There is an alarming trend which I have observed in the arena of worship which makes the suggestion that the heights to which I learn to achieve in my “worship,” the greater “revelation” of the deep mysteries of God will be revealed to me. In this dangerous and erroneous movement, the spirit of prophecy is treated with contempt as self-proclaimed “prophets and apostles” promote the idea that only those who are among the spiritually “elite” have the privileged to understand these “mysteries.” In fact, they go as far to believe that God is giving them “new revelation” which can only be translated by those gifted in the office of prophet or apostle. Because we live in a world where people are searching for answers and are genuinely hungry for something from God that will sustain them in these last days, people are willing to gravitate towards what feels good and sounds good----even if they cannot fully make sense of it. In the end, the thing that is truly missing from their lives is the love for truth and a true knowledge of God’s Word. Unfortunately, rather than understanding the nature and character of the Holy Spirit, many who participate in certain factions of the prophetic movement are captivated by the Christian “tooth fairy” who gives us gold fillings, angelic pixies who sprinkle their intoxicating “gold dust” for us to frolic in and cosmic disco balls which appear so God’s people can brag about our over-the-top worship experience. And because we have this movement which appeals to our fleshly desires---if not bordering on the demonic--- the prophetic movement has left a bad taste in the mouth of many within the church.
In order to combat this, we must come to an understanding as to what the function of the “prophetic” is in light of Scripture. Prophecy as a whole calls out three aspects of God’s redemptive purposes: the condition of man, man’s need for God, and the promises of God to restore man. All of prophecy points to the one essential truth that everything that God reveals, whether it is “foretelling” or “forth-telling,” is “designed to make Jesus Christ preeminent” and “to show how Christ will once again be the revelation of God in all his splendor and majesty.”[i] Additionally, there is no “new revelation” which exists apart from the Word of God. All prophecy only confirms what already had been revealed in Scripture. Otherwise, we might as well take the words of these self-proclaimed apostles and prophets and add them to the Bible and call it “Scripture.” There are no “new truths” about God. HE IS TRUTH AND HE NEVER CHANGES! The “prophetic” only confirms the truth about God----which all we know about God, is contained in His Word.
The “Prophetic Movement” misses the nature of what prophecy is intended to do in the lives of believers (or even non-believers). Prophecy along with the promises of God is simply meant to draw us to Christ. As it reveals the heart of man and the heart of God, it is meant to draw us to a greater realization of Jesus Christ not a greater realization of ourselves. The message that is sent by many within this movement is that the supernatural and the promises of God are meant for us. The result is an ascent to self-realization rather than Christ-realization. The apostle Paul stated that the “promises of God” are “Yes and Amen in CHRIST” not “yes and amen” in ME (see 2 Cor. 1:20-21). His point is simple: no matter what God is doing it is done with the sole purpose that Christ is glorified. Prophecy which admonishes that “we” can achieve or that “we” are given power and “gifts” rather than prophecy that admonishes that “He” allows us to achieve and that “He” is the source of all power and gifts is not of God. There is no deep “mystical truth” that only those with “eyes to see and ears to hear” are privileged to experience. In fact, Acts 2 tells us that God will “pour out His Spirit on ALL flesh” and that “your sons and daughters will PROPHESY…” Those who come to “Christ-realization” are given this privilege of experiencing the spirit of prophecy---which is Jesus Christ (Rev. 19:10) and this “prophetic gifting” is for a very distinct purpose. It is to be WITNESSES to the truth about Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8). It is not for the purpose to bring about “deeper teaching” and “supernatural signs and wonders” which make people say “You’re really spiritual!” It’s not so we can come to a ‘self-realization” of power which makes us believe that we somehow have a spiritual authority to use or even “command” the things of God.
Prophecy in the modern day church is the same as it has always been. It is a witness that testifies to the condition of man, the heart of God, and the answer for man’s dilemma. Simply put, prophecy proclaims that we are sinners, Jesus took the judgment that is awaiting us because of His love and because of this God has made us His sons and daughters to live eternally in His kingdom. Beware my brothers and sisters in Christ as there are wolves among us who would lead you to believe that there are deeper truths out there through the “prophetic word.” The only essential truth that we will ever need to know for all of eternity is that Jesus Christ is Lord and He alone is the One who is to be glorified! If you truly want to launch into the world of “extreme prophetic” then simply worship Jesus and bring Him glory with all of your life; after all, isn’t that the most spiritual thing we can ever attain to do?
[i] D. Brent Sandy, Plowshares and Pruning Hooks (Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2002), 205.
[i] McConville, 159.
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