6 Steps to Operating in the Gifts of the Spirit: How to Maximize Your Prophetic Authority
If you want to begin to operate in the gifts of the Spirit, you must learn how to yield yourself to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
The gifts of the Spirit are not something that you manufacture, force, or manipulate. They are graces from God that function through His divine leading. One of the first and most important lessons in moving in the gifts of the Spirit is learning to recognize impressions. The Holy Spirit often communicates through impressions—things we feel or sense God is doing. Many believers mistakenly think that God will speak in an audible voice or through some dramatic encounter every time, but the reality is that He most often speaks in gentle nudges. If you want to grow in the supernatural, you must learn to recognize these impressions and follow them in faith.
Starting Small: Using “I Feel” Instead of “Thus Saith the Lord”
One of the best ways to step into the waters of prophetic ministry is to do so slowly. Many people make the mistake of trying to operate at a high level immediately without first developing their discernment. Instead of jumping headfirst into prophecy with “Thus saith the Lord,” it is much wiser to ease in by saying, “I feel” or “I sense.”
For example:
Instead of “The Lord says your marriage is in trouble,” say “I feel like maybe you’re having a tough time in your marriage.”
Instead of “God told me your son is in danger,” say “I feel impressed to pray for your son today.”
This approach does two things. First, it protects you from misrepresenting God. We prophesy in part and see through a glass dimly (1 Corinthians 13:9-12). Using “I feel” gives you room to grow without speaking presumptuously. Second, it protects the integrity of the Word of God. If you speak in absolute terms that turn out to be inaccurate, it can cause people to doubt both your ministry and the prophetic in general. As you grow in accuracy and confidence, your prophetic words will become more direct. But in the early stages, it is wise to test your impressions before declaring them as absolute words from the Lord.
Prayer as a Gateway to the Prophetic
One of the easiest ways to activate the prophetic in your life is to simply pray for people. Prayer is a natural gateway to the prophetic. When someone comes to you asking for prayer, use that as an opportunity to follow your impressions.
For example:
If someone says, “Can you pray for my family?” begin to pray generally.
While you are praying, you may start to feel drawn to pray for their son.
You pray, “Lord, I lift up this family’s son to You…” and suddenly the person confirms, “That’s exactly why I asked for prayer—I’m really worried about my son!” That simple impression was prophetic insight. This is how the Spirit of Prophecy begins to bubble up in your life. You transition from general prayer to specific prophecy, and over time, you discern when the Holy Spirit is speaking.
Following Prophetic Impressions: The .357 Magnum Approach
A friend of mine, Pastor Shane Warren, was trained by an old prophet who operated powerfully in the gifts of the Spirit. When asked how he moved so accurately, the prophet said: “Son, you take a .357 Magnum, and you shoot at everything that moves.”
In other words, you act on your prophetic impressions. If you sense something about someone, ask them about it. If your impression is related to the area of business, say, “Do you own a business? Or have you thought about starting one?” If you feel it’s related to the ministry, say, “I feel like God has a calling on your life. Have you ever thought about ministry?” You will never know if it’s God unless you step out in faith. Will you miss it sometimes? Yes. But you will also hit the mark many times as you grow. The more you follow the Holy Spirit, the sharper your discernment will become.
Overcoming the Fear of Being Wrong
One of the greatest hindrances to moving in the gifts of the Spirit is the fear of being wrong. Let me help you with this: You’re going to be wrong sometimes, but that’s okay. In the Old Testament, prophets were held to an extreme standard. If a prophet spoke in the name of the Lord and was wrong, he was stoned to death (Deuteronomy 18:20). But we live under the New Covenant. The New Testament standard is different. Paul tells the church in Corinth: “Let two or three prophets speak and let the others judge” (1 Corinthians 14:29 NKJV). Why? Because prophecy must be judged. We are not perfect. We see dimly and know in part. This means that New Testament prophecy is not infallible. Even seasoned prophets can miss it. That’s why it’s important to test everything (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21).
Learning from Rabbi Jonathan Cahn
I had an interesting encounter with Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, the best-selling author of The Harbinger. Previously, I had prophesied to him. One day, while driving him to the airport, he turned to me and asked, “Brian, when you prophesy, are you ever wrong?” I immediately burst into laughter and said, “Of course, I can be wrong!” He smiled and said, “I’m glad to hear you say that. You’re the first prophetic person I’ve met who admitted that they could be wrong.” The truth is, no one gets it right 100% of the time. The only infallible prophecy is the Bible. We must be humble and willing to test our words.
Creating a Safe Culture for Learning
Some churches have a strong prophetic culture and train people to prophesy. However, they make a critical mistake—they release novice prophets to prophesy over people without warning them. People come expecting accurate prophetic words, but instead, they receive immature or inaccurate prophecies. This damages the credibility of the prophetic ministry.
Instead, here’s a better approach:
Train people in safe settings.
Let them practice in small groups where they can receive feedback.
Have them say, “I’m learning—can I practice on you?”
This protects the prophetic ministry while allowing young prophets to grow.
Knowing Your Place in the Local Church
A final word of wisdom: Don’t be the person who travels from church to church trying to prophesy over everyone in the foyer. The Bible teaches: “Know them which labor among you” (1 Thessalonians 5:12 KJV). If nobody knows you, they won’t trust you. If you don’t have accountability, you are out of order. Find a church family that you can grow with. Stay long enough for people to trust you. Serve faithfully before expecting to be recognized prophetically.
Conclusion: Start Walking in the Gifts
If you want to operate in the gifts of the Spirit, here’s how you start:
Follow your impressions. Begin by saying “I feel” instead of “God says.”
Pray for people: Let prophetic words flow from your prayer life.
Take small risks: Ask people about what you sense.
Overcome fear: It’s okay to be wrong sometimes.
Be teachable: Surround yourself with leaders who will give you feedback.
Stay accountable: Find a church family where you can grow.
The gifts of the Spirit are for every believer. If you step out in faith, humility, and boldness, God will meet you there. You were designed to hear His voice and to bless others with the prophetic. Now, it’s time to start walking in it.
