I believe the prophetic movement is at a crossroads. I have prophesied this to several leading prophetic leaders. The prophetic movement cannot continue as it has without any guardrails. I know several leaders recognize this fact. But several leaders are trying to utilize unBiblical solutions to solve issues that exist among prophets. How can they? They are not prophets. No. It requires mature prophetic leadership to solve those issues that exist within the prophetic movement.
To understand the responsibility prophets hold, we must learn what responsibility prophets have. Yes, God holds prophets accountable. In Jeremiah 28:1-17, we see a showdown between 2 prophets - Jeremiah and Hananiah. Jeremiah prophesied Israel would be lead into captivity into Babylon for 70 years. Hananiah prophesied Israel's captivity would be turned back in 2 years. Jeremiah was true. Hananiah was false. Then, Jeremiah prophesied Hananiah would die. And he did. God held Hananiah accountable.
Often, we focus on the goodness of God. And we avoid looking at the severity of God. We don't like to consider the possibility that God's justice can be severe. For Hananiah, it was. Why was God's punishment of Hananiah so severe? From God's perspective, Hananiah was teaching God's people rebellion through his false prophecies. We must understand the prophetic from God's perspective. The prophetic office is holy and significant; it is not something to be trifled with by interlopers.
For years, the prophetic movement has grown. I was involved in the prophetic movement through the Vineyard for years. I enjoyed the Vineyard Movement. I enjoyed the Kansas City prophets. I had built relationships with some of them. I have also been involved in the prophetic movement with Christian International. I love Christian International. I believe true prophets are being raised within Christian International that will touch nations. I have also been involved with Morningstar Ministries. I love Morningstar Ministries and Rick Joyner. I was there when amazing things took place.
I have witnessed prophets like Bob Jones, Kim Clement, John Paul Jackson, Jim Goll, Bill Hamon, John Sandford, Paul Cain, Emmanuel Cannastraci, Cindy Jacobs, and numerous other prophets who ministered at an amazing level of power and accuracy in their prophetic words. I have also witnessed others who called themselves prophets but were not. My experience in the prophetic movement has been positive. But for others, it has not been positive.
To that end, I believe we must return to the Bible to understand God's standard for His prophets. I believe the Bible from cover to cover. In 2 Tim. 3:16, it says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness". In 2 Pet. 1:20, we learn, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." In Jn. 10:35, we learn, "the Scripture cannot be broken".
There is a type of prophecy that is no longer being given today - the prophecy of scripture. We believe the scriptures are complete and whole and inerrant. That is a basic premise of Christianity, which the prophetic movement must adhere to. If not, prophets and the prophetic movement will spin out of control into heresy. We must reject any addition to the scripture. We must also reject any subtraction from the scripture. The Biblical standard for prophets and prophecy is the Bible.
Prophecy is not the will of man. In 2 Pet. 1:21, it says, "no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Ghost." Prophecy must be by the Holy Spirit for it to be of the Holy Spirit. If prophecy does not originate from the Holy Spirit, then it is not prophecy. Yes, it is possible for prophets to speak presumptuously. In Deut. 18:22, it says,
If a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and what he says does not come true, then it is not the LORD's message. That prophet has spoken on his own authority, and you are not to fear him.
True prophecy always carries the air of Heaven and mind of God. We must listen for that pure sound when we prophesy. When God speaks, His voice carries a unique sound from any other voice. Even when God whispers, His whisper is filled with supernatural power. We must learn to discern when a prophet, any prophet, is moving under his own authority, not God's authority. Even Moses was caught moving under his own authority. Num. 20:8-11. Because of Moses's rebellion, God kept him from the promised land.
Prophets must learn to discern when God is speaking and what He is asking them to speak. God may speak to prophets but not send them. In Jeremiah 26:20-23, we learn of a prophet by the name of Urijah who prophesied exactly the same thing that Jeremiah was prophesying. The difference between them is Jeremiah was spared and Urijah was murdered. God protected Jeremiah because He sent Jeremiah. The Bible doesn't say that God sent Urijah. Urijah was slain.
We can speak the right word to the right person but be the wrong person to speak that right word. Urijah learned the hard way that he was not the right person to speak what he was speaking. No, Jeremiah was the one whom God had called to speak to Israel. God sent Jeremiah. Urijah just went. God protected Jeremiah. God did not protect Urijah.
Yes, discernment is required to operate in prophetic ministry. God requires prophets to learn to discern not only what He is speaking but when He has called them to speak what He is speaking. Today, there are many voices speaking and only a few discerning what God has called them to speak. I want to challenge prophets: discern not only what God has called you to speak but when He has called you to speak and to whom He has called you to speak.
Understand, it is a tremendous privilege to speak for God. God doesn't call everyone to be a prophet. Although all believers may prophesy, few believers are called to be prophets. We are living in a day where God has promoted the prophetic office and ministry into the limelight for the purpose of preparing His body, Jesus's bride, for Christ's return. Prophets are messengers of the covenant. As it says in Malachi 3:1,
'Watch out! I'm sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly, the LORD you are looking for will come to his Temple. He is the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Watch out! He is coming!' says the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.
If Christ's coming is drawing near, which it is, then, according to this verse, God will send His messenger to prepare the way for His return. Possibly, the greatest sign of Christ's imminent return is the rise of the prophetic movement. Equally true, the greatest sign of the rise of the antichrist in our day is the rise of a counterfeit prophetic movement. One movement identifies with the prophet Elijah, the other movement with Jezebel.
We are on the precipice of the greatest revival in history. And we are on the precipice of the greatest darkness the world has ever known. Both will happen at the same time. Because of that, it is necessary that we have prophets to light the way through the darkness. Prior to that rising darkness, prophetic lights will emerge. For that to happen, a sifting will take place: God will separate the true from the false. That is where we are at now.
Prior to that sifting, a new prophetic standard is being set in place. God is raising today's standards from that which is non-Biblical to the Biblical standard for prophets. For that to happen, we must learn what the Biblical standard for prophets and prophetic ministry is. Yes, there is a Biblical standard that God's prophets are called to walk in. What is that standard? Purity, Maturity, Accuracy, Fruitfulness, Blessing, Building, Humility, Gracefulness, Righteousness, Mercy, Judgment, and Wisdom.
We see that standard in Old Testament prophets. Isaiah obeyed God even to his own shame by walking naked for 3 years. Ezekiel laid on his side for more than a year eating and drinking an exact amount of food and water. Jeremiah prophesied in the middle of terrible persecution against nations. Ahijah acted out prophetically by tearing Jeroboam's new coat. John, in the face of religion and politics, spoke the word of God. The Bible shows many prophets who prophesied in the face of great hardships and evils.
That is the Biblical standard for prophets. We must be willing to speak in the face of overwhelming opposition. We must speak accurately for God as ones sent by Him. We must recognize our sphere of influence. We must learn to stay in our lane of calling. We must be courageously bold yet humble. We must be devout prayerful yet heartily employed. We must be willing to go beyond to receive what we need for this generation.
Yes, there is a Biblical standard being raised for today's prophets. We must decide: are we ready to be measured against that standard? For those prepared to move forward into the prophetic calling, I can promise you a life unlike any other. But it is not for the faint of heart. God will demand more of you than what you can give. God will lay your heart bare on the altar of His purposes to discern your readiness and willingness to proceed. God will require your obedience.
In 1 Kgs 13:1-32, we are given a glimpse into the Biblical standard for prophets. One of the prophets prophesied tremendously powerful words confirmed by supernatural signs. The other prophet deceived the first prophet into disobeying God. Then, the older prophet says of the other prophet, "It is the man of God who disobeyed the LORD’s command. The LORD has fulfilled his word by causing the lion to attack and kill him." The destiny of the one prophet was aborted by the deception of the older prophet.
We are responsible for our own obedience and disobedience. We pay the price for our disobedience. That is the lesson we must learn. Your obedience or disobedience is what determines your destiny. It is not the obedience or disobedience of someone else. God demands obedience from His prophets. Always. That is the standard He is raising in our day for today's prophets. Are you ready?
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