August 17, 2019August 17, 2019 Josephine Ngatia

Can I Go To A Prophet to Tell Me My Purpose?

Article

The quest to know your purpose can lead you to seek supernatural sources of knowledge for answers. One such source is the Prophet. We know prophets as those who have “a word from the Lord.” A prophet has become the “go-to” person for knowledge one believes they cannot get directly from God. Yet the prophetic is not a substitute for when you can’t hear God. God uses the Prophet to speak His word at His will, not man’s.

Traditionally, people sought prophets when they wanted to know what God was saying concerning their lives. It become a practice that continues to the present day. When people want to know their purpose and cannot discern the voice of God, they go looking for a prophet.

Going to a prophet shows you believe God is the One who reveals one’s purpose. The information that comes from Him is authentic and trustworthy.

The question, “Can I go to a prophet to tell me my purpose?” is common among those who are seeking to know their God-given purpose.

So, can you?

I believe seeking a prophet to tell you your purpose might lead to deception if you have not heard from God initially. If God wants to give you a word through a prophet, He will lead you to one. Don’t go searching. Let it be God’s initiative and not yours.

God reveals purpose through prophets. He did it when He sent the prophet Samuel to anoint David as the king of Israel and the prophet Elijah to anoint Elisha as his successor. But in both cases, it was God’s initiative. He sent the prophets. Today He speaks to every believer through the Holy Spirit who lives in them. Trust that God will reveal your purpose directly to you.

Seek God and He will give you revelation on His purpose for your life

God’s will is that we seek Him for answers, not run to others first. He says in Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to Me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things you do not know.” The knowledge you seek in relation to your purpose is with God and He is waiting for you to ask Him. Where you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, make that decision today so that with His Spirit living in you, you can hear God.

In the Old Testament, God spoke through prophets a lot and because the people didn’t have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they went to the prophets to know the mind of God. In the New Covenant, one who accepts Jesus through the gift of salvation has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. God speaks through His Spirit and those who are believers hear the voice of God.

An unbeliever doesn’t have the indwelling of God’s Spirit and will not hear Him speak. He or she may want to consult a prophet to know their purpose. But, without the Spirit of God it’s difficult to test the spirit by which a person speaks and the likelihood of falling into deception is high. Besides, an unbeliever will misunderstand the things of the Spirit even if they came from a prophet for they are things one discerns by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14).

God will give you enough revelation to take the first step

God will tell you your purpose and confirm what He has said without you going to anyone else. The Apostle Paul showed us it’s possible.

Galatians 1:15-17

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia and returned again to Damascus.

Paul had enough revelation to take action steps and fulfill his God-given purpose.

The same information God can give a prophet about your purpose is the same He will give you. When God reveals your purpose, understand it, meditate on it and internalize the revelation. As you do so, God will continue to give you details that will help you move forward. When He needs to confirm His word to you through a prophet or believer, He will do so in His time.

When God called Bezalel and Oholiab to work on the Tabernacle, He gave them wisdom, understanding and knowledge in different artistic designs in gold, silver, and bronze; cutting and setting stones; working with wood and various crafts (Exodus 31:1-6). If you lack wisdom on how to fulfill your purpose, ask God. He will show you.

Why do we doubt God’s voice and seek confirmation?

When you doubt the voice of God, it’s because you don’t trust your ability to discern His voice. The last thing you want is to make a move without the assurance you heard God.

How do you know you heard God? He confirms what He said in the following ways:

• His written word. As you read the Bible, you’ll notice verses confirming what God spoke to you. He will give you an anchor verse for your purpose which will guide you throughout life.
• Other people. God will use prophets or other believers to give you more revelation on your purpose. The information will align with what He has already shown you. He will bring your way people who need your ministry. 
• The “inner knowing” from His Spirit. The Holy Spirit, who lives in you, will confirm that the revelation you have is the truth. By the Spirit of God, you know all things (1 John 2:20). People refer to it as an “inner knowing.” This will give you the conviction you need to be sure you know your God-given purpose. 

Learn to hear God for yourself

Depending on prophets to hear God on your behalf will stunt your spiritual growth. Learn to hear God for yourself. Prophets speak the word of God as He leads them. When God uses a prophet to confirm your purpose, you will be at the right place, at the right time. Let it be a natural process and not one driven by your desperation to hear God. Guard yourself against false prophecies for many false prophets exist today.

Instead of seeking a prophet to know your purpose, listen for the voice of God. He says His sheep know his voice (John 10:27). Silence other voices and you will know God’s voice.