Why are we afraid of the prophetic?

   For many decades now, I have had a healthy fear of anything that smacks of ‘New Age,’ of ‘small s’ spiritual’ things, of what I saw as ‘wacky’ teaching, of sensationalism related to Christianity, or any form of idolatry. However, I have learned over the last decade of my faith that I have prejudged some Biblical truths as false teaching without in-depth study or even stopping to ask God what He thinks.. Some of it, God has shown me, is from my zeal for His truth, but some has been from intellectual arrogance and reliance on my own human judgment.

   Questions like, “How could this ever take place? “How could this possibly be true? Comments like “That’s ridiculous!” Declarations like, “God just doesn’t do that today!” Or…”who do they think they are, proclaiming themselves prophets?” I am ashamed to say these have been in my mind even if they haven’t come out of my mouth. God has humbled me many times in my life, so I thankfully am used to repenting and asking Him where I have gone wrong. 

   I have believed in and experienced the gifts of the Spirit since 1979. I have believed they were for today, not just to ‘get the church going’ at its inception. Yet somehow, it never occurred to me that God was still anointing people in the office of prophet, not just in Old Testament days. I believed in individual prophetic words, as described in Corinthians. I believed in aforesaid gifs of wisdom and knowledge. But it never entered my head that God was still speaking through specially anointed individuals in the 21st century. Yet why would Holy Spirit suddenly stop communicating in this way? Yes, we can each hear from Him individually, but in the same way that He has specially anointed certain people for healing, for deliverance ministry, for words of knowledge, etc., He has continued to choose people to speak to the Body as a whole. I have come to be so very grateful for these prophets ‘for such a time as this’ when God is doing unprecedented mighty works in the world, like bringing ‘epic revival’ and ‘a billion soul harvest’ and has called us to be a part of it. It is only relatively recently in the history of the church that we have had the technology to join together as a world-wide Body and agree in prayer and decree that His specific will for these times be done. Now it is happening…across denominations and nations.

   We musn’t relegate this powerful ministry to the bathtub of current false teachings. We must, indeed, check prophecies with His Word as the plumb line of truth and ask God for discernment. However, we must not reject them in a knee-jerk reaction of our ‘higher spiritual understanding, as I have seen many do.

   So, let’s take a look at some examples of what the Word says about prophecy and it’s ministry::

“ Do not scorn or reject gifts of prophecy or prophecies [spoken revelations—words of instruction or exhortation or warning]. —1Thessalonians 5:20 

Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit.   —1 Thessalonians 5:19 

To one, through the Spirit, is given a word of wisdom; to another, a word of knowledge, in accordance with the same Spirit; 9 to another, faith, by the same Spirit; and to another, gifts of healing, by the one Spirit; to another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, the ability to judge between spirits; to another, the ability to speak in different kinds of tongues; and to yet another, the ability to interpret tongues. —1 Cor 12:8-10

“And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.” 1 Cor 12:28

17 

‘In the last days, God says,

    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

    your young men will see visions,

    your old men will dream dreams.

18 

Even on my servants, both men and women,

    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

    and they will prophesy.  Acts 12:17-18

I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. 1 Cor 14:5

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 1 Cor 14:39

Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.” —Rev 10:10-11

They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. —Rev 11:6

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; —Romans 12:6

 

For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged —1 Cor 14:31  

“Therefore, the wisdom of God also said,  ‘I will give them prophets and apostles.’ “ —Jesus, Luke 11:49

“He [God] pours out revelation-knowledge to those with understanding. He alone reveals deep secrets and mysteries..” —Daniel 2:21

“We have to become, like the early Church, people who stand together with a unified purpose, calling on the Name of the Lord, and making an appeal to Heaven.. We simply must understand the power of a people who are united in agreement.” —Tim Sheets

   Yet, how can we agree as a body if we don’t know what God is saying NOW? There are thousands of situations, in our personal lives and in the world, for which the Logos (written Word of God) doesn’t give us specific answers. Should I take this job, Lord? Should we move? How should I counsel this friend? How do we pray for Iran? What is your plan here, Lord? Despite what we see happening, what are You doing, what do YOU SEE? What do You want? He wants us to know and to partner with Him. Prophetic ministry helps us do just that. 

   As individuals, when we don’t know how to pray, the Spirit gives us the words: “Then what am I to do? I will pray with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will also pray [intelligently] with my mind and understanding; I will sing with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will sing [intelligently] with my mind and understanding also. —- Romans 8:26 AMP

  Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice.” [John 10::27] Are we truly listening, as individuals and as a Body? Do we believe Jesus speaks Rhema (now) words today? Was He just joking around when He said we could hear His voice? Was He only speaking of the disciples as His sheep?  Then why do we speak now of being so? Was He only The Good Shepherd when He was on the earth? 

   He has shared with us “the keys of His Kingdom.” Do we think He handed them over and said, “Go for it…You’ll figure it out.”? [That, by the way, is the premise of the old popular heretical book, “When Bad Things Happen to Good People.”]

   “We have to become, like the early Church, people who stand together with a unified purpose, calling on the Name of the Lord, and making an appeal to Heaven. We simply must understand the power of a people who are united in agreement.” —Tim Sheets

   It is not an accident that you and I were born to be here in this time. We have to know that:

“God wanted me here for right now. I’m not here by accident. This is my time. I was born to make a difference right now. I was born to see revival and reformation.” —Tim Sheets

 

   What an amazing time to be on the earth with the privilege of partnering with God and with other believers locally and around the world. Let’s most certainly be grounded in God’s written Word but also open to God’s Rhema communication by His Holy Spirit….through His modern day prophets as well as directly to us as individuals. And…

Let’s ride!

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Elijah Streams is a good source of videos of prophets and prophetic people found consistently reliable over time. Also Dutch Sheets' '" Give Him 15" on Rumble or YouTube

Report from Friday night: 

https://youtu.be/na8rR-3nI5A?is=x1FsJIiR8TPd6GE1

If you are interested in more, here is a link to a slideshow I made for a series of teachings I gave on praying both God’s Logos and Rhema words. Part III to come.   Julie

Ekklesia Warriors Slides