Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith (Romans 12:6). Sometimes, some Christians wonder how come they prophesied that something was going to happen and it didn’t happen, and then they concluded that maybe it was a false prophecy after all. Not necessarily. Let’s learn from the Prophet Elijah: there had been no rain for three and a half years, then suddenly he prophesied to King Ahab ;get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain(1 Kings 18:41).
After giving the word of prophecy, the Bible didn’t tell us that immediately, the rains started pouring down. Rather we read in the next verse what Elijah did; he went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees(1 Kings 18:42). He went to pray. Elijah followed up his prophecy with prayer. He didn’t idle away, waiting for the abundance of rain, despite having prophesied by the Spirit that God would send rain. After praying for a while, he said to his servant, Go up now and look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, there is nothing, and he said, Go again seven times(1Kings 18:43-44).
This had to have gone on for several hours if not days. Each time Elijah’s servant went out to check if there was rain and came back, he met Elijah still praying. By the seventh time, the Bible says, it came to pass in the meanwhile, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain (1 Kings 18:45). Elijah didn’t stop at the prophecy, and this is what a lot of Christians haven’t learnt to do. They make the mistake of stopping at the prophecy, and when the rain as it were, don’t come, they wonder why. It’s because you stopped at the prophecy; you didn’t follow up the prophecy with prayer. Get smart and get praying; and you’ll see those prophecies come to pass in your life. Hallelujah!
