Answering Your Questions on the Prophetic

Julian Adams • October 23, 2017
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I really wanted to just start talking around the prophetic. At the moment, on the internet, in churches, in books that I’d written, the prophetic always seems so mystical and out there and weird and not engage-able for many people. And I wanted to make the prophetic accessible. So, this is a series of questions and answers that we kind of put together and we hope it’s gonna serve you really well. The prophetic is super important, not because it’s a bunch of words that we’re simply communicating, but because it’s a revelation of God’s heart and His love for people. And when we understand that, it becomes a powerful tool that we get to use to love on people, to draw them into God’s perspective about them, to lift them into their destiny, and to call out the gold. And all of humanity are broken image bearers of God. There is gold in them that we need to call on so they can be reconnected to their creator and to the one who loves them. And I believe the prophetic needs to be restored in every sphere and every context of life so that we can communicate God’s perspective, God’s purpose, God’s plan, and God’s heartbeat to the broken, the hurting, the marginalized, the down and out, the up and out, the poor, the rich, so they get to get a revelation of a good, kind, happy Father who wants to bring them to be co-heirs and sharers and participators in the beautiful Kingdom that is now breaking out all over the Earth. That’s why we’re doing these videos and I hope it’s going to help you.
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So, for me, hearing God’s voice began when I was very little. God began to speak to me from a young age through various impressions, thoughts that would come into my head randomly that I began to recognize in terms of a pattern, that when I would dream things, think things, feel things, they would start to happen around me. I’d feel things about family members, and then it would happen. Thankfully, God was really kind. My parents are amazing and they helped recognize that as the voice of God. I then began to practice hearing God’s voice, initially with journaling. I read a great book by Mark Virkler called “Hearing the Voice of God,” and I began to journal, and I began to write some stuff down. And that really helped me gain an internal track record with God as to how to hear Him.

I think the key things for me were very simple impressions, nothing super-dramatic. It wasn’t like I was hearing Sean Connery saying, “Julian, this is the Lord speaking.” It was very simple, little thoughts, little impressions, little pictures, which then began to translate. I think the thing for me around developing this gift was actually when I started stepping out. And actually, from about the age of nine, I began to step out in prophetic words, in sharing what I was feeling and what I was seeing. And just seeing how that worked out, seeing how that impacted people, seeing how I began to interact with that, and began to recognize, “Oh, this is God.” And I think the big key around stewarding the prophetic is actually about obedience and crossing the fear factor and actually just stepping out and really believing that what you’ve got is something from God.

I think the biggest lesson I learned in the prophetic was the simplicity of encouragement. Encouragement is the simplest form of the prophetic, and it helped me to begin to realize that, no matter what I was doing, no matter what I was feeling, no matter what pictures I was getting, if I could just encourage people, that would reveal the heart of God. And I began to do that with some of the more specific words of knowledge or revelation I was getting. I would wrap it in encouragement. So even if the revelation or the word of knowledge was wrong, the encouragement was always gonna leave people feeling happy, feeling like they’re connected with their loving, kind Father. I think that’s the big one that’s really helped me in growing in the prophetic, is encouragement, stepping out, and obedience.

Is the prophetic still relevant? I’ve been thinking a lot about how to make prophetic words more accessible in a culture that often seems resistant. I got onto Instagram last week and asked my followers what questions they have on the subject. I’ll post my answers in a few VLOGs over the coming weeks. Here’s an intoduction video as well as the answer to my first question: “How did your journey in the prophetic begin?”
By Julian Adams January 3, 2025
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.
By Julian Adams July 17, 2024
Rejection is a powerful force that can shape the trajectory of our lives, often in ways we don't fully realize until much later. For me, this journey began in childhood. I was born with a cleft palate, which affected my ability to speak, and coupled with my passionate devotion to Jesus, I faced daily ridicule and rejection throughout my school years. My speech and my fervent faith made me a target, and I found myself isolated and misunderstood. Despite the rejection, something beautiful began to grow within me: a deep and abiding friendship with Jesus. Through profound encounters with the Lord, I began to walk in the prophetic. This newfound gift led me to public ministry, where I started releasing prophetic words. However, beneath the surface, I was carrying an immense amount of pain that I hadn't dealt with. This pain manifested as a lifestyle of performance, driven by the need for acceptance and validation. Though I was a new creation in Christ, I was living as if I were still bound by my old wounds. In Matthew 23:27-28 (MSG), Jesus describes the Pharisees as "manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it's all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh. People look at you and think you're saints, but beneath the skin, you're total frauds." These words struck a chord with me because I realized I was living like a professional Pharisee. Outwardly, I appeared to have it all together, but inside, I was disconnected from the healing process that God wanted to take me through. This disconnect had a significant impact on my prophetic ministry. My words, especially those concerning sin, were often harsh and unkind, reflecting my damaged perspective of myself and the world. It wasn't until I began to address my heart issues that my approach to the prophetic truly changed. God started speaking to me about the connection between my gift, my performance, and my worth. Through this process, He took me back to moments of pain and difficulty from my childhood and even into my adult life. In one profound moment, God said to me, "Son, I want you to grow up and be a child." This statement might seem paradoxical, but it revealed a crucial truth: the posture of the kingdom is one of childlike fascination and trust. My journey into sonship transformed how I viewed the prophetic and how I ministered to others. No longer driven by judgment and legalism, I began to approach people with love, kindness, and the heart of the Father. Understanding my identity as a beloved child of God allowed me to see others through His eyes. This shift not only brought healing to my heart but also enabled me to minister more effectively and compassionately. Rejection and pain had shaped my early years, but God's love and healing power brought me to a place of wholeness. This journey has taught me that dealing with our heart issues is essential for authentic and impactful ministry. As we pursue wholeness, we open ourselves to deeper intimacy with God and greater effectiveness in serving His people. If you find yourself struggling with similar issues of rejection, pain, or performance, I encourage you to invite God into those wounded places. Allow Him to heal and transform you, just as He did for me. Embrace the posture of childlike wonder and trust, knowing that you are deeply loved and valued by your Heavenly Father. In this place of wholeness, you will find the freedom to live and minister authentically, reflecting the heart of God to a world in need.
By Julian Adams July 21, 2023
In my years of teaching people the prophetic and how to hear God's voice, I've learned several practices that help people hear Him. Here are a few of my most helpful!
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