A man I had come to know assumed the primary leadership role in a large international church organization.  His appointment was a good fit and made sense.  His respected life and ministry were well known across many denominations and church movements worldwide.  The assumption was that he would remain in that position for many years.

One morning, as I was praying for this man, I heard the Lord say, “He will bring a surprise.”  I was not sure what that meant.  I asked the Lord, and He said, “He will not make himself available for another term once his current term is finished. He will withdraw himself.” 

I sat on that word and waited for the Lord to tell me what to do.  A few days later, the Lord asked me to contact the man and share the word. The content of the word and the timing of its delivery were two separate things. Each prophetic word will contain two elements: content and timing.

I called the man and shared the news about the surprise he would bring.  After I spoke, there was silence on the other end of the phone line. He finally broke the silence by asking, “Was there anything more to the word?”  When I said, “No.” I could tell that he was processing this issue. My word was a confirmation of what he was already hearing from the Lord.

Weeks later, an email went out to those in his circle of ministry influence letting us know that he would not be engaging another season of ministry leading his organization.  A formal newsletter went out a few days later to a wider audience, describing my friend’s announcement as a “surprise” to all involved. 

We can assume that just because we hear a prophetic word, we are required to immediately share it.  This is not always true. Sometimes the delivery of a word is delayed for reasons we do not yet know or understand. 

I could have fired off that word to my friend without waiting for God’s timing, but I might have missed something important that was happening behind the scenes. Unseen elements are always at work. These elements may not be part of the original message and may take time to develop in the heart of the person receiving the word and those who will be affected by it. 

God is at work arranging lives and circumstances to make a word ready to be received.  If a word is out of step with God’s timing, it can lack the impact it would have had if all the supporting elements were not in place.  

When my friend asked me, “Is there anything more to the word?” I said, “No”. I had personal opinions on the subject, but my opinions were not part of the word the Lord asked me to share.

As God increases our ability to speak in His name, we need to ask Him to give us a patient heart.  Waiting for God’s timing before we speak will allow God to use us in unusual ways to influence and encourage others.  All prophetic words must contain one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit: self-control.

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22).