The Goal of the Prophetic is Love, Not Accuracy
JULIAN ADAMS • September 27, 2018
Paul’s rule of thumb when it comes to the gifts of the Spirit is that they should always be preceded by love. Pursue Love, then eagerly desire spiritual gifts. That’s the order for Paul and it should be for us too. We are living in days where we are seeing incredible accuracy being restored to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and friends like Shawn Bolz
are pioneering a new way in love, demonstrating the prophetic. The levels of accuracy that we see on display can often inspire, entertain and transform all at the same time. I do love it when a crowd listening to the prophetic words spoken over people in their community resonate with the details in that word and are often punctuated with ‘wow!’ or ‘that’s so accurate’. It really does leave us in awe of who God is.
If you are stepping out in your prophetic gift or are novices in words of knowledge it can be overwhelming. It can seem to be so out of reach to get the details so specific. I remember as a young man listening to and seeing some of the most accurate prophets prophesy over individuals with such stunning clarity it would take my breath away. It was in these contexts, though, that I sometimes saw some unhealthy practices around the prophetic. I noticed that often the emphasis was only on the accuracy of the word, no matter how it connected to the person or how vulnerable and exposed they felt. I saw some abuse in this context where the word shifted focus from awe at what God was doing, to being impressed with how the prophet was dramatising his or her gift.
I remember one particular set of meetings in England where I was moving in high levels of words of knowledge coupled with a number of miracles. I prophesied over 3 young men who had never been in church. After prophesying over them, one of them dropped an f-bomb and said to me, “Dude, are you like a psychic or something?” Such was the accuracy. It did strike me that the only reference of power they had for what was happening was demonic (thank God those days are over as He is now releasing an army of sharp prophetic people).
As I left that meeting God spoke to me and asked me a question: Son, that was a good meeting, wasn’t it? I have come to learn that when God asks you a question, it’s not because He is looking for an answer. No, He is wanting to reveal something in your own heart. So I played it safe and simply agreed with God, thinking to myself, Yes! We saw salvations, healings and accuracy in the prophetic. He followed His question with a fatherly correction and said to me, Son, you were not moved by my compassion for those in the meeting. I discovered then what Paul meant by the possibility of having great displays of power but not having love. The bible says we sound like clanging symbols when we do not operate in love (1 Corinthians 13:1). Most often the sound of that clanging is not heard on Earth, but in Heaven.
People are impressed with power. Heaven is impressed with love.
When we strive to get more accurate in our words without understanding that the operating system of God’s kingdom is love, we move the focus away from Jesus to other things around us. You see, the greatest revelation we can bring people into is that God is love. That His love was fully displayed in the life, death, resurrection, accession and glorification of Jesus. That when we want to discover what God is like we look to Jesus and how he lived. What’s beautiful about pursuing love is that people get what you carrylong before they get what you say. If you have the measles, you can tell people that you have chickenpox, but they’ll still catch the measles.
A love focus removes performance and introduces authenticity.
Love does not need to look flashy. It does not need to be measured. It does not need to be ‘put together’. Love does not need to strive. Love does not always need correct articulation. What love does is it sees value in people because of the intrinsic worth and image-bearing nature of God in all people. And this is the beauty of our sonship, we get the privilege of loving people simply and authentically, from the overflow of love we have received from Him.
Look for moments that are more than sharing information about people lives. Look for the hook of love in the words you give people. When you do this, transformation happens. Shame is removed and hearts are opened. Pursue love. Eagerly desire prophetic gifts. Simple, but oh so powerful! His love is the demonstration of his power.
If you want to grow in the prophetic, it doesn’t begin with what you say. It begins with what you see. The prophetic is rooted in perception. Not just natural insight, but spiritual awareness—what Scripture calls “the eyes of your heart.” Paul prayed that the church in Ephesus would have their hearts enlightened so they could truly see what God was doing. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you…” (Ephesians 1:18) God isn’t distant or withholding. But if we’re going to hear Him clearly, we have to see differently. We need Heaven’s perspective. And that means learning to quiet the noise, tune into His voice, and let Him train our inner vision. You don’t need to wait for a dramatic vision or audible voice. Often, God speaks through a nudge. A mental picture. A scripture that lingers. A sense of burden or joy that feels holy. These are the first signs that your spiritual eyesight is awakening. But it takes time. It takes attention. It takes trust. Just like physical muscles grow with use, your spiritual senses grow as you spend time with Him—not just talking, but listening. Not just asking for answers, but asking for His perspective. You were never meant to live according to what the world says is true. You were meant to live by every word that flows from the mouth of God. A Prayer for This Week: “Lord, open the eyes of my heart. Teach me to see what You see—not just in others, but in myself, in my circumstances, in the world around me. Give me clarity and confidence to trust Your perspective more than my own. Amen.” This week, pay attention to what you notice. The way you see is often the way He speaks.
In this live session, Sean Smith and Julian Adams share their prophetic perspectives on 2025, offering honest reflections on what they sense God is doing across the earth. With hope and expectancy, they discuss the spiritual landscape ahead and how we can prepare for what’s to come.
We are living in a world of dramatic change. The relentless pace of development often leaves us breathless and exhausted. The demand for innovative ways of communicating, inventing, and staying ahead of cultural trends can feel daunting and demoralizing. It can push us into a space where we find ourselves trying to copy rather than be authentic, to imitate rather than create. This pressure can lead us to believe that we need to be more creative, and that our individual stories do not matter. But nothing could be further from the truth. Your story, no matter how small, matters and is powerful. One of the remarkable aspects of ancient manuscripts, like the Bible, is that they tell the stories of individuals whose lives may seem small and insignificant. Yet, God chose to make their lives a memorial of what He could do with a life that the world deems insignificant. The incredible power of the gospel is that it changes lives one at a time. God is as interested in the individual story as He is in redeeming the cosmos. The aim of the gospel is not just dealing with personal sin; it is about restoring individuals to a relationship with a kind Father. In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis beautifully said, "The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God." Justification addresses our standing before God, but our adoption invites us into a relationship with the Father. It allows us to partake of who He is and to live in a place of deep joy from who He is. Romans 3:23 reminds us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Many of us forget that the work of salvation has turned this verse around. Through Jesus, we have been restored to the glory of God. One description of the word "glory" refers to the divine quality, the unspoken manifestation of God, and splendor. It is the revelation of God's intrinsic worth and beauty. Do you see that? We have been restored to His divine quality, splendor, and beauty. In a world where it can be easy to feel like just another face in the crowd, remember that your story is significant. Your experiences, your journey, and your voice matter. Embrace the unique narrative God has given you and let it shine. You are not just a spectator; you are a vital participant in God's grand story. Your authenticity, creativity, and individuality are valuable. As you navigate the rapid changes of our world, hold on to the truth that your story has power and purpose. God sees you, knows you, and has a plan for your life that is uniquely yours. Let us celebrate the beauty and significance of each individual story, knowing that together, we contribute to a tapestry of divine splendor and glory.