7 Prayers to Release the Prophet in You (Numbers 11:29)

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“And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!” (Numbers 11:29, KJV)

In this profound declaration, Moses voiced a heartfelt desire—that all of God’s people might receive the Spirit of the Lord and prophesy. Moses’s prayer found its ultimate fulfillment in the prophecy of Joel in Joel 2:28, and later manifested on the Day of Pentecost: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17)

Today, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, every believer in Christ has the potential to walk in prophetic ministry, provided they cultivate intimacy with the Holy Spirit. In this blog post, we’ll examine seven essential prayers drawn from John the Baptist’s ministry that can help activate and strengthen the prophetic calling in your life.

Prayer One: Stamina for the Prophetic Journey

Between the last time a prophesy was given in the Old Testament to the next time one came forth in Luke 1:67-79, it was approximately 430 years. The 430-year prophetic silence marked a period of significant spiritual darkness for Israel. During this time, the nation lost its autonomy to Rome, and spiritual confusion abounded without prophetic guidance. Yet, God’s response wasn’t to send a military leader or political revolutionary – He sent a prophet – John the Baptist to restore the prophetic voice. Luke 1:76 declares, “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways.”

God often raises prophets during the most challenging seasons, not in times of ease. Prophets are sent to broken families, nations, and systems, just as Jonah was sent to Nineveh. Walking in prophetic ministry requires spiritual stamina to endure burdens and challenges. As Hebrews 12:1-2 reminds us, we must “run with patience the race that is set before us,” looking to Jesus as our source of strength.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, grant me the spiritual stamina needed to bear the burdens of the prophetic calling. Like John the Baptist, help me stand firm in my prophetic calling despite the opposition and difficulty of the times. Strengthen my resolve to speak Your truth with boldness and consistency. Give me endurance when the path becomes difficult and wisdom to pace myself in this marathon of ministry. Help me to endure with patience and unwavering faith, knowing that Your strength is made perfect in my weakness. Empower me to rise in difficult seasons and speak Your word with boldness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Prayer Two: A Strong Spirit

Luke 1:80 describes John’s preparation for the prophetic ministry: “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.” John’s upbringing was focused on spiritual development. Unlike others who might prioritize physical or intellectual growth, John’s strength was rooted in his spirit. Similarly, at age 12 Jesus was described in Luke 2:40 as growing “strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.”

The upbringing of Jesus and John highlights the intentional spiritual development required for prophetic ministry. While our society often emphasizes physical fitness or intellectual achievement, the prophetic calling demands primary investment in spiritual growth. True prophets prioritize spiritual growth above all else.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 reveals, that man is a triune being—body, soul, and spirit. While physical fitness for the body and intellectual pursuits for the soul are valuable, the spirit must take precedence for anyone called to prophetic ministry. Spiritual disciplines such as prayer, fasting, and Bible study are non-negotiable. A prophet cannot afford spiritual blindness or deafness but must remain sensitive to God’s voice and guidance.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, help me prioritize spiritual development over worldly pursuits. Sharpen my spiritual senses through prayer, Your Word, and fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Make my spirit more attuned to Your voice and sensitive to Your leading. Help me to grow strong in spirit through daily fellowship with You. Teach me to prioritize spiritual disciplines and seek Your presence above all else. Open my eyes to see, my ears to hear, and my heart to understand the things of the Spirit. Lord, strengthen my spirit as You did for John the Baptist. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Prayer Three: The Divine Voice

John’s ministry in the wilderness was marked by his voice, not his location. Luke 3:4 proclaims, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” This prophetic voice serves specific purposes: filling valleys (addressing spiritual gaps), leveling mountains (confronting false elevations), straightening crooked paths (correcting error), and smoothing rough ways (preparing hearts for the Lord). As Luke 3:5 elaborates, “Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth.”

A prophet’s voice carries divine authority to address strongholds and imaginations that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). This voice is not earthly but heavenly, as John 3:31 emphasizes: “He that cometh from above is above all.” The prophetic voice prepares the way for God’s work and brings clarity and correction to His people.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, anoint my voice to be a vessel of Your truth. Let my words carry divine authority to prepare the way for You, correct errors, and bring clarity. May my voice echo Your heart and align with Your will. Purify my voice to speak Your words, not my own. Grant me the courage and clarity to address spiritual gaps and confront error with love and truth. May my words carry Your authority and bring transformation. Help me speak from Heaven’s perspective, not Earth’s limitations. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Prayer Four: Personal Testimony

John revealed Christ accurately because of the personal encounters and relationships he had with Heaven. For example, in John 1:32-34, John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”

Therefore, prophets must prioritize encounters with the Spirit of revelation and wisdom so that they can have a personal encounter with Christ. Those encounters become the prophet’s personal testimonies. This revelatory dimension requires the spirit of wisdom and revelation that Paul prayed for. Ephesians 1:17 records Paul’s prayer for the church: “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.”

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, grant me the spirit of wisdom and revelation to know Jesus more deeply. Help me bear the true testimony of Your Son through personal encounters and divine insight. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Prayer Five: Christ-Centered Focus

True prophets lead people to Christ and illuminate His nature, will, and purposes. Revelation 19:10 declares, “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” This verse highlights that the ultimate purpose of prophecy is to reveal Christ. John’s ministry was entirely Christ-centered. For example, when questioned about his identity, John’s focus remained steadfastly on his mission to reveal Christ rather than elevating himself as seen in the passage below:

“And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.” (John 1:19-23)

True prophetic ministry follows John’s example – it doesn’t seek to establish its own identity or authority but rather points unfailingly to Christ. As John himself would later declare, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, like John, help me maintain true humility and clarity about my role in Your kingdom. Give me the grace to decrease that Christ might increase. May my prophetic ministry always point others to Christ, reveal His nature more clearly, and draw others into a closer relationship with Him. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Prayer Six: A Witness of Fire and Light

In John 5:35, Jesus described John the Baptist as “a burning fire and a shining light.” Light unveils truth and dispels darkness. John’s ministry was marked by clarity and purity, leading people to repentance and preparing them for Christ. As Isaiah 60:3 declares, “And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.”

The fire of the Holy Spirit fuels passion and empowers believers to confront darkness boldly. Acts 1:8 confirms, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Prophets must carry both the spirit and power of Elijah, as prophesied in Luke 1:17, to turn hearts and prepare people for the Lord.

Prayer: “Jesus Christ, baptize me with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11). Cause your light to shine on me and light my candle (Psalms 18:28). May I not walk in darkness but through darkness illuminated by Your light. Let my life be a burning and shining testimony that draws others to You. Empower me to confront the darkness and shine brightly in a world that desperately needs Your truth. Make me a light that Gentiles come to and their kings to its brightness (Isaiah 60:3). May my testimony not be obscured by the darkness and the god of this age who has blinded the unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4). In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Prayer Seven: Spirit and Power

The angel that prophesied about John said that he would go in the power of Elijah: Luke 1:17 (“And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord”). This meant that his ministry was intended to be accompanied by signs, miracles, and wonders.

However, after an analysis of John’s ministry in John 10:40-41, it was reported that he modeled the spirit of Elijah but did not model the power of Elijah because he did not perform signs and wonders. This was one of the shortfalls in John’s prophetic ministry that modern prophets must avoid at all costs.

In Acts 1:8 Jesus established that those who are His witnesses must have both Spirit and power capacity. When you have both, the testimony of your witness will be: “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:17-18)

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, I desire to walk in the fullness of Your calling—to carry both the spirit and power of Your anointing. Empower me with boldness, signs, and wonders to testify of Your greatness and prepare others for Your kingdom. Help me minister with both prophetic insight and supernatural demonstration. Grant me authority over spiritual darkness and faith for miraculous manifestations. May my ministry reflect the fullness of Your Kingdom – in word and power. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

In conclusion, Moses’s prayer for all God’s people to be prophets finds its fulfillment in our time through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. As we yield to the Holy Spirit’s work, we position ourselves to release the prophet within and we become effective voices that bring Heaven’s perspective to Earth’s situations.

Remember, prophetic ministry isn’t about personal elevation but about revealing Jesus and preparing the way for His work in people’s lives. Therefore, let us embrace both the privilege and responsibility of prophetic ministry, always remembering that “he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” (1 Corinthians 14:3)

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