I gave a message 18 months ago entitled “Does God Give Ministry Mulligans When Prophecy is Wrong?” As a non-cessationist, I am saddened, but not surprised, to say that there continues to be genuine Bible academics who are making myopic and poor apologetic attempts to rationalize and justify the absolute horrendous lack of accuracy of so-called modern-day ‘prophets.’ They continuously attempt to pound a square peg into a round hole with a sledgehammer. Articles are still being published that are perfect examples of confirmation bias run amuck and pretzel preaching as they blur the line of proper exegesis and twist the Scriptures to support personal suppositions.
Modern ‘Profits’ are always quick to point out they 'prophesied' a current event before it happened. Yet, NONE of them have yet to prophesy 100% correctly anything about the Covid-19 pandemic accurately, let alone the 2020 election results. What is perplexing is they never 'predict' specifics about anything, or how to deal/prepare BEFORE it happens. What good are they, and for what purpose besides scratching itching ears and filling their pocketbook? How do they change anything in reality when all they do is tell us things we already know or what has already happened? You can’t cut and paste their words to make them sound godly. It is all or nothing. There are absolutely NO legitimate examples in the Bible of a true Prophet of God making any prophetic “mistakes.”
A Bible Prophet was the direct voice of God to the people, who alone is omniscient and can look into the future. The Bible makes it clear that when the Prophets of both the Old and New Testament received a “word” from God, it was perfect and free from any error. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His word does not change. There was no changing of the rules when Jesus came along. There are no mulligans in ministry when speaking an omniscient prophetic word as a direct oracle of God. If the words of a Prophet are not perfect and free from error, God has some rather harsh words for them:
"Therefore," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me.… "When these people, or a prophet or a priest, ask you, 'What is the oracle of the LORD?' say to them, 'What oracle? I will forsake you, declares the LORD.' If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, 'This is the oracle of the LORD,' I will punish that man and his household.… Therefore, I will surely forget you and cast you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your fathers. I will bring upon you everlasting disgrace — everlasting shame that will not be forgotten." (Jer 23:30-40 NIV)
“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.” (Deut 18:20 KJV)
There is a significant difference between holding the office of ‘Prophet” and making use of the spiritual manifestation gift of prophecy, which refers primarily to forth-telling, and is accessible to every Born-Again Christian (Rom 12:2; 1 Cor 13:2, 14:5).
Through prophecy, a Christian speaks for God. It is not proof that the person is an official ‘Prophet,’ nor is it ever to be used to bring a so-called ‘fresh revelation’ that has no basis in God’s Word. In the NT, the supernatural prophetic gift that is given to every Born-Again Christian is used to illuminate the revelation of Scripture when proclaiming (forth-telling) the great news of Jesus Christ as a person speaks confidently, without any error or inaccuracy, to strengthen and comfort others, a message of divine encouragement from the heart of God that touches a person’s innermost being.
“But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.” (1 Cor 14:3 NIV)
The Greek word for prophecy is ‘propheteia’ and means to speak under divine inspiration a declaration, warning, or exhortation as directed by the Holy Spirit. The NT spiritual gift of Prophecy is for the edification (Gk: ‘oikodome’) of the Christian. It is to build them up and promote spiritual growth. Exhortation (Gk: ‘paraklesis’) means “encouragement, a calling near or for, to stir up.” The word “comfort” (Gk: ‘paramuthia’) means “a consolation; a solace ministered with tenderness.” The word consolation means “to alleviate grief or disappointment.” The word ‘solace’ means “comfort in distress or disappointment, to find relief, to cheer up.”
What these ‘Profits’ continue to confirm is their thorough lack of understanding the differences between the New Testament supernatural spiritual gift of Prophecy and the Word of Knowledge, which is a supernatural revelation by the Holy Spirit of specific facts in the mind of God (1 Cor 12:8). It is not natural learning or ability, nor is it a specialized or intensified knowledge of the Bible. The word ‘knowledge’ comes from the Greek word ‘gnosis,’ which means to know something and have complete insight and full understanding.
The Word of Knowledge is received from the Holy Spirit giving special awareness of God when He desires to enable a Christian to effectively minister to the needs of another at a moment’s notice by supernaturally giving them knowledge and understanding in a specific situation or circumstance, and to have insight in overcoming the strategies of the enemy (Acts 21:11-13). It will never contradict or add to the Bible.
Jesus lives within the spirit, mind, and body of the Born-Again Christian. As a result of the Cross, they have a direct and intimate face to face personal relationship with God, their Abba Father. Just as the “Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend,” so does God with His Bride (Rom 8:15; Ex 33:11; see also John 15:15).
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has SPOKEN to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” (Heb 1:1-2 NIV Emphasis mine)
The Born-Again Christian doesn’t need a middleman to translate when He speaks. Jesus said,
“My sheep LISTEN to my voice. I call each one by name. I lead them out, and they follow me because they KNOW my voice… I give them safe pasture and they go out with me in the path of righteousness. I give them life – my life, real life from God that is abundant and eternal… I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep KNOW me — just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.” (John 10:3, 9-10, 14-15 NIV - emphasis mine)
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17 NIV)
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you…” As the Father has loved me so I have loved you. Abide in my love”… “My sheep listen to my voice. I call each one by name. I lead them out and they follow me because they know my voice… I give them safe pasture and they go out with me in the path of righteousness. I give them life – my life, real life from God that is abundant and eternal… I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me — just as the Father knows me and I know the Father”… “You are my friends. We share in the Father’s business.”(John 15:7,9; 10:3, 9-10, 14-15; 15:14 NIV)
“Where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” (Matt 18:20 NIV)
When the Born-Again Christian calls upon the Lord for help He will “answer”… and “will say: Here am I… The Lord will guide you always” (Isa 58:9, 11). Saving “faith comes from HEARING, and hearing THROUGH the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17 - emphasis mine).
“Whoever HEARS my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life” (John 5:24 -emphasis mine).
“You have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth… The anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.” (1 John 2:20, 27 NIV)
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take [the thorn in my flesh] away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” (2 Cor 12:8-9 NIV)
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev 2:7 NIV)
There are no more mysteries about God that need to be known,
“The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you… Consider carefully what you hear… Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him” (Mark 4:11, 24, 25 ESV)
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Gal 5:25 NIV)
There are three ultimate tests to determine if a Prophet’s words are from God.
The first is whether it lines up with the Bible (Isa 8:19-20).
Second, if it comes “to pass” (Deut 18:22; Ezek 12:25, Jer 28:9).
Third, if it does not cause “divisions” or upsets “people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what” sound biblical doctrine they “have been taught (Rom 16:17). If the answer is “no” to any of those three questions, Christians are commanded to “Stay away from them” (Rom 16:17).
The spiritual gifts of Prophecy, Knowledge, and Tongues all go together and are not permanent gifts (1 Cor 13:8-13). They will ultimately cease, but love, which is the focus of the verses that mention the gifts, will endure forever because "God is love" (1 John 4:8,16). We are not fully completed, and in this life, we see things as through a glass darkly until Jesus returns, so the gifts are partially (not fully) known.
The only absolutely reliable source to know and hear God’s voice is His written Word to us, the Bible, which is why the Born-Again Christian is implored to diligently “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15 KJV)
It is time to stop the excuses and call a spade a spade. These modern ‘Profits’ should thank their lucky stars they aren’t living in the Old Testament and are now living in the Age of Grace because they would no longer be among the living.
