowing that God has a plan for us. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11). And if, as the circles who believe that the prophetic word of the LORD is one that harms the body, why would the prophet Jeremiah specifically speak of such plans as being “plans to PROSPER you and NOT to harm you”? God specifically uses the word “plans”. And not only are the plans plural, telling us there is a plan for each of us, but plans are not just a set of objectives. Every plan follows a precise timeline. Which confirms for us, as does the life of Jesus above, that the will of God (His plans) embraces a precise timeline, not just a set of specific objectives. Otherwise, if timing wasn’t part of His divine will, everything would be done in a day. Which is not an eventuality that exists outside of the realms of possibility for the God who created the heavens and the earth in a few days.

When it comes to the gifts of the Spirit, the reason they are the gifts of “the Spirit”, is to tell those who believe that the gift of prophesy (and by implication all the gifts, because one gift of the Spirit cannot be singled out by itself to the exclusion of all others) as belonging to Beelzebub, is to firstly specifically tell us all that they “come from God”. Because if they came from the devil, that would imply division. And God is clear that when it comes to division, “a house divided cannot stand”. So the real question is WHO then is it really that is bringing division in the house? That His house thereby cannot stand? Is it those who believe the Word of God which tells us plainly that ALL can prophesy, and that all SHOULD prophesy by commanding us to pursue the gifts, especially prophesy? Or is it rather the ones who say that those who offer a word of instruction and exhortation from the Spirit of God so that none should perish are operating by the spirit of Beelzebub? “22 Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and[a] mute man both spoke and saw. 23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” 24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub,[b] the ruler of the demons.” 25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Matthew 12:22-28).

The next question is this. If it is those who believe in the gifts of prophesy, and in the office of the prophet and the apostle, are those who bring division in the house so that the house of God cannot stand, is the same apostle of God, who is accredited for writing 60% of the New Testament, then guilty of bringing the church into error, and also for bringing a curse upon all by not only telling them that all can prophesy, but that we are all to especially pursue the gift of prophesy? And if Paul was thus wrong, how then can we then trust ANY of the other 60% of the word of God that Paul was accredited for writing? So what are they in fact then saying? That 60% of the NT is untrustworthy and fallible?

Just like with the fresh anointing, which comes upon man at different times, revelation is one of the vehicles that God uses to take us into the new thing that God is doing for that time. Just like His mercies stand up fresh every day, His word is alive and fresh every day. Every day, He stands up new revelation for those that are anchored and pressed in to His Spirit and His will, a revelation and application of wisdom that not only brings life to His written word in fresh ways at an appointed time, but that always conforms to His written word (just like the OT statutes and ordinances are the application of the law). Each day the sun stands up after the night before and brings a new light to the day. It’s a fresh light. It's not yesterday's light. It is today's light. It’s a light for an appointed time. And tomorrow, it will be tomorrow's light, not today's light.

There is no staleness in the realm of the kingdom. The kingdom is a river of living water that flows from the high mountain (the throne room) to its footstool, to the open mouth of the sea (humanity). In the natural, each day we are to drink new water, and to breath new air, and to eat new food, if we are to survive and thrive in the natural. Everything in the natural is a representation of what takes place in the unseen. In the same way, each day we are to drink new living water. We are to breathe in the breath of life and eat of the bread of life. Through the manna from heaven that is fresh revelation. Nothing is stale. Everything is fresh and new. Just like the manna in Exodus had to be eaten the same day. It could not be kept for tomorrow. It’s fresh manna for a new day, which is a new time and season.

Revelation is the transformation catalyst released at a specific time by the will of God that brings life and exhortation for that moment in time. In other words, revelation is the change agent that takes you into the new thing that is the new life that God is doing and thinking for that appointed day and time. And it will never contradict His written word. For it’s source is identical. For both revelation and the written word is by inspiration of the same Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit is not a house divided unto itself. He does not contradict Himself. He is not a schizophrenic God.

When God brings you into the atmosphere of revelation, "The One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their King will pass through before them, the LORD at their head." (Micah 2:13). His is the forerunner Spirit, the pioneer. He leads. We follow. He speaks. We hear. His is the way and the truth and the life. Which is why He encourages and exhorts us to pick up our Cross and FOLLOW. He breaks through and takes us along with Him. And in this, we all have a choice. Just like the circles of those who choose not to hear from their Father for fear it is adding to the written word of the LORD. All have a choice to follow or not. Which is to hear His voice. Which is to have relationship with Him. It is His work and His revelation, and He shares it with those who are led by His Spirit, being those who are not led by their way and their truth and their life, but by the life of Christ, and the will of the Father, which is the Spirit of Christ come alive in us through surrendering our will at the Cross. Nothing new that is new is made known other than through the revelation of the Spirit. Revelation gives us relationship. It allows us to relate to the now through the eyes of the LORD. Revelation gives us kingdom eyes to see.

The Lord tells us that we all need to know His voice. He says my sheep will know My voice. Hearing His voice is the power of the Holy Spirit made manifest in your lives. In the natural, a son who reads a letter from a father he has never seen or heard, will NOT know his voice. The same is for the sons of God. It is the voice of the Holy Spirit that brings the written word to life. It is the Holy Spirit that opens our ears and our eyes, that allows the dead law of the written word recorded on the pages of the Bible to stand up and step off the pages of the Bible and come alive in the spirit and heart of man. I will write My word on their hearts and minds. The Holy Spirit enriches the written word, which without His intervention, is folly to man. Proverbs 24:3-4 speaks of this. “Through wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; By knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches.” Wisdom is the Word. The Word is by which a house is built. It is the structure. Nothing is added outside of it. But knowledge and understanding of the Word come through revelation. It is by revelation that the Word is established. For Proverbs says by understanding it is established. It is by revelation knowledge that the rooms of the house are filled with treasure. Which is not to “add to” but to fill up into “the stature of the fullness of Christ”.

The house is the temple of the LORD which is the spirit of man come alive to the Spirit of God by the indwelling Holy Spirit, so that just like the Word became flesh in Jesus, the Word becomes flesh in man. The word tells us clearly that all of the written word is by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It also tells us that the word is folly to those who do not have the Holy Spirit to make sense of it. So without the Holy Spirit, the written word is just letters on a page. But it is the Holy Spirit, through His revelation, that makes the words become life that speaks life into our hearts and minds and spirits and establishes that house on the rock. Which speaks to not the dead law but to the life of relationship. Which speaks to knowing His voice. A son knows his father's voice not through the letters on a page, but through relationship with his father. A son of God knows his Father's voice through relationship and by revelation. Without the Holy Spirit all is dead, even the spirit of man is dead to God unless the Holy Spirit moves and brings it to life in Christ. It is the same Spirit that enriches man through “learning and exhortation” through the operation of His will through the prophetic and apostolic, through teachers, evangelists and pastors. Because the prophetic and all the others are about relationship. It is the heart of the Father relating to the hearts of man that all may have life, and have it abundantly.

Teach us to know Your voice LORD. So that like Your Son before us, we may live to honour You as sons by living to do this one thing. Your will. Which is to complete the good works that You planned for all of us to do before time. “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10). So that just like Your Son, we too can honour our Father in heaven by saying, “IT IS DONE!”

“Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in the land of uprightness.”
‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭143:10‬)

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17).