A Common Scenario
At most end of year services amongst other Christian meetings, the highlight of the service is the declaration of the man of God, (what generally is known as 'prophetic utterance'); which is responded to with ever-increasing waves of "AMEN" by the congregation.
However common this scenario is, there are several questions Christians should ask regarding this practice. An honest and scriptural answer to these questions will make a believer grounded in the truth and rightly relate with the spiritual gift of prophecy.
Prophecy Defined
Firstly, the term “prophetic utterance” does not appear in scripture, but what it connotes is generally found in scripture as “prophecy” which is a noun form of the word “to prophesy”, both indicating an inspired utterance, whether in speech or song, with foretelling usually involved.
The 5 most common ways of Expressing “prophetic utterance” are:
1. When a Christian says something without any awareness of the divine will in that matter, and it comes to pass. Such persons would usually describe their statement as “prophetic”. However, one does not necessarily have to be a Christian to experience this.
2. There are some Christians who seemingly watch to 'extract' prophetic utterances from ministers of the Gospel who may be making casual statements. In close examination, the preacher may tell you with every certainty that there was no iota of inspiration or 'prophetism' in his statement.
3. There are some Christians (especially some Church leaders) who believe that their every word whether on or off the pulpit, bear prophetic significance. This is prophetic utterance gone to seed!
4. It could mean a direct fore-telling of future events under divine inspiration.
5. There is a practice where a minister claims to be inspired by God, proclaims blessings, upon the congregation and expects as many as can receive it to do so.
All these and much more have come to be known as prophetic utterance; yet it is important to draw our references from the Bible. For the sake of clarity, the Biblical term 'prophecy' will be used as a yardstick from what many today have come to know as 'prophetic utterance'.
Characteristics of Bible Prophecy
As earlier described, prophecy is inspired utterance, spoken or sung; but does every one Who claims to speak or sing by inspiration practice biblical prophecy? Below are some features that can help us recognize what prophecy or prophetic utterance should be.
I. It is as the Spirit Wills (see 1 Corinthians 12: 11)
Firstly, prophecy is a supernatural act of the Holy Spirit, inspiring the Christian to declare His counsel in speech or song. The mistake we make is that we think we can determine when, how or if He can manifest through us. The text above clearly spells out that it is as the Spirit wills.
ii. It Does not require a 'Presence' or Feeling
There is a fine line between where a Christian deliberately 'stirs up' the Spirit of God in an attempt to prophesy and when the Holy Spirit truly inspires one to prophesy. The difference is that the former often look for a feeling of the 'presence of the Spirit'.
Seeking prophecy through feelings usually leads God’s people into many unscriptural practices such as mindless repetitions and bodily gyrations among others (see Matthew 6: 7); and these might open one to evil spirits and wrong spiritual manifestations. If you are in need of direction, ask God in prayer, study the scripture or seek godly mature counsel, you will not be led astray.
THERE IS NO SCRIPTURE THAT SUGGEST THAT FEELING A PRESENCE IS PROOF OF ANSWERED PRAYER OR BEING IN THE SPIRIT!
Christians have come out of those 'presence' with a voice, trance or 'prophecy' telling them that their father, mother, Siblings, child, colleagues, boss, or even a fellow believer is a witch and should be hated and avoided. THESE ARE MANIFESTATIONS OF EVIL SPIRITS.
Brethren, don't seek a presence or feeling to be inspired by God! Does it mean I will not feel any thing when inspired to Speak or sing? NO. You MAY feel something if the Holy Spirit desires you to but you definitely should not seek or expect it.
iii. It Points everyone to Jesus (see Rev. 19:10)
In the scripture above, John received a revelation of things to come. In awe attempted to worship the angel who brought the revelation but was stopped abruptly and told that God alone is to be worshiped and that the 'essence, spirit or vital breath' of prophecy is to testify of Jesus. In John 16:14, the Holy Spirit's work is to bring glory to Jesus by taking what is His and showing it to us.
Do people see you or Jesus? Are the people more devoted to the one whom saved them? Or are the prophetic utterances all about money, cars, houses, health, spouses and children? Do these prophecies bear any eternal significance?
TRUE PROPHECY POINTS EVERYONE TO JESUS!
Am I saying my temporal needs cannot be ministered to by divine inspiration? NO! But if God inspires a word for provision your way, He has eternal souls in mind, it may meet your temporal needs but the ultimate purpose is to help promote the cause of Christ on earth.
iv. It strengthens the Christian in His Walk with God ( see 1 Cor. 14:3)
In the New Testament, prophecy is not all about foretelling as a quick glance at the Bible seem to suggest. It has a lot to do with strengthening, encouraging and comforting the believer. This can be done in so many ways, through inspired exhortations or singing one to another much like what Ephesians 5:18,19 and Colossians 3:16 state. These moments are some of the richest and most inspiring experiences of biblical prophecy the Church is yet to fully accept and practice.
What is the result? The Christian is more attune to spiritual realities, easily walks in love, joy and peace with God and others around; a hunger for God's Word and a ready zeal for God are but some of the unmistakable marks of true prophecy.
v. It Bears Supernatural Revelation
One character of prophecy which cannot be over looked is that it may reveal events or things in the past, present or future. All these are still to strengthen, encourage and comfort the Christian and not to extort money from them or cause them to feel helpless.
There is a common ploy by some who claim their prophecies are inspired by God when in fact they simply took advantage of basic human nature and the natural course of life. They exploit the obvious problems of people under the guise of divine revelation and give a comforting word as prophecy to them. One does not need to do a course in human psychology to be a master in this art of deceit PROPHECY IS DIVINE INSPIRATION AND NOT PSYCHOLOGY!
Yet supernatural revelations must not be received without judging it.
vi. Prophecy is Required to be Judged, Scrutinized or Examined (1 Cor.14:29)
We are not expected to accept prophecy without determining if it is of God as outlined in the scripture above.
There is a common difficulty Christians have when someone gives a correct revelation of a past event; many are convinced that such could only be from God. However, this is not necessarily so! Demons can also inspire revelations that could be an accurate account of previous events but also with the intention to deceive and bring the Christian into bondage.
Really some prophecy may seem difficult to place but when one spends regular time studying scripture it will be easy to draw a line between the truth and a prophecy which is intended to deceive.
Very Important Questions to ask:
Asking oneself certain questions may prove useful in this regard: Does the prophecy promote my love for God and my fellow man? Am I required to sow a seed to either receive a prophecy or a solution to the situation? (The practice of ’sow to receive’ a solution to a problem or revelation is ENTIRELY UNSCRIPTURAL AND EVIL!)
Beware, in your quest not to be deceived that you disregard prophecy or treat it with contempt, rather like 1 Thessalonians 5: 19-22 teaches us to test all spiritual manifestations, hold fast to the true ones and avoid any kind that is not true but evil.
Foundation For Deception
Here let us consider some foundations for deception regarding the subject of prophetic utterances.
Firstly, it is claimed that the man of God can only speak by God. But the Pastor or Church leader is first and foremost a man, by that I mean, he is human and therefore prone to what we term 'human error'.
The easily recognizable result of this deception is that THE PEOPLE BEGIN TO TRUST IN THE MAN BEARING THE WORD AND NOT IN THE WRITTEN WORD OR JESUS, THE LIVING WORD!
Secondly, some claim that not accepting a Prophetic Utterance is Tantamount to Rejecting God! They are quick to quote 2 Chronicles 20:20
“…believe in his prophets and you shall prosper” thus giving the impression that your prosperity as a Christian is hinged to your accepting the Words of your prophet.
THIS IS NOT ENTIRELY TRUE!
Firstly the scripture quoted above referred to those under the dispensation of the Old Covenant where the embodiment of the divine will was revealed through the office of prophet BUT NOT SO IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. The embodiment of the divine will is NOT revealed through the prophets today BUT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST ( see Hebrews 1: 1, 2).
“Long ago in many ways and at many times God's prophets spoke his message to our ancestors.
But now at last, God sent his Son to bring his message to us. God created the universe by his Son, and everything will someday belong to the Son.”
Therefore one is under NO OBLIGATION to accept any prophecy or prophetic utterance that does not MAKE JESUS CHRIST THE CENTER or promote the love of Christ. You only reject God if you reject Jesus as Lord of your life or his scripture as the basis of your living and not because you have judged a prophecy or a prophetic utterance and found it wanting by the standards of scripture.
Another misconception is that the man of God has the power to bless and curse.
This brings Christians under the bondage of the fear of man. It is a ploy to keep them attached to either a person or the local Church and it is evil.
One should ask, if he is a Christian, why would he curse? (see James 3: 9,10)
Then, would God give a Christian the power to do evil? Certainly not! Those who delight in cursing others, should have their lives and ministries called to question. Therefore DO NOT FEAR MEN; and you certainly will not be cursed if you do not say 'Amen' to any prophetic utterance especially a questionable one.
Blessing the People or Prophetic Utterance?
Most times what is practiced in a lot of our fellowship meetings and regarded as prophetic utterance is in reality the Pastor blessing his people.
A closer look at the features of NT prophecy immediately shows you that though there may be some inspired foretelling involved in what is known as prophetic utterance, what is usually practiced in our worship meetings is a Pastor blessing his people. Indeed a Pastor can be inspired to bless his people especially if it is in line with the scriptures.
By bless, I mean pray for and wish good things upon. It doesn't necessarily have to be a direct message from God for it to come to pass. The problem comes when it is called 'prophetic utterance' because here God is called to question.
In Conclusion
Every gift of God is for the benefit of His people and should not be treated with contempt. Prophecy is one of these. Apostle Paul desired all Christians to prophesy (1 Cor.14:5), it is therefore important to know what prophecy really is and how to apply it in line with biblical guidelines so that the Church may be edified.
So when next you find yourself in a Christian gathering and there's a prophetic utterance going on, let the truth you have learnt be considered before you say: “AMEN”.