Prophecy
The Epidemic of the Powerless Prophetic: Why Me-Focused Words are Breeding Spiritual Nomads
We are currently navigating an hour of severe prophetic pollution within the Western church system. Walk into almost any charismatic conference, and you will find an entire industry built around the continuous inflation of the human ego. We have turned the majestic, holy, and terrifying voice of the Living God into a consumer product designed to tell people exactly what their carnal nature longs to hear. We have lines of believers waiting anxiously to receive a personal word about their upcoming promotions, their expanding investments, or their grand destinies.
Let’s be aggressively, unapologetically direct: We are playing dangerous “Prophecy Games,” and it has successfully put the army of the Lord to sleep.
We look at this frantic chase for personal destiny words and celebrate it as a vibrant, healthy spiritual culture. It is a profound, demonic delusion. It is nothing more than a modernized version of Aaron’s golden calf—an idol fashioned from the desires of the people to give them a comfortable, controllable deity that caters directly to their ambitions. True, region-shifting revival will never break out in an atmosphere corrupted by self-promotion. It is time to grind this idol to dust, strip the me-focused static out of our sanctuaries, and restore the severe, earth-shaking reality of the true prophetic mandate.
The Architecture of Spiritual Vagabonds
To understand why the heavens over our regions remain entirely locked under brass—and why we continue to see zero out of the 19,000+ municipalities in America experiencing an enduring move of God—we must analyze the direct fruit of this me-focused deception. When prophecy is entirely divorced from the corporate mandates of regional revival, deep repentance, and radical holiness, it breeds a generation of spiritual nomads.
Because we have conditioned believers to chase the high of a personalized spiritual sensation, they develop zero capacity for the grit, the endurance, and the refining friction required in a local body. They wander endlessly from congregation to congregation, hunting for a “greener pasture” where a speaker or a worship set can temporarily satisfy their hunger for individual validation. But notice what happens the moment an assault of offense, correction, or structural alignment hits the house: these atmosphere-chasing tourists instantly pack up and flee.
You cannot take a city with an army of uncommitted vagabonds who go AWOL the moment their ego is scratched. Your spiritual authority does not come from your personal highlight reel; it comes from your absolute, dead-to-self submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. When you leave an assigned post because your feelings were hurt, you allow the accuser of the brethren to win the territory without him ever having to draw his sword.
In the ebook, Prophecy Games, the standard of this divine confrontation is delivered with razor-sharp intensity:
“The prophetic movement in the American church is in a state of severe crisis. What was once a holy, fearful, and awe-inspiring weapon of spiritual warfare has been tragically reduced to a spiritual parlor trick. We have become addicted to the static of me-focused prophecy. But let the truth be declared: God is not a celestial vending machine, and the prophetic anointing was never intended to stroke the ego of the flesh.”
Transitioning to Revelation-Driven Warfare
The enemy is absolutely terrified of a church that knows how to correctly interact with the voice of the Commander. He knows his illegal hold over a territory will violently fracture the moment an unoffendable, holy remnant takes a pure word from Heaven directly into the trenches of the prayer room. Therefore, his chief strategy is to keep you perpetually distracted with the pursuit of personal promotion.
We must aggressively smash the old wineskins of human-led management and step into a corporate, apostolic framework. The true purpose of prophetic revelation is not to fill up your journal or provide an emotional high; it is to fuel your intercession. It is the tactical blueprint of Heaven for your region.
Our prayer rooms must be completely purged of the shallow, wishing-well mentality where we throw fifteen minutes of personal desires at a silent sky and walk away unchanged. We must enter the war room, shut our mouths, and tarry in absolute silence until our personal ambitions are entirely executed. When the Holy Spirit places His heavy, crushing burden for the city squarely upon our spirits, our voices become weapons that decree the decrees of the King, shattering regional principalities and fracturing the strongholds of compromise.
Rebuilding the Altar of Unity
We must forcefully and unapologetically shut down the underground infrastructure of church rebellion that keeps the remnant scattered. The spirit of Absalom sits at our gates, utilizing private text threads, whispered gossip, and empathetic manipulation to breed distrust against anointed leadership. When church members weaponize their offenses to form exclusive, rebellious cliques, they are functioning as a spiritual coven. They release a dark, suffocating smoke that paralyzes the prayer room and quenches the prophetic flow.
It is time to drop the stones of bitterness. Choose to become completely unoffendable, to refuse the bait of relational fracturing, and to stay fiercely planted through the refining friction of community.
Consecrate your eyes, your home, and your time entirely to the King of Kings. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, because eternity is closing in rapidly, and a lukewarm, consumer-driven church will find its lampstand abruptly removed. Let the watchmen climb back onto the crumbling stone walls, rebuild the altar of unceasing city intercession, and prepare the way for the real, untamed fire of the Holy Spirit to scorch our land.
Are you ready to drop the games and enter the war?
Go Deeper & Partner With Us:
Are you ready to break free from the static of self-centered spirituality and discover the raw, shocking power of a revelation-driven life? Download the complete digital versions of these powerhouse books absolutely free right now to equip your spirit for the front lines:
- Revelation Driven Prayer: Learn how to hear God's voice and judicially enforce the decrees of Heaven in your region. [Download free: www.revivalx.tv/revelation-driven-prayer]
- Staying Saved: Equip your spirit to endure to the end through radical submission, holiness, and staying power. [Download free: www.revivalx.tv/saved]
If your heart burns for structural reformation and you want to lock shields with us on the front lines against cultural compromise, please consider partnering with Revival X. You can support the ongoing mission here: [www.burton.tv/donate]
Sources & Citations for this Article:
- Prophecy Games (Ebook by John Burton): Sourced for the core prophetic framework confronting “me-focused” prophetic environments, the danger of treating prophetic words as spiritual entertainment, and the central quote.
- Five Reasons Not to Leave a Church (Ebook by John Burton): Sourced for the confrontation of the “vagabond spirit,” the consumer-driven mindset of church hopping, and the necessity of staying planted through relational and spiritual friction to produce maturity.
- Revelation Driven Prayer (Book by John Burton): Sourced for the structural mandate concerning corporate, revelation-fueled intercession rather than wishing-well prayer lists.
Content Transparency: The material presented in this article is 100% sourced from the proprietary writings, books, and hundreds of online articles by John Burton. AI technology was employed exclusively to assist in the compilation and drafting of this text based on those original teachings.
The Curse of the Golden Calf Church: Stripping the Idol of Personal Promotion from the Prophetic Movement
We are living in an era of unprecedented spiritual pollution. Walk into the modern prophetic landscape, and you will find a multi-million dollar industry built entirely around the inflation of the human ego. We have created a class of celebrity prophets who travel from conference to conference, charging premium fees to tell people exactly what their carnal natures long to hear. We have turned the majestic, holy, and terrifying voice of the Living God into a mechanism for personal advancement, financial success, and individual validation.
Let’s be aggressively, unapologetically direct: we are playing dangerous “Prophecy Games,” and it has brought a paralyzing slumber over the Western church.
We look at lines of believers waiting anxiously to receive a “personal word” about their upcoming business expansions, their hidden ministries, or their grand destinies, and we celebrate it as a vibrant prophetic culture. It is not. It is a modernized version of the Aaron's golden calf—an idol fashioned from the gold of the people, designed to give them a comfortable, controllable deity that serves their own desires. True revival will never break out in an atmosphere corrupted by self-promotion. It is time to grind the idol to dust and restore the severe, earth-shaking reality of the true prophetic mandate.
Exposing the “Me-Focused” Deception
To understand why our regions remain locked under brass heavens—and why we continue to see absolutely zero out of the 19,000+ cities in America experiencing true biblical revival—we must expose the root of this false prophetic movement. The primary deception of the hour is “me-focused” prophecy. This occurs when a prophetic word is entirely divorced from the larger corporate mandates of regional revival, deep repentance, and radical holiness.
When the voice of the Lord breaks through the heavens, it does not come to tell you how special you are or how quickly your personal bank account is going to grow. The true prophetic anointing is a weapon of extreme spiritual warfare meant to reveal the holiness of Jesus Christ and enforce the judgments of the throne room against regional principalities.
When you read my ebook, Prophecy Games, the line between cultural entertainment and biblical truth is drawn with absolute clarity:
“The prophetic movement in the American church is in a state of severe crisis. What was once a holy, fearful, and awe-inspiring weapon of spiritual warfare has been tragically reduced to a spiritual parlor trick. We have become addicted to the static of me-focused prophecy. But let the truth be declared: God is not a celestial vending machine, and the prophetic anointing was never intended to stroke the ego of the flesh.”
If a prophetic word does not immediately shatter your pride, call you into a deeper standard of extreme holiness, and drive you straight to your face in the prayer room, you have every right to question its origin. True prophecy produces the fear of the Lord, not a self-satisfied smile.
The Strategy of Revelation-Driven Warfare
The enemy is absolutely terrified of a church that understands how to correctly interact with the voice of God. He knows that if a unified, unoffendable remnant ever receives a pure word from Heaven and takes it directly into the trenches of the prayer room, the demonic strongholds over that entire region will violently fracture. Therefore, his chief strategy is to keep us distracted with the static of personal validation. If he can keep you focused on your own personal promotion, you will never engage in corporate, regional warfare.
We must aggressively transition out of this consumer-driven mentality. The true purpose of prophetic revelation is not to fill up your personal journal; it is to fuel your intercession. We must learn the art of revelation-driven prayer. When God speaks, He is releasing the tactical blueprint for your city. He is pointing out the strongholds of compromise, exposing the spirit of Absalom operating within the leadership structures, and identifying the areas where the local body must repent.
Our prayer rooms must be completely purged of the wishing-well mentality. We cannot enter the secret place with a list of our own desires and expect to carry the heavy weight of the Lord's burden. We must sit in absolute silence until our personal ambitions are completely crucified, allowing the Holy Spirit to weaponize our voices to decree the decrees of the King over our territories.
Their Freedom is Your Mission
Why is this reclamation so incredibly urgent? Because the stakes are eternal, and the hour is severely late. We are surrounded by a culture of relentless positivity that is marching blindly toward the absolute terror of Hell, and the church is too busy playing games at the altar to notice the slaughter.
We cannot afford to sit in comfortable sanctuaries, chasing emotional atmospheres and soothing our personal anxieties, while our cities are racing toward eternal destruction. The raw, untamed, and shocking love of God demands that we lay down our lives for the rescue mission. Their freedom is your mission.
It is time for the watchmen to climb back onto the crumbling stone walls and blow the shofar with uncompromising clarity. Stop apologizing for the severity of the Word of God. Confront the compromised, entertainment-driven church systems that coddle the flesh. Purge your heart of bitterness, drop the stones of offense, and lock shields across generational lines. The fire of true reformation will only fall when we stop demanding that God build our personal empires and finally offer our lives as a living sacrifice for His corporate glory.
Are you ready to drop the games and enter the war?
Go Deeper & Partner With Us:
Are you ready to break free from the static of self-centered spirituality and learn how to hear the raw, untamed voice of the Lord? As a free digital gift to you, download the complete version of my book, Revelation Driven Prayer, to discover how to enforce the mandates of Heaven in your region: www.revivalx.tv/revelation-driven-prayer
If your heart burns for true, structural reformation and you want to partner with us to stand on the front lines against cultural compromise, you can support the mission of Revival X here: www.burton.tv/donate
Sources & Citations for this Article:
- Prophecy Games (Ebook by John Burton): Sourced for the core theological framework confronting “me-focused” prophetic environments and the misuse of the prophetic anointing for personal ego.
- Revelation Driven Prayer (Book by John Burton): Sourced for the structural mandate concerning corporate, revelation-fueled intercession rather than wishing-well prayer lists.
- Their Freedom is Your Mission (Ebook by John Burton): Sourced for the prophetic call to abandon personal spiritual comfort to engage in warfare for the eternal souls of the lost.
Content Transparency: The material presented in this article is 100% sourced from the proprietary writings, books, and hundreds of online articles by John Burton. AI technology was employed exclusively to assist in the compilation and drafting of this text based on those original teachings.
The Tragedy of Prophecy Games: Reclaiming the True Prophetic Mandate
The prophetic movement in the American church is in a state of severe crisis. What was once a holy, fearful, and awe-inspiring weapon of spiritual warfare has been tragically reduced, in many circles, to a spiritual parlor trick. We have created a culture where believers line up at conferences to receive a “word” with the same consumer-driven mindset of someone visiting a psychic reading. We want to hear about our promotions, our finances, our expanding influence, and our spectacular personal destinies.
We have become addicted to the static of me-focused prophecy. But let the truth be declared: God is not a celestial vending machine, and the prophetic anointing was never intended to stroke the ego of the flesh. We are playing dangerous prophecy games, and it is actively grieving the Holy Spirit.
Cutting Through the Static
When the prophetic is divorced from the mandate of regional revival and agonizing intercession, it becomes entirely toxic. We must understand that true, biblical prophecy is not primarily about you. It is about the revelation of Jesus Christ and the aggressive advancement of His Kingdom in the earth.
When the heavens open and God speaks, it should immediately drive us to our faces. The voice of the Lord is a terrifying, glorious reality that shatters our personal agendas. If a prophetic word does not ultimately lead you to a deeper level of repentance, a more radical commitment to holiness, and a fierce dedication to the prayer room, you must question the source of that word.
We must cut through the noise of self-centered spirituality. We need a remnant of prophetic voices who refuse to prophesy smooth things to a rebellious generation. We need seers and watchmen who will sound the alarm, expose the hidden darkness in the church, and call the Bride back to a standard of absolute purity.
Revelation-Driven Warfare
The true purpose of receiving a prophetic revelation is so that you can violently enforce it in the place of prayer. This is the core of revelation-driven prayer. We do not just listen to the voice of God so we can write it in our journals and feel a temporary spiritual high. We listen so that we can discover the exact strategy of Heaven, stand our ground in the spirit realm, and refuse to move until that reality is manifested in our cities.
When you hear the voice of the Lord regarding your region, you are no longer just praying—you are prophesying the reality of the throne room into the atmosphere. You are executing judgment against the demonic principalities that have held your city captive.
Their Freedom is Your Mission
Why is this level of prophetic intensity so critical? Because a storm is coming, and the eternal souls of millions are hanging in the balance. We cannot afford to sit in our comfortable sanctuaries, analyzing our personal prophetic words, while our neighbors are marching blindly toward the terror of Hell.
The shock and awe of God's glory is not just meant to give us goosebumps during worship; it is meant to empower us for a rescue mission. Their freedom is your mission. The lost, the broken, and the deceived do not need a church that is playing games with the Holy Spirit. They need an ekklesia that operates in the raw, unfiltered, earth-shaking power of the prophetic—a people who can clearly declare the word of the Lord and lead the captives out of darkness.
It is time to repent of our prophecy games. Lay down the idol of personal promotion. Cry out for a pure, unadulterated prophetic spirit to fall upon the church once again. We have a world to win, and it will only be won by an army that truly knows how to hear the voice of the Commander.
Go Deeper & Partner With Us:
Are you ready to stop playing games with the prophetic and learn how to truly hear and enforce the voice of God? As a free gift to you, download the complete digital version of my book, Revelation Driven Prayer, absolutely free right here: www.revivalx.tv/revelation-driven-prayer
If you are burdened to see the true, uncompromising prophetic mandate restored to the church and want to partner with us on the front lines, you can support the mission of Revival X here: www.burton.tv/donate
Sources & Citations for this Article:
- Prophecy Games (Ebook by John Burton): Sourced for the core prophetic confrontation regarding “me-focused” prophecy, the danger of treating prophetic words as spiritual entertainment, and the need to cut through the static to hear God's true voice.
- Revelation Driven Prayer (Book by John Burton): Sourced for the theological principle that the purpose of hearing God's voice is to enforce His will in the earth through violent, strategic intercession.
- Their Freedom is Your Mission (Ebook by John Burton): Sourced for the ultimate goal of the prophetic and intercessory mandate: stepping out of personal comfort to engage in spiritual warfare for the souls of the lost.
Content Transparency: The material presented in this article is 100% sourced from the proprietary writings, books, and hundreds of online articles by John Burton. AI technology was employed exclusively to assist in the compilation and drafting of this text based on those original teachings.
Demons Aren’t Hiding In This Election Season
The demons are here, and I'm not talking about Halloween.
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It's November. The haunts of October are gone, and visions of joy and merriment are upon us as Thanksgiving and Christmas draw near, right? Not so fast. Imps and evil entities are very much among us as America is getting close to matching the supernatural climate of many third-world countries.
Disturbing demonization is openly visible in many places such as Haiti and parts of Africa. The enemy doesn't hide there.
Last night I was flicking through Instagram and was bombarded by not one, but many, videos of left-leaning liberals erupting with animalistic growls and curses. Some of you may have seen similar behavior as it seems to have become fairly normal in this political season. People ripping Trump signs out of the ground and spitting verbal assaults at any who would confront them is happening from sea to shining sea.
Of course, we know about the riots and fires and looting that have been on the increase over the past several years. This is most certainly wicked, evil behavior, but what we are seeing now is different. Manifestations of actual demons have become commonplace.
EXPOSURE
Many prophetic voices have declared our recent spiritual history has been one of exposure. God, who is as just as he is good, is out to cleanse and purify his glorious church. While this has certainly happened, and has revealed terrible wickedness, I believe it was only the beginning.
The devil is being exposed as well. Whether it's God causing the veil to be lifted between the natural and the supernatural or if Satan has just upped his game, the truth remains. Demons have come out into the open.
Students are identifying as “furries,” crawling on hands and knees. Drag queens have infiltrated public libraries and are indoctrinating the next generation. Twisted demons are among us and it has nothing to do with October 31st.
Many years ago, I felt strongly that we would soon see actual demonization become quite common in the streets, schools, businesses and parks of our nation. People don't know what to make of it other than to accept it as the new normal. To their unrenewed minds, supernatural beings inhabiting people isn't within the realm of possibility. At worst, they might need a mental health check. At best, these are their new crusaders, people who have had enough and who are responding in hatred and rage against the machine.
My wife, two young daughters and I were coincidentally in Philadelphia the day of the Presidential debate. We were greeted with brash signage, high fences, strange individuals and more SWAT and tactical police than you could imagine, walking the streets with assault rifles and body armor.
It was daylight and we felt safe as we passed through to see the Liberty Bell. On the way back, someone yelled out at me. After brief small talk, he began hurling accusations, calling me a homosexual. He then confronted my daughters, asking if anyone ever accused me of being gay. It was time to move on, and when we did, he started shouting loudly through the square, “He's a homosexual! He's a (expletive) homosexual!”
The devil is not hiding.
WICKEDNESS INCREASING
The church in its current state is nearly hopeless against this bold, new advance of the enemy.
We don't need any more supposed political pundits in the pews. We must have prophets! It's time to equip fire-breathing intercessors, prophetic messengers, deliverance ministers and others who will expose the darkness (though it's exposing itself without much help) and confront the spirit of the age.
All sorts of wickedness is on the rise. We shouldn't be surprised if it becomes culturally acceptable to take abortion to the next level. A spirit of Herod has no problem killing children under the age of two. Why did Herod endorse this? To protect his throne. Don't doubt for a minute that today's demonized political system would affirm such a strategy. Politics is one of Satan's primary vehicles to deliver it's wrath.
The devil is not hiding.
Fiery, strategic prayer meetings must take over as the primary gathering. Sunday mornings must become furnaces of intercession where groans and cries echo. A righteous President will help a little, but that cannot be our focus. It's time for the church to repent, to pray, to rend its heart and to get equipped to fight a hoard of demons who have boldly emerged from their dens.
How to contend in earth-shaking intercession without getting bored, tired and discouraged
Could you not pray for one hour? ~Jesus
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Prayer doesn’t typically come naturally. Actually, it comes supernaturally, but even so, there is a learning curve.
At Revival X, I am excited about the opportunity to help train hungry people in the art and science of impactful, fiery, powerful and supernatural intercession. Once we are struck by the shock and awe of prophetic prayer, we will crave interacting with God night and day.
Could you not pray for one hour? The obvious answer is no. The couldn’t. Or, actually, they didn’t. They could have. They should have, but the impetus was not there. The passion had faded. The urgency was gone. Carrying the burden of another requires we are impacted by the Spirit of God at a pretty deep level. This is what makes an intercessor.
This isn’t an involved teaching on the matter (that will come on Tuesday nights at Revival X!), but these are some simple tips and truths that will help make intercession much more enjoyable and meaningful. We’ll want to pray, without ceasing, as Scripture directs.
Eleven tips: How to engage in impactful, supernatural, prophetic and addictive intercession
ONE: UNDERSTAND THE ASSIGNMENT
Burdens for intercession become weighty and tangible when we understand, adopt and own the assignment. What is the purpose of your intercession? Is that purpose captivating you? If not, go to battle over your mind and emotions and avail yourself to the Spirit of God.
The assignment might be naturally obvious, like praying for someone to be healed. Or, it may be sudden and unexpected. There are times I’m awakened in the night with a celebrity on my heart. It’s typically someone I never spend time thinking about, and I know the Lord has asked me to stand in the gap for them.
Understanding God’s assignments in prayer will also relieve us of other prayer focuses that aren’t as pressing or timely on God’s agenda. It takes some discipline to stop praying for what we want to focus on to make room for what God is doing. Doing so is the first step toward intercession that’s fueled by God’s supernatural grace.
When we become “assignment-driven” instead of “issue-driven” in our lives, our prayer lives tend to erupt.
TWO: UNDERSTAND YOUR AUTHORITY
Prayer becomes a frustrating exercise of futility if we don’t understand our authority. If we don’t know without question that we cause things to happen simply by declaring and decreeing, commanding and enforcing, then we’ll fizzle out after just a few minutes of tiring prayer.
However, when we acquire a revelation of just how potent and powerful our words are, and how atmospheres and enemies have no choice but to submit to our Spirit-revealed directives, everything changes! We become super-charged, supernatural agents of the King.
We move mountains. We cast out demons. We war in the Spirit. We dictate breakthrough. We condition atmospheres. We truly are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
THREE: PRAY IN TONGUES
Bold tongues originating from the depths of our inner man should be erupting out of us from the beginning of the intercession session to the end. If I had to put a percentage on it, I’d say 95% tongues, 5% English. The Spirit knows exactly what needs to happen through our legislation. The most efficient way for him to move is praying in tongues. There is no comparison.
The Bible talks about groans “that can’t be uttered.” These are overwhelming spiritual unctions that overwhelm and overtake us as we take on the Holy Spirit’s burden. There is no need for words and there is no need for intellectual understanding when this occurs. We can rest easy knowing that God is actively, literally and immediately moving. Faith explodes through tongues and groans.
FOUR: DECLARE SCRIPTURE
The Bible is true. It’s mandatory that we absolutely, without any doubt or hesitation, fully and completely believe it. We must never condition Scripture with our experiences, disappointments or personal insights. The Word of God rules.
When we believe Scripture at this level, our minutes of prayer can easily launch into hours.
Grab hold of a single scripture or a passage and decree it. Declare it. Enforce it. Meditate on it. If you aren’t seeing a particular biblical truth manifest in your life or in a situation, go to battle. Proclaim the truth to the enemy. Proclaim it to yourself. Command your mind and emotions to align with it.
When you are done, find another scripture and do it again. Another hour will pass before you know it.
FIVE: KNOW WHAT GOD’S WILL IS
It’s safe to say that a lot of prayer that’s offered up every day, possibly the majority, is little more than asking God for stuff as we wonder if he’ll answer. This is a recipe for intercessory failure. Our faith plummets. Our hope fades. Our relationship with God is negatively affected because we don’t truly understand his desire for us.
The easiest way to know God’s will is through the Word of God. If he wrote it, he means it. Review the previous point and get excited about all of the promises in Scripture that are chiseled in stone. God means what he says.
In specific situations that the Bible may not cover (like what job to take or how to spend our money), the next point will help. Suffice it to say, intimacy with Jesus is key. As we learn to hear God’s voice, our prayer time will take a dramatic shift. No longer will we gaze up into heaven wondering where God is and what he wants. We’ll move right past that point and have great confidence in our prayer. It will shift direction from asking God to commanding situations. We will be a walking, breathing, supernatural command center, enforcing God’s will, not aimlessly wondering what it is.
And, during the “in between,” the times between our intercession and the clear revelation of God’s will, pray in tongues and declare Scripture. Enjoy Jesus. Develop intimacy. Correct wrong theology (like God is resisting you, or that he doesn’t love or like you). Simply know that Jesus is interceding for YOU nonstop!
SIX: DISCOVER THE PROPHETIC
Prayer that isn’t infused by the Spirit of prophecy is doomed. It really is. We must learn how to receive revelation. This is a massive topic that can’t be even summarized here. However, we need to know that God is talking and the things he’s saying are weighty. Our job is to receive the transmission and respond accordingly.
It’s critical to flow prophetically during intercession so we get the right job done the right way. We don’t want to pray for something that God is actually opposing. We don’t want to focus on a point that God says to put aside. This is where tongues helps (a lot). God will suddenly and overwhelmingly impact us with skyrocketing faith on a matter. He will tell us what to decree and how to contend. His will becomes obvious. What’s on his heart in the moment overtakes our heart. When the prophetic meets intercession, miracles happen. This is where the realm of wonders exists.
SEVEN: EXPECT SIGNS, WONDERS AND MIRACLES
When we pray, and when the prophetic is hot, miracles, signs, wonders, healings, revelations and great faith result. They become quite normal.
The key is that we must stimulate our faith and develop extreme expectancy. Tongues helps. Scripture helps. Prophecy helps. Embracing our assignment helps. When all of this is working with synergy, the Spirit of God will often manifest.
A prayer-life without unwavering expectation of supernatural activity of the Holy Spirit is a prayer-life that’s truly on life-support.
EIGHT: FIGHT THE ENEMY
When all of the above points are in play, they will ultimately expose the activity of the enemy. When that happens, we must fight!
Understanding our authority will make this an obvious next step. It becomes clear that the enemy has been working hard behind the scenes (and often right on stage) to steal, kill, destroy, disrupt, discourage and stop God’s activity in our life and situation.
The prophetic is an invaluable tool as it shines a bright light on the darkness. The enemy can no longer hide. However, it’s absolutely critical that we engage in serious warfare. The enemy doesn’t like the light, but he’ll gladly stand there exposed if he knows we aren’t going to do anything about him and his schemes.
NINE: COMMAND VS. PETITION
If there anything that will kill a life of prayer it’s petition.
Yes, there are times to petition God. Scripture is clear about this. However, when we become petition-dominant in our prayer, our faith plummets. So much of what people petition God for has already been settled and revealed in Scripture.
So much more would be made known prophetically if we had fine-tuned that spiritual skill. Remember, part of our responsibility in prayer is to discover what God’s will is. Very often, his will is ready to be revealed, or at least the part that we need to know in the moment is. We just need to find it. Most often, petition is not the quickest way there.
TEN: FOCUS OUTWARD NOT INWARD
If I had to guess, nine times out of ten people pray about themselves or issues that directly impact them. There’s a time for this, but it’s certainly not ninety percent of the time.
Intercession demands we take on the issues on God’s heart. Keep in mind the assignment most usually will be mission oriented. Our call is to pray for souls, to contend for revival, to push back the enemy, to stand in the gap for others, to invade the darkness, to heal the sick, and on and on.
Intercession that’s focused outward is exponentially more potent than prayer for ourselves. Again, there’s a time to pray for our own situation. Even daily we can give time and energy to this. We can go to God with our desire for personal growth, concerns, questions and other such communication. We just need to know that staying in that place will drain us and weaken our faith. We were created to advance and to fight for others.
This is one reason why I personally feel prayer meetings at church shouldn’t focus much on their own church. Church growth, church needs, church challenges, etc. can be hit briefly in prayer, but don’t dwell there. Camp out on intercession for the city, for revival, for transformation and for regional and national issues.
ELEVEN: JUST DO IT
No matter the struggle, no matter how silent God seems to be and no matter how ineffective you feel your prayer is, do not stop. Go deeper. Go longer. Pray more deliberately. Intercede with passion.
You have to practice prayer continually in order to break through into new realms, new experiences, new victories and new revelations of how God moves through our intercession.
Simply know, God absolutely, without question, hears you, is moving through you and is training you as a mighty warrior of atmosphere-shifting intercession!
REVELATION DRIVEN PRAYER
Game changer! The most incredible, instructive and distinctive reading on prayer I’ve experienced in a long time. The writing is simplistic, refreshing and applicable. Every faithful Christian should read this to be renewed and empowered! ~Walkbyfaith
If, throughout the Bible, God causes men and women to do things that defy human logic, why do we default to common sense when making decisions in our lives? If God told Gideon to secure only 1% of his army to go into battle, which obviously defies solid and time-tested military wisdom, why don’t we consider that God may also cause us to advance in our lives via nontraditional and even bizarre means?
Job 11:7 “Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?”
The message of Revelation Driven Prayer will help launch you into the unusual and deep things of God that he has prepared specifically for you.
Remnant-sensitive churches arise!
A massive falling away from the faith will be a mark of churches devoid of supernatural power.
It's time for a dramatic shift from seeker-sensitive churches to remnant-sensitive churches in our nation. There is an army of supernaturally-minded followers of Jesus looking for their tribe, and there are few churches that pass the test.
All that is natual or done in human power isn't bad by default. Mankind whether Christian or not can do much good simply by, well, doing good. We can feed the hungry, serve sacrificially, give extravagantly, smile, hug, encourage, befriend and do much good for mankind.
In the church realm we can pray for the sick, visit shut-ins, teach the Bible, pass out Gospel tracts, attend small groups and much more that doesn't necessarily require the power of God to accomplish. Of course, when we add God's power to any of the above, the impact is dramatically different.
NATURALLY DRIVEN CHURCHES ABOUND
When church-shopping, if people were honest, they would commonly admit they are looking for a variety of things. Topping the lists of many in search of a new church home are good children's and youth ministries, dynamic and skillful worship, excellent teaching, the ability to develop new relationships and a welcoming environment.
In fact, church growth strategies tend to be natural versus supernatural as they focus on how we can meet the demands of the customers (current and potential church members). An article on the Smart Church Management website titled 7 Keys to Church Growth zeroes in on what is humanly achievable. Again, all that is humanly possible isn't unbiblical or inappropriate. Natural methods, secular strategies and ideals found in the business world can, at times, be applied in the spiritual world.
Some of the keys to church growth mentioned in the article include creating an inviting atmosphere, creating a welcoming experience, care for church members and providing opportunities to serve. There's not a thing wrong with any of this, except that what matters most wasn't mentioned. Nurturing the supernatural manifestation of the presence of God didn't make the list.
Naturally driven churches abound from coast to coast in this nation. You'll hear a lot about great coffee, vibrant community and programs for the entire family. In fact, many err on the side of caution by downplaying the supernatural. The risk of alienating visitors or conservative members is too high to allow it. Tragically, the risk of alienating God isn't often considered.
CRISIS WILL OVERWHELM THE NATURALLY MINDED
You'll know a supernatural church when crisis hits. Supernaturally driven Believers will respond radically differently to crisis than those who aren't living, walking, praying and governing in the spirit. Without developing a history in God that's marked by fervent intercession, intense devotion, great faith and openness to the moving of the Holy Spirit, people will default to what makes sense in the natural realm.
Without a supernatural mindset, it will be impossible to respond to crisis as God intends. Natural strategies won't work. Panic will set in. Fear will dominate.
This will be followed up by lost faith and angry fists raised to heaven. A failure to live in the otherworldly, supernatural place of signs, wonders and miracles will result in a devastating lack of spiritual tools in people's toolbelts when they are most needed.
The church's failure to equip people in the Holy Spirit is more eternally costly than we can imagine. Satan is raging and there is no natural response that will slow him down. A powerless church births powerless Christians who are primed to be easily devoured by the hounds of hell.
THE DEMISE OF THE SEEKER-SENSITIVE CHURCH
If we put on our marketing hats, it makes sense to target the largest segment of society. Coke, Nike, Disney and other companies want their products or services enjoyed by as many people as possible. Pastors want people in the seats. The quickest way to make that happen, one would presume, is to target the largest segment of those who are most prone to visit. Seekers are everywhere and some will show up on Sunday morning if the services are welcoming, comfortable and definitely not weird. Eliminate the supernatural and they may come.
This strategy must end. The end-time church is a church on fire, not a comfortable living room where we can put up our feet, eat some snacks and watch the show. The Holy Spirit isn't drawing seekers into a tepid environment. He's not looking to ease people into a new life in Christ. God is calling all to the cross, to full surrender and right into the furnace of his presence.
When seekers are introduced to God in a way that's naturally understandable, the dive into the often bizarre, intense, all-consuming activity of the Holy Spirit is nonsensical to them. Such an experience becomes unnecessary if they, after all, have alread “said yes” to Jesus in a costless, comfortable environment.
Hearing God's voice, dreams, visions, encounters, being baptized in the Holy Spirit, spiritual warfare, casting out demons, moving in the gifts of the Spirit and so much more becomes unnecessary to those who “got saved” in a comfortable, non-threatening, naturally-driven church.
CHURCH ON FIRE ARISE!
The end-time church is a remnant church. It's time we stop appealing to the general population to build kingdoms of man and start calling in those who are ready to make a total surrender and advance the Kingdom of God. The remnant firebrands are desperately looking for their home base. They want to find their fellow soldiers who are ready to move ahead with precision against the wickedness in our nation.
They aren't looking for churches with trendy youth ministries, the best coffee shops or even great worship or teaching. The remnant is looking for the fire of the Holy Spirit. They want to know if intercession drives the ministry. A specific, world-changing, divine vision is crucial. The pursuit of the wonders of God is paramount. An extremely prophetic atmosphere is non-negotiable. Great faith and extreme devotion to the Word of God are critical. These end-time warriors refuse to play games and they won't stand for lesser things getting in the way of the greater mission. Coffee, friendships and programs become laughable as foundations to build on.
The time is now for a massive reset to come to the church. We have Ichabod churches dotting our nation and many others that do have a heartbeat yet refuse to dive into the depths of the fire. We need an Acts 2 church that is volcanic, supernatural and radiating in immeasurable power.
How does this happen? Become remnant-sensitive. Gather in those who are ready to lay it all down and contend with tears for God to move. Pastors must shift dramatically and refuse, ever again, to make decisions based on how the people will respond. The idolatry of filled pews must be repented of. The fear of offending the tithers must cease. The focus on keeping everybody happy can't continue.
We need the supernatural church to arise in these dire end-times. Without a prophetic mantle and the ability to advance in extreme Holy Spirit power, we have no hope. However, if we start training people in the fire and advance as a burning end-time army, kingdoms of darkness will shatter. And finally, we won't have to function as time-share salespeople, giving gifts and promising all sorts of benefits to those mildly interested in God if they sign on the dotted line. The seekers will witness undeniable supernatural power and the Holy Spirit will overwhelm them as they hit their knees and cry, “Holy!”
Originally published by Charisma Media.
Conspiracy Theories Won’t Save America
Christians lose credibility and influence when they promote conspiracy theories in these dire times.
The last year of human history has proven to be one of the most bizarre thanks to the strange political divide that has widened over masks, vaccinations, Donald Trump and cultural troubles.
Speaking in generalities, those on the right are pro-Trump, anti-mask and anti-vaccine. The left despises Donald Trump, wear masks as a badge and are dumbfounded that anybody could oppose a virus-ending medicine.
Certainly, there are others who analyze the sharp contrast and are stunned at where the arguments have landed. Can a conservative not don a mask without the fear of being called out? Are there any liberals who are admittedly nervous about the vaccine? Is it at all possible for the left to appreciate anything our former President did for our nation? Can those on the right do the same with the current administration? Or is it all black and white? Well, I personally haven't seen the gloriously mundane shade of gray much at all since the crisis has begun.
THE RISE OF THE CONSPIRACY THEORISTS
We are living in a day when the world is in desperate need of balanced, biblically invested and prayerful Christians. The days are complex and confusing to most and fearful to many. This end-time season should have been a testing ground for the church, a time for us to grow in our faith, to learn how to love and to truly discern how to respond.
For many Believers, this in fact did happen, yet many others have instead adopted right-wing conspiracy theories as their go to reaction. This is deeply compromising the mission of the church and it is wounding our nation.
Sometimes I sit back and shake my head as I read the social media rants promoting ridiculous theories. Honestly, it's an embarrassment to the church, while also being an indictment on the church. Where are the biblically grounded pastors and leaders who are speaking into the lives of these rogue propagandists?
As an example, many believe receiving the vaccine results in taking the Mark of the Beast. This is impossible. The level of biblical illiteracy is stunning. Others actually are saying the vaccine changes your DNA, deeming you an unhuman hybrid. I'm not making this up. You are now unredeemable. With altered genetics, it's impossible for you to ever become a child of God, or if you already were one, impossible to remain in God's family. A visit to the drugstore to get vaccinated apparently transforms you into a Nephilim of sorts, resulting in a sentence of eternal torment in Hell. Others are saying the virus is entirely a media-driven myth. Nonsense. Any intellectually honest person will admit that COVID kills.
TRIGGERED CHRISTIANS
I believe we all need to err on the side of civility and endorse people's right to make their own medical decisions for themselves and their families. No shaming is ever appropriate for Christians.
Instead the mere suggestion of vaccinations triggers many who hold to an opposing scientific view. This is where the dividing line is drawn and the shaming begins. Again, I personally find it both suspicious and strange that a vaccination is where so many have chosen to divide. For those who believe the risk of the vaccine is greater than the reward, it's appropriate and good that they share their concern with others. But, good-hearted concern isn't mostly what we are seeing today. There's an underlying rage at play, anger that spikes when warnings about the vaccine go unheeded. There is an unholy spirit at work and we need to do a much better job discerning just what it is. Of course, you'll find rage on the other side too from those who are disgusted that some would defy national efforts to increase the vaccination rate. Everybody is triggered.
A RIGHT RESPONSE
It's important to admit that nobody has the full revelation on anything in this season. Both pro and anti-maskers and vaxers simply can't presume to be the resident experts on the topics. Too many are listening exclusively to their own echo chamber by finding supposed medical experts that are promoting their views. Statistics do suggest that vaccinations are extremely effective and are saving lives. Still, some are legitimately concerned about health risks. These concerns are valid, yet nobody can definitively say that all should be vaccinated or all should not. It is not black and white, which is why we must not respond with unfounded conspiracies or misguided fear-mongering.
The right response includes operating in a spirit of honor towards those who disagree with us. If someone does or does not want to get the vaccine, their decision can't be expected to include us (unless they are in our immediate family). Honor their right to autonomy.
Responding correctly also means we must go deep in intercession, in the Word of God and listening intently to the Holy Spirit. As someone who endorses true prophetic ministry, I must say that we need clarity regarding God's heart in this time. We can't presume anyone who experiences a flickering of their spiritual antennas to possess valuable and accurate revelation. Too many are spiritually immature or undisciplined to hear God clearly.
Does this mean we are to pull back and remain silent? No. We are free to communicate our beliefs on the subject if we admit we aren't privy to the full picture. If our concerns are severe originating from an authentic warning from God, shout it from the rooftops. However, that shouting must be from a tender, humble heart. Arrogance, presumption and know-it-all-ism isn't behavior becoming of a Believer in Jesus.
Lastly, abandon the conspiracy theories. Yes, even conspiracy theorists will be right every now and then, but the hour we are in demands sobriety and accuracy. We can't afford to provoke unnecessary scorn from the mockers. May God raise up true end-time people who are led by love, who reveal the heart of God and who refuse to be triggered by simple differences.
Photo credit: “Woman with tattoos receiving vaccine” by SELF Magazine is licensed under CC BY 2.0
BREAKING: Jeff Jansen Scrutinized for Trump Prophecies, Dismissed from Church Leadership
Controversial prophetic leader Jeff Jansen is under fire this week.
Newsweek brought a controversial viewpoint, one held by many Christians (and refuted by many others) to the forefront yesterday. “What's coming can't be stopped,” Jansen said in a Facebook video on Tuesday. “There's all kinds of amazing things that are happening, and I'm talking about President Trump. I'm talking about him coming back into power.… I'm talking about everything that God promised, back-to-back terms.” While many who have dug their heels into the ground regarding the certain re-election of Donald Trump have quietly stopped pushing their agenda, Jeff Jansen continues to stand firm. Other ministers have issued apologies for missing the prophetic mark but there are some, Jeff included, who are not shying away on what they feel is inevitable—the heroic return of Donald Trump. Newsweek followed up with another report today, “Evangelical Christian pastor Jeff Jansen, a self-described “prophet,” said that he is “quadrupling down” on his prophecy that former President Donald Trump will be reinstated—despite his previous prediction that this would happen by the end of April failing to materialize.” I've often wondered just what benefit there is to predicting certain things such as who the next President will be. Understand, I fully affirm legitimate prophetic ministry. I'm convinced we need to hear God's voice more, not less. In fact, God will be revealing extremely important information to those who have an ear to hear as we move deeper into the End Times. Key revelation will be needed so the church can respond in strategic intercession and move into position to battle the enemy and advance the Kingdom. Without divine communication, God's people will be at a great disadvantage. We can be sure those who are tuned in to the evil one will respond with precision to his commands. That being said, the barrage of prophecies about Donald Trump have resulted in some really bad fruit and widespread division among Believers. I honestly can't think of any healthy, beneficial result of forcing these so-called prophecies into the mainstream conversation. Are we looking for an I-told-you-so moment? I know many are. They point their fingers and puff out their chests as they proclaim, “Just wait, you'll see. The prophets were right and you will be exposed as one who is lacking faith, naturally minded and listening to the voice of the enemy.” I know that sounds extreme, but that sentiment, if not those very words, is being relayed. Those who disagree with the prophecies are outed as doubters, enemies of God's plans. I'm so appreciative of Dr. Michael Brown's leadership in releasing the Prophetic Standards Statement. It's time for calibration to God's Word in the prophetic camp. The “thus sayeth the Lord” approach to prophecy is often damaging to those who are listening, and watching, and waiting for the word to come to pass. Quite often, it does not and the level of faith of those who are tainted by the unnecessarily bold prophecy plummets.JEFF JANSEN HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM MINISTRY
To say Jeff is under fire this week would be an understatement. I believe it's necessary to emphasize how important it is to pray for Jeff. We all know, regardless of his situation, Satan is looking to devour him. We shouldn't be doing the same. Love-driven intercession for Jeff, especially right now, is mandatory. Yes, it's appropriate to address the issues that Jeff is bringing front and center, and it's right to confront any trouble that results. This is a seriously critical season of learning for the church, and we need to allow the Holy Spirit to recalibrate us. Unfortunately, people God loves can often be spotlighted during such seasons. Our response must include sobriety, fervent prayer, introspection, repentance and a determination to undergird those in challenging seasons. The enemy wants to crush Jeff. God wants to bless Jeff. In possibly unrelated news to Jeff's controversial prophetic views, Newsweek reviewed a message received by those connected with Global Fire Church. Jeff's information seems to have been removed from the church website and his wife, Jan Jansen, is now listed as the Senior Leader. “It is with deep sorrow that Jeff Jansen has been asked, by his board, to step down as Co-Senior Leader of Global Fire Church, and from Global Fire Ministries due to unscriptural and unbiblical behavior. He was asked to step down in April, and this was made public to the church body on May 2, 2021. A statement was released to partners and friends on May 5,” the email said. “Rather than submit to the process of healing and restoration, Jeff recently made an intentional decision to leave his wife and family to pursue his own desires. He remains unrepentant and unremorseful,” the ministry said. The statement noted that any further actions or statements from Jansen should not be associated with Global Fire Ministries. Many years ago I had a significant “God moment” that was nothing short of miraculous, and Jeff was instrumental. I had the opportunity along with a few others to connect with him in his hotel suite in the Detroit area. I won't go into details, but suffice it to say that God dramatically impacted my life through Jeff. The reports from this week are grieving to my spirit and I hurt for him and his family. Unfortunately, we as Christians have the responsibility to react and respond, and if necessary, warn about trouble. Certainly, we also have the responsibility to pray. We don't know what's going on inside of the heart of those who are in the midst of trial. We are left with the call to analyze fruit. Bad fruit doesn't make someone bad. It doesn't make them unredeemable. Quite the opposite. Those are the very ones God desires to reveal his love to in an even more powerful way. Of course, this part of the comments by Global Fire Church is quite disturbing: “Rather than submit to the process of healing and restoration, Jeff recently made an intentional decision to leave his wife and family to pursue his own desires. He remains unrepentant and unremorseful.” If true, Jeff is without question disqualified from ministry. In fact, his soul is in jeopardy. Satan is raging and the church must respond in love and en force! The takeaways to all of this include the need to cover (not cover up) our brothers and sisters in Christ. We as the church must endeavor for prophetic accuracy and conformity to biblical protocols. We should understand the times we are in volatile. We have no option to dabble haphazardly in the prophetic. We need to embrace humility. Intercession must skyrocket. I'd like to conclude by saying I'm praying that Jeff is well, the reports are not accurate and that concern is unwarranted. If his prophecies come true, we should celebrate. If the situation in the church and with his family is other than is being reported, we can rejoice. We need more bold prophetic leaders right now, and for many years, Jeff Jansen has been one of them. At this point, however, it seems all of us, Jeff included, should seek God's face and allow him to refine, redefine and renew us. A humble, repentant heart is necessary if we are to endure what is to come. Photo credit: “play of light in santhome church” by VinothChandar is licensed under CC BY 2.0A Call To Reformation In The Broken Prophetic Movement
Extreme reform must come to the out of control prophetic movement.
I believe we must see a radical increase in authentic prophetic ministry. While there are issues and extremes in today’s prophetic movement, the truth is that most churches are woefully shallow or outright resistant when it comes to developing a prophetic culture.
An electric, supernatural and stunning spirit of prophecy should be energizing our church services. The Holy Spirit is moving powerfully and it’s critical that we tap into what he is doing and saying.
“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19–21, ESV)
A CALL TO REFORMATION
The famine of the Rhema voice of God in so many Christians and churches has been a burden of mine for decades. Unfortunately, it seems some have tried to fill that void with either unhealthy, unbalanced or outright unbiblical prophetic practices. Reform is needed.
NO MORE PROPHETIC GUARANTEES
Have you ever heard someone in church belting out a revelation that starts something like, “The Lord is saying to you…” or for some of our more traditional Pentecostals, “Thus sayeth the Lord…”
Yeah, this has to stop.
People are sharing prophetic words as if they are guarantees. They fail to consider the myriad of variables that come into play regarding a prophetic word. People are mortal. They can make mistakes.
Further, prophetic words are always conditional. People have a role to play. A failed response can result in a word that doesn’t come to pass.
Also, hearts can change. Someone can fail to measure up to the demands of the word. They can reject the word. They can fall into sin. On and on.
Prophetic guarantees can do great damage to people’s faith. I’ve known people who have made very costly life decisions because of a prophecy. They have quit their jobs, sold their homes, moved across the country, married the wrong person, and on and on simply because they received a prophetic guarantee. Like I said, this has to stop.
A better way to say it would be, “I sense the Lord is saying,” or “Be sure to pray over this and weigh it carefully. I feel God is saying…”
PROPHETIC WORD SHOULD BE SUBMITTED FOR ANALYSIS
“but test everything; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21, ESV)
The Bible clearly requires all prophetic words to be tested, weighed and judged.
“Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.” (1 Corinthians 14:29, ESV)
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God…” (1 John 4:1, ESV)
It requires humility to invite a thorough critique when releasing a prophetic word. Instead of a prophetic guarantee, we should be submitting our divine revelation for consideration. We should invite people to analyze it, to pray over it and to judge it. If people did this with each word they communicated, it would remove much of the stigma surrounding the prophetic movement.
MINIMIZE FORETELLING, EMPHASIZE FORTHTELLING
Has anybody else grown tired of the circus-like, crystal ball-style fortune telling in so much of the prophetic today?
Understand, I absolutely do believe in foretelling, in revealing future events as the Holy Spirit gives the revelation. The Bible is filled with such prophetic information and authentic foretelling absolutely happens today.
That being said, there has become an unhealthy obsession with gazing into the future. It’s time for a fresh, anointed prophetic climate to emerge that is driven by forthtelling, by a Rhema revelation of timeless biblical truths. We need prophetic preachers who breathe fire as they release oracles from Heaven that erupt right out of the Bible. The Word of God must again be primary.
WE NEED TO QUIT LEANING SO HEAVILY ON PROPHETIC WORDS
As someone who affirms the need for a radical increase of true prophetic ministry, you might be surprised that I rarely get excited or uptight about a prophetic word.
This is true when the word is for me personally and it's true if the word is a public word.
Why? It's simple. Prophetic words take time to unfold. Also, they are often flat out wrong. If they are true, I need to discover what my role is and how I should steward the word. There is process.
It's not like winning the lottery or finding a genie in a lamp.
Does this mean I don't prepare if a prophetic word is given to warn me? No way. I prepare as the Lord leads, but I don't get spun out about the word or overly obsessed with the word.
Does this mean my faith isn't encouraged if a positive prophetic word is given to me? Nope. Faith comes by hearing the word of God. The Rhema, prophetic word of God.
However, you'd be shocked at how many positive, encouraging words I've received that have never come to pass. Good people were attempting to bless me but wrongly labeled their encouragement as prophecy.
Prophecy can be wrong no matter how convinced we are that God said something. We can interpret incorrectly. We may miss the analysis. We may not rightly steward the word. We might wrongly discern the timing.
The prophetic is less like a fortune cookie then many realize.
WE NEED BOTH GRACE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
The Old Testament “stone them if they are wrong” mindset needs to finally come to an end. In the New Covenant prophecy is markedly different. While a prophetic word can certainly be extremely weighty, it’s never complete. In fact, prophetic data comes not in the form of a bellowing, clearly heard and perfectly understood voice erupting out of a burning bush, but rather as abstract, nebulous impressions and sensations.
Consider dreams. They require interpretation. So does every other type of prophetic impression. Today, it’s not difficult to be deeply intimate with Jesus, living a life of prayer, humbly surrendered, wholeheartedly given to God’s call on our lives and also mistaken about a prophetic word. We need to give people grace when they miss it.
Yes, as I have already said, grace will be more easily extended when the prophets stop slapping a “thus sayeth the Lord” on every word they deliver.
And, yes, we also need a more solid system of accountability. What happened to those who prophesied that COVID would be gone nine or ten months ago? What about other failed words that go unjudged and are long forgotten? There’s a healthy way to handle this. Ignoring it isn’t the answer.
QUIT SHAMING THOSE WHO WEIGH AND JUDGE PROPHETIC WORDS
If you hang on to prophetic words without weighing them, and shame those who are in fact weighing, you have no idea how biblical prophecy works.
There is no medal of honor given to those who are unmovable regarding prophetic words. Scripture, in fact, requires that we are flexible as the outcome of prophecies can change depending on many different variables.
There has been a spirit of mean unleashed this past year by those who have white-knuckled grips on prophetic words about the election and other key issues. Dare to weigh the words, as the Bible commands, and question them in the slightest, and you better duck. Some uber-spiritual people will launch assaults questioning your faith, your spirituality and even your salvation. It’s disgusting.
REJECT WORDS NOT BIRTHED FROM THE FURNACE OF PRAYER
If the person delivering the word isn’t burning hot in the furnace of intercession day after day, their word cannot be trusted. Throw it out. If it’s truly a word of God, it will jump right back into play and it will be undeniable. However, I’ve found it to be quite rare that a prophecy can be truly trusted if it’s not birthed from the place of intercession.
There are other measures we can take to see the prophetic become healthy and effective, but if we can start with the above, the prophetic culture this nation so desperately needs will become vibrant, anointed and accurate again.
Is Today’s Prophetic Movement Fake News?
No matter what ultimately happens with the election, we need reformation in today's prophetic streams.
I've hesitated writing this article for several weeks. The reason? I'm placing myself right in the crossfire of the prophetic zealots (of which, ironically, I am one) and those who are fed up with the mystical, self-serving foolishness that's rampant today. I'm in that group too. Truly, it's a no-win situation. However, ministry isn't about winning. Ministry is about communicating truth so the Kingdom of God can most powerfully advance. So, onward. It's important for you to understand that I have been embracing the prophetic for years. My entire life has been marked by strange and glorious supernatural occurrences. God's leading has been nothing short of remarkable and miraculous. I'm humbled and in awe. I believe that God speaks, moves and interacts with every Christian who has an ear to hear. The wonders that so many experience on a consistent basis are not only dramatic, but they are required if we are to move in the direction the Spirit of God is leading us. Without hesitation I admit to endorsing the often bizarre, sometimes confounding and always stunning biblically-based prophetic ministry. Honestly, it would be impossible for me not to. I've written about my personal, humanly impossible, logically indescribable prophetic happenings in several of my books. I can't doubt.FALSE PROPHETS!
With that, I'm also disturbed by the butchering of prophetic ministry today. Before you attempt to offer me a high-five in celebration of finding another who is bent on exposing today's false prophets, you need to hear me. Let's deal with the elephant in this article. Several high profile prophetic leaders have boldly predicted another four years for President Trump. You need to understand that I personally know some of these people, and I've been following the ministry of several others. To call them false prophets based on the current state of our nation's affairs alone would be ridiculous. These men and women of God are so pure, so passionate about Jesus and radically locked-in to God's heart. They are also imperfect. Let's settle something right now. Missing a prophecy does not deem one a false prophet. As I stated above, that is ridiculous. There's a difference between false prophecy and poor prophecy. False prophecy is demonic while poor prophecy flows out of imperfect children of God at times (just as poor teaching, poor pastoring and poor evangelizing does). Of course, at the writing of this article, the election isn't settled. President Trump could very well be re-elected, even at this late stage in early December, 2020. This would, I suppose, vindicate the prophets. But do they need vindication?NEW TESTAMENT PROPHECY
Old Testament prophecy and New Testament prophecy are markedly different. In the Old Covenant, a small handful of prophets received occasional, clear, precise messages from God. In the New Covenant, every Believer in Christ, including those who hold the office of Prophet, can hear God's voice. However, while Old Testaments prophets received messages, today we perceive God's messages. Today, prophecy is intuitive, often abstract and, in most cases, it must be learned. Quite often, prophetic signs, dreams, visions, impressions and other spiritual data must be interpreted. It also must be weighed, analyzed and prayed through. The Holy Spirit brings the understanding to the precise parts of the divine message entrusted to us. That process can result in accidental errors. Prophecy is tricky. We need to exhibit both faith and humility. Admitting there is a chance we might be wrong either partially or completely isn't exhibiting a lack of faith. I don't believe we should ever give a “thus sayeth the Lord” when prophesying. We should say, “I sense the Lord saying,” or “I have a strong impression that…” Why? We can miss it. Prophecies in Scripture are absolute. Prophecies today are not. Further, prophecies not found in the Bible are conditional. We have a role to play in the outcome. All of this is why I believe declaring a prophecy that is not found in Scripture to be one hundred percent certain to come to pass is inappropriate and irresponsible.FAKE NEWS PROPHECY
This brings us to the necessary reformation. Are there foolish, self-satisfying people growing a pseudo-prophetic ministry that's fueled by the enemy? Absolutely there are. Are there others who are immature in their understanding of the prophetic, and as a result are out of step with true biblical prophecy? Yes. Has the prophetic become way too dominant in some people's lives, to the exclusion of basic, orthodox, historical Bible truths? Most definitely. (Though I'd suggest there are way more who have excluded a true, biblical, prophetic lifestyle in favor of dry, dead religion.) Simply, is much of today's prophetic ministry that's flourishing all over social media fake news? It is. I'll introduce some sub-points that should at least get us thinking:PURPOSE
Predictive prophecy (foretelling) often leaves me asking a question: why was it necessary to share that message? What is the purpose? Understand, it's just a question. There may be a legitimate answer. Of course, Scripture is filled with predictive prophecies. Yet, there must be a reason God would reveal this information to us. Why did we need to know that President Trump would supposedly win the election? What is that purpose? On one hand, it could be to bolster a prophets resume of successful predictions. Is there another hand? Maybe. But we really need to know what's in that hand. What is our role in response to the prophetic word?STRATEGY
I personally believe all prophecy not found in Scripture is conditional. I believe it was designed this way by God as a catalyst to rally the troops. For example, if the prophets are revealing that Trump was God's choice, what must the church do to advance that agenda? Prophecy that is devoid of a strategic call to action is at least suspicious. Prophetic messages should provoke a response, whether it's a warning or revelation of God's heart or an uncovering of the enemy's plans, we as hearers of the word need to know how to proceed.FORTHTELLING VS FORETELLING
Personally, I am significantly more impressed with prophetic preaching, forthtelling, than I am with foretelling, revealing future events. Understand, I affirm and value both, when handled well. But, give me a Leonard Ravenhill any day over one of today's pop prophets. Forthtelling always has a fiery, urgent and unapologetic call to action. Unfortunately, too many of today's foretellers are more excited about their ability to craft the perfect fortune cookie message than they are revealing the depths of God.THUS SAYETH THE LORD
I dealt with this above, but I wanted to put it in the list of thought provokers. When I hear someone declare that “God said” and that what they heard is perfect, complete and guaranteed to come to pass, I change the channel. We prophecy in part. We see in part. We understand in part. And, guess what? We are fallible humans. We can miss it. Again, New Testament prophecy is intuitive. I'm not saying it can't have a measure of clarity. It absolutely can. I'm not saying it can't be overwhelming, weighty and convincing. It can. In fact, we need to live in the realm of the weighty much more than we do today. The prayer rooms should be soaked with sweat and tears from the brows of the prophets. However, we aren't privy to an unmistakable voice booming out of a burning bush. The Holy Spirit is the one brooding and impressing upon God's people mysterious and often illogical messages that require discernment, prayer and interpretation to grasp.PROPHECY IS CONDITIONAL
I posted the following to Facebook recently: What percent chance do you give Trump being reelected at this stage of the game? (If you say 100% or 0%, you are delusional. I'm sure you are nice, but still delusional.) Needless to say, a bunch of delusional friends responded! (I say that with a friendly smile on my face.) There are so many factors at play in the prophetic that we can rarely if ever proclaim that a prophetic word is certain to come to pass. Remember, prophecy not found in Scripture is conditional. It's an invitation, not a guarantee. Several promoted the idea that thinking anything less would be a violation of faith. This is not true. We have a part to play. This is what happens when “thus sayeth the Lord” style prophecies are accepted as the norm. They can seduce people into a false sense of comfort as they sit back and wait for it to come to pass.THE ENEMY
Anybody who has adopted a prophetic lifestyle knows that prophetic words must be warred over. Simply receiving and believing is far from enough. Satan is exceptionally skilled at disrupting the plans of God in our lives. When we simply receive and believe, we are playing right into the enemy's hands. We must go to battle! Presuming a prophecy will come to pass without a sword in our hands is akin to wishing upon a star.FINAL THOUGHTS
There are many other factors at play including timing, sin in the lives of the prophets, fear, doubt, presumption, etc. I feel some great first steps in reforming the prophetic would include:- Prophesying from a place of fervent, Spirit-driven intercession.
- Considering the purpose of the word.
- Majoring on forthtelling, minoring on foretelling.
- Communicating prophetic strategies, not just a prophetic word.
- Inviting the word to be weighed.
- Admitting when you missed it.
- Giving grace to those who missed it.
- Avoiding presumptive prophetic guarantees.