By Amy Grace Drinkwater

Kara Sensenig, leader of Equipping the Harvest and Eastgate House of Prayer, spoke on prophecy at Hopewell Church’s women’s group, Restore, during their monthly meeting Sept. 17, in Elverson, Pa.

Sensenig discussed the individual gifts each person has, which she believes are given by God, and how that plays a part in a person’s prophetic calling. Sensenig believes everyone has the ability to be prophetic and to prophesy through art, dance, or music.

“Yes! God is so creative,” Sensenig said. “It’s supernatural. It’s not something you know in your own mind or by your own understanding—that’s why it’s of the Spirit.”

Sensenig has her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Bloomsburg University, a Master of Divinity in world Christianity from Evangelical Seminary, and is currently working on her doctorate in ministry from United Seminary.

When Sensenig first found her gift of prophecy, she actively pursued it through conferences on prophecy, reading books like “Born to Create,” by Theresa Dedmon and attending the Randy Clark Global Awakening School, she said, adding, she used to have terrible nightmares which turned to good dreams after she became filled with the Holy Spirit.

Sensenig said a big turning point for her was when she had received a prophecy telling her that she would be barren no more. She now has two children.

“Pay attention to what you weep over,” Sensenig told the 50 attendees. “What you weep over, the Lord gives you authority in that area because [for whatever] you love, he releases his authority and power. So pay attention to that. It’s really important because it’s also a key to your calling and your destiny.”

According to a survey conducted in 2018 by the Pew Research Center, 75 percent of American adults admit to having tried to connect with a higher power and three in 10 say their higher power responds.

Dr. Francesco Bellini, DCCC professor of religious studies, discussed the different beliefs of eastern and western religions when it comes to prophecy.

When asked if he believes in prophecy, he replied, “It depends.”

Western religions believe God speaks through certain people, while eastern religions believe in obtaining understanding without the need for God to speak, according to Bellini.

In western belief systems, prophecy is powerful, Bellini said, adding that in the past it has influenced and changed history in a self-fulfilling way. There are false prophets as well, and although he is unsure of any real prophets, he thinks anyone can develop a prophetic ability, in a sense, if focused enough on obtaining it.

“I affiliate more with eastern religion and I believe that each one of us has the ability to understand things deep inside of the nature of things that we might share with others,” Bellini explained. “So, it could be prophetic at that level.”

Students from DCCC shared a few of their opinions on the topic of God, higher powers and prophecy. Marquice Williams, 20, a studio art major, said he believes in infinite possibilities when it comes to a higher power or God.

“I don’t know what is out there, but there is a lot out there that we can’t explain,” said nursing major Molly Berman, 21. Berman does not believe in prophecy, but in breaking down a situation in life scientifically and through facts.

At the beginning of the Restore event, Sensenig spoke on how being prophetic derives from a relationship with the trinity of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. God lives inside of everyone and is speaking to each individual person constantly, Sensenig believes.

Next, Sensenig spoke on how it can be difficult to move in the prophetic, or to prophesy, if the belief that God is good is non-existent because God is unchanging in his nature and his goodness.

According to Sensenig, sometimes God will speak through a vision or thoughts that pop into the mind. The nudges and messages from God can give guidance, Sensenig said, adding she believes that everything a person needs is obtainable from inside because she believes God is inside each person.

Next, Sensenig spoke on how, in the past, the Christian church has discouraged supernatural gifting and prophecy among all people. She said the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for everyone, prophecy is one of them, and many of them work together.

“Think of it as heaven coaching you on how to plan and pursue who you are or what you’re called to, or how to love those who are your destiny,” said Sensenig, quoting Shawn Boltz, a prophetic teacher. Sensenig listed the gifts of the Spirit and focused on the revelatory gifts: supernatural words of wisdom, words of knowledge and discerning of spirits.

Sensenig also discussed how restoring the prophetic is critical in this age. Be careful not to prophesy into someone’s sadness or predict outcomes that may be inevitable in the natural world because that’s not of the Holy Spirit, Sensenig warned. These are “soulish prophecies,” which can be dangerous and painful, Sensenig believes.

Furthermore, tapping into what someone is feeling or what is physically seen is not an accurate prophecy, according to Sensenig. A supernatural word of knowledge will cause a feeling of “awe” for someone, as it gives them the understanding that God cares about them and deeply loves them, Sensenig said.

Then, she discussed how everyone makes mistakes when practicing prophecy, which fosters humility. Practice is a part of developing accuracy in the prophetic as well as leaning on God and not oneself to deliver the prophecy, said Sensenig, who warned against false prophets, who can appear to be accurate and heal people supernaturally.

“It’s always about who we represent,” Sensenig said. “[1 John 4:1] says, ‘Test the spirits and see if they are of God.’”

“I’ve been in deliverance situations where I’ve had demonic voices speak to me,” Sensenig said. They will let you know who they represent. They can’t stand the name of Jesus too.”

Next, Sensenig discussed the gift of discerning spirits and how she believes it’s desperately needed in the world today. According to Sensenig, this generation has this gift and she believes God is about to activate it in a greater way.

Sensenig then asked the audience if they’d ever had an encounter with an angel or a demon. People who’ve had those encounters possess the gift of discernment, or understanding what God is doing and partnering with him, according to Sensenig.

The world needs people who can sense and discern, she added. Then Sensenig spoke on how prophecy can reveal future events. Prophecy should be a part of a regular church experience, Sensenig said.

Feedback is also a big part of growing in the gift of prophecy and there is no formula for it, according to Sensenig.

“Be who you are and don’t compare yourself to others,” Sensenig said.

Finally, Sensenig told the audience not to take offense. Instead, go after love as if their life depended on it and to pursue prophecy as it can shift a person’s life. It takes faith, which creates a space for miracles, Sensenig said.

At the end of the conference, Sensenig had the audience find a partner and practice prophesying. She instructed each person to pick a color and an object in the room. Then people prophesied what each signifies in their partner’s life. Many people related to each of the prophecies spoken about their lives.

“The word that God gave my partner was actually affirmed by another prophetic word a month earlier,” said Lauren Vansteenvoort, 36, of Elverson. “It’s encouraging the way that God continues to pursue us as he speaks to us.”

Dylan Anthony, 24, a DCCC biology major, is not a part of any religious sect, but feels he has a relationship and a connection with a higher power. Anthony claimed to have had a dream, after taking (the hallucinogenic) ayahuasca, which predicted his future and directed him to believe in prophecy.

“I think it’s just important to pay attention to the coincidences of your life,” Anthony said. “We’ll never have a factual answer as to yes or no at this point. Just go with your gut.”

The next women’s Restore gathering will meet Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. The community Restore will follow Nov. 5, at 7 p.m.

Contact Amy Grace Drinkwater at communitarian@mail.dccc.edu