One element of character that is missing amidst the current prophetic movement is integrity. I believe in the necessity of integrity in the prophetic word itself and in prophets who prophesy. Prophets are called to be people of personal integrity. And prophetic words should be tested for their accuracy. But prophetic words should also be tested for their effect on the lives of the persons receiving those prophetic words.
True prophecy is powerful; it can be life-changing. False prophecy can be devastating; it too can be life-changing. Hence, the Apostle Paul's recognition and admonition that ALL prophecies being tested. In 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21, Paul wrote, "Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good."
It is not a lack of faith to test prophecies for their accuracy. No, we must test prophecy so that we may know the difference between true and false prophecies. We must learn to exercise our discernment. Not only should we move in the gift of discerning of spirits, we must also exercise wisdom in proving those prophecies being given to us.
That proving process requires that we verify what a person said was God speaking was, in fact, God speaking. I have noticed that it is easy to presume to hear what God is saying. The Scripture teaches us much about the sin of presumption. In Deuteronomy 18:20, NKJV, God speaking through prophet Moses, says, "But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die."
As someone who has walked under the prophet's mantle for 30+ years, I have had to differentiate between me trying to make prophecies happen rather than watching God bring prophecies to pass. Often, there may be instructions I am required to follow to see prophecies fulfilled. But that doesn't mean I am making prophecies happen. Yes, I may war with prophetic words given, if they are truly God's words, but that doesn't mean my warring over them makes them happen.
In understanding the prophetic word, we must discern what it means to speak a prophetic word. When I wrote my book on How to Know if Your Prophecy is Really From God, I was seeking to help believers fulfill their prophetic words. At that time, I had noticed prophetic words not being fulfilled. Part of the reason prophetic words weren't being fulfilled is those receiving them weren't doing what was stated in the prophetic word. That is the believer's part of fulfilling prophecies.
The prophet's part is different. The prophet's word must be God's word. The Hebrew word for "word" is Dabar. When I studied the word, Dabar, I began to understand that the prophetic word contains power in itself to bring itself to pass. The prophetic word is encapsulated with God's power; it is sufficient in and of itself to bring itself to pass. That is how those prophesying must view the prophetic word.
When prophets lose sight of this truth, it can be easy to fall into the sin of presumption. Prophets can think they brought the prophetic word to pass. That view, at its core, is pride. God doesn't work in the realm of pride: no matter how great the prophet or prophetess might be. No, God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
I see many who are calling for prophetic decrees. I believe in prophetic decrees. But true prophetic decrees must start in heaven, not on earth. That is what makes them prophetic. Without the God part in prophecy, all we have is good words; they are not prophetic words. Prophecy must originate with God for it to truly be prophecy. If it originates from us, even if it is Scripture, it is not prophecy.
That is why the prophetic movement is reeling today: many prophecies have originated in the prophet's own heart and mind rather than God's mouth. This happened in Israel. Jeremiah spoke to it. Ezekiel also spoke to it. False prophets arose who lead Israel astray. Israel was destroyed because they tried to make their own words happen rather than following the instructions given in true prophetic words.
Israel's prophets lacked prophetic integrity and it caused Israel to be destroyed. I am less interested in the falseness of the prophetic words given by prophetic leaders in this last election. Rather, I am greatly concerned by the absence of integrity in the prophetic movement. This is a time for self-evaluation not doubling down on prophecies spoken; it is a time to humble ourselves in the sight of God.
America is being torn in two; our nation is divided. Where are the prophets who are called to speak to this generation and bring them back from the brink of destruction? Where is the prophetic voice when it is so desperately needed in this hour of history? Why aren't we humbling ourselves under God's mighty hand? Why is there so much pride in the prophetic movement?
The answer is simple: lack of prophetic integrity. In watching William Branham prophesy for hours, he always made it a point to ask people if what he was saying was true. In the prophetic movement today, I see an absence of that kind of prophetic integrity. What has afflicted the American news media has also afflicted the prophetic movement, an absence of integrity.
We must recover that integrity. In 2020, I had a dream of a national prophetic leader and Chris Wallace. In that dream, we were in a church service and I was the pastor. The church service had been dismissed for lunch. Everyone was in the serving area where the food was being served. That prophetic leader and Chris Wallace were talking to each other. I was standing there waiting to get to the bread behind them. Both of them noticed me, but didn't move. I waited. Finally, after several minutes, they moved. That prophetic leader went to my left, Chris Wallace went to the right. As that prophetic leader went to the left, it appeared that he was angry with me. Lastly, I was able to get the bread behind them.
That prophetic dream told me much about what was happening in America. I knew both the prophetic movement (represented in this dream by this national prophetic leader) and news media (represented in this dream by Chris Wallace) were preventing people from hearing God (getting the bread). They were in the way. I wanted the bread (God's word) behind them. I waited patiently to get it.
That is part of the process of moving into the place of prophetic integrity: we must learn to wait on God to get His true word. Rather than listening to our own voices or even established prophetic voices, we must set time apart to listen to God's voice, and we must ensure that it is His voice we are hearing.
Because it is easy for prophets to slip into the place of presumption, it is vital prophets hold themselves to greater accountability for the prophetic words they speak. Prophets in today's prophetic movement have not done that. Rather, an absence of proving prophetic words has created a lack of integrity, which must be addressed.
As such, prophets must judge themselves. Or they will be judged by God. History demonstrates that reality. For that reason, I plead for prophetic integrity amongst today's prophets. I call for prophetic integrity to be restored to the prophetic movement. I ask that we judge ourselves in hopes of staving certain judgment. I ask that we do what the Apostle Paul said, test everything and hold on to what is good.
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