Advanced Prophetic Training: Understanding Unction, Mantles and Prophetic Pull

Understand the importance of waiting for the unction of the Holy Spirit before prophesying, the importance of prophetic mantles and activations, and the need for prophetic pull and permission before speaking. If one prophesies by faith alone, are they in danger of tapping into a spirit of divination? If a prophet that has not been granted permission to prophesy, yet does, are they guilty of sin? Answers to these questions take us into advanced prophetic training.

Prophets carry a great blessing for the body of Christ. They also have a significant responsibility to guard their ministries from demonic encroachment. As prophets mature in their ministries they quickly learn to wait for the unction of the Holy Spirit before they move out in their gifting. This is how they keep defilement and spiritual corruption out of their lives and ministries. The Apostle Peter made it clear that men of God wait on the Holy Ghost. “Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20-21).

Prophecy from the Holy Spirit was never spoken by “the will of man,” that is to say, by man’s will. This teaches if one prophesies by faith only, without unction, then they prophesy according to their own wills and not Gods. Prophesying is not something that is done solely by faith. Prophecy is not by the prophet’s faith and will alone. Faith alone does not make the Holy Spirit speak. Faith is involved, yes, but the prophet is not making the prophetic utterance come by faith alone. The seasoned prophet understands this and is able to protect himself from prophetic error. Prophecy is not about faith, will or emotions, it’s about waiting for the Holy Ghost to move. Let’s look at the pattern. Men spoke as they were moved, compelled and prompted by the Holy Spirit.

UNCTIONS

True prophetic utterance is always accompanied with unction. Unction is permission to speak. If there is no unction, then the prophet is operating by faith alone. Unction, Greek chrisma, means anointing. Those that prophesy by faith alone are in danger of tapping into a spirit of divination. Divination is foretelling the future by occult means. It is important to note that prophecy should come after you receive unction to speak just like the prophets of old that were first “moved by the Holy Ghost.” As already said, unction for the prophet is the permission of the Holy Spirit to speak. After you receive permission then use your faith and let the prophecy flow. The five-steps for prophetic release are:

1. God wants to speak

2. Holy Spirit gives permission

3. Prophet’s faith lays hold of the unction

4. Prophet speaks

5. Prophecy judged

MANTELS AND ACTIVATION

Five-fold ascension gift prophets carry a prophetic mantle. When Elijah was ushered into heaven he dropped his prophetic mantle to Elisha. I have seen the effects of this mantle on the prayer lives of people. One day some people were praying together. As I listened many in the group were prophesying. What was striking to me was these people had never prophesied before. So what was it that was different in this particular group? There was a man with a prophetic mantel on his life among them. The reason these others were able to prophesy was they were picking up on his prophetic gift. This expresses the need for five-fold ascension gift prophets in local churches because their gift activates the prophetic among the general assembly. Scripture gives examples of prophetic activation when King Saul sent messengers to capture David

“Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah. And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?” (1 Samuel 19:20-24)

PROPHETIC PULL

Let’s look at Ezekiel’s release to prophesy for a better understanding of prophetic permission. Ezekiel was a seasoned man that knew the Holy Spirit well. He would not prophesy until told. Scripture says, “So I prophesied as I was commanded” (Ezekiel 37:7). In this verse Ezekiel, a mature prophet of God, understood that he was not to prophesy until the Lord released him to do so. We, too, can learn from this. It is all right to sense the prophetic anointing but don’t speak “thus saith the Lord” unless God releases you through prompting by the Holy Spirit. If you prophesy by faith without unction, outside God’s permission, you are in danger of tapping into a spirit of divination. This is a sobering truth but if you tap into a spirit of divination you release witchcraft over the people. More about this later.

During a powerfully anointed service I asked God if he wanted me to prophesy to the people. I could tell the people were pulling on me for a prophetic word. Most seasoned prophets can relate to that feeling. The Spirit of God said, “No.” Could I have prophesied anyway? The answer is “yes” but I would have been in error. If you prophesy without God’s permission you can tap into a familiar spirit.

A man told me that he received a prophetic revelation from the Lord. I asked him to share it with me and he said, “It’s way to deep and nobody was ready for it.” I said, “Brother, you need to be careful with that. If you have a revelation from God you need to let the prophets judge.” All prophecies need to be judged, examined, and weighed against the Logos of God. scripture says, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). Prophets make mistakes and some prophesies are wrong. Scripture says that we “see through a glass darkly” (1 Corinthians 13:12). If prophets and prophecies were always accurate then people would be tempted to follow prophets instead of Jesus. All prophecy needs to be tested for accuracy. Period.

(c) Jonas Clark

www.jonasclark.com