Reflections of a Trail Blazer

JUDGING THE PROPHET

Song 2:15 “Catch the foxes for us, The little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, While our vineyards are in blossom.”

I hear prophets complain that people will not receive the word of God from them. The truth of the matter is that the reception of a true prophetic word depends on the character of the prophet giving it and the character of the person to receive it. Right now let’s just deal with the prophet. The responsibility of the prophet is obedience to God’s word, whether people receive it or not.

The character of the prophet is number one in determining whether they are a false prophet or not. Prophesying incorrectly, by itself, does not render one a false prophet. To miss it can be an indication that they are immature, but not necessarily false. A false prophet can prophesy correctly and still be a false prophet (read about Balaam in Numbers 22). The problem with Balaam had to do with his character. His motivation as a prophet was self-serving.

Nothing happens in a vacuum.  It is not the large, evil things we do in our lives that separate us in character, but it is the small things we do that brand us as lacking character. Balaam did not become the way he was overnight. It is rarely the large things that cause big problems. It is usually an accumulation of several small things that eventually mushroom into a bigger or more critical problem. It is comparable to ignoring one flea on your dog. Within a month both your home and your dog can be infested if nothing is done.

What happened to Balaam has been repeated time and time again in the lives of many prophets. The integrity of all ministers is extremely important. However, the very nature of the office of the prophet requires a level of integrity that insures that the prophet can be trusted.  Remember our definition for a prophet is simply one who speaks for another. If I am God’s prophet I am speaking the words given to me by God. Even as an oracle of God, those words must come through a vessel that is yielded to being perfected by the word of God.  As a prophet of integrity I must be willing to admit that I was not accurate in the delivery of the word of God. I have heard few prophets admit that they were wrong or that they gave an incorrect word or it was delivered at the wrong time or even to the wrong person or place. This is the reason training, accountability and proper relationships are so important in the life of the prophet.

It is important for the prophet to examine themselves first before judging the reaction of the people

If God cannot trust us in the smaller things how can He entrust to us the lives of other people?

He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much (Luke 16:10).

1.  Submission to delegated authority is always God’s will.

In the wake of so many having experienced abuse in their homes and even in the church it is difficult for most people to realize the value and power of submission.  Accountability and obedience to authority is still God’s will regardless of the way it has been handled.

If the words that we speak are from God; and if we have an expectation for the people to obey His word, then we must also be willing to obey His word as well. When we submit to God and His word, then we must also submit to His delegated authority.

His delegated authority includes, but is not limited to our pastor, the policemen, the supervisor on our job and the people who own the stores where we shop. This also includes our President and other civil officials, whether we agree with them or not. Daniel did not disobey Nebuchadnezzar until the king’s law violated God’s law. Can you say that when you disobey the traffic laws that those laws violate God’s law?

“If therefore you have not been faithful in the [use of] unrighteous mammon, who will entrust the true [riches] to you? (Luke 16:11)

I have watched many of God’s prophets decide which of His word works best for them. If one area of His word is difficult for them to do, I have seen them study to prove that word is actually wrong, especially in the area of tithing or accountability. The rule of thumb is that whenever the word seems to contradict itself there is something we do not yet understand. God never contradicts Himself.

2.  Works instead of Character? I don’t think so.

I think it would surprise the average minister, in general, that God is not keeping a record on well we study the bible, or how wonderfully we preach and flow in the anointing. It is not our preaching and flowing in the anointing that changes the greatest number of people. It is the life we live.

The disciples did not follow Jesus because of the miracles. They followed Him because of the life He lived. When He instructed the disciples to follow Him, He had not yet worked a miracle in their sight nor did He promise them a miracle. He committed to teaching them how to “fish for men.”  Although Jesus did perform miracles in the presence of His disciples, it seems that He spent more time in teaching them how to live in everyday life: how to treat each other; being a steward of all they were given; how to recognize the Father; mysteries concerning the Kingdom.  Though some of the religious groups tried to trick Jesus by questioning Him about when He performed the miracles (John 5:16), they were mostly upset with Him because of how He related Himself to the Father (John 5:18). The same crowds that received the benefit of His miracles also demanded that He be crucified and Barabbas be released! There were disciples who eventually left from following Him because of the words He taught.

3.  Learn to hear God in your everyday circumstances.

A prophet should be able to hear from the Spirit of God in the things pertaining to everyday life. The credibility of a prophet relies on their adherence to the same standard by which they wish to direct others. It is in our everyday circumstances that you and I actually begin to gain a better understanding of prophetic revelations.

There are things happening in the world and in my life today that I saw when I was ten years old in dreams and visions. More than forty years later, walking with the Lord in the mix of everyday life has brought a greater understanding of what I was seeing and the wisdom to handle these issues. The simple issues of life brought a wisdom I did not possess when I first had the dreams. Even though I was just a child when I had my first vision, scriptures bear record that age does not always hinder understanding and wisdom. Jesus discovered at the age of twelve who He was, getting a glimpse of His destiny. Wisdom in obeying His parents placed Him in a position to continue to grow in stature and wisdom so that His destiny could be fulfilled. He may not have understood that process at that age, but He did understand obedience.

Growing in stature has to do with being able to make practical application of God’s word to everyday life. This comes through the natural process of growing up. Wisdom has to do with knowing how to carry out the application in a way that brings about God’s purposes and pleasure to His Kingdom.

A prophet has to learn God’s word and develop maturity by applying the word to their life in school, on the job, at home with parents, the treatment of their spouse, handling of their finances, and interaction with people in all types of relationships.

A friend of mine who is a prophet uses the analogy of a rusty pipe. He says that as water flows through the pipe, if there is any rust in the pipe the water coming out on the other end will have rust in it. As we mature, the less rust there will be.

This does not imply that a prophet is not able to operate in the office of a prophet until they are perfect. Maturation is an ongoing process. A prophet who is willing to be accountable to authority enters into the maturation process. Though mistakes will be made, they can be corrected and minimized along the way.

I have been at this a long time and I still run things by my spiritual father: dreams, visions, prophetic words I receive for others and/or the region. If I receive a word or direction from the Lord concerning one of my spiritual father’s spiritual sons or natural children I always submit it to him and let him determine when, where or if I should be the deliverer of the message. He has been in the maturation process a very long time and knows the bible better than I do. If I am straining at gnats he is my first line of correction. I also have another person in my life that helps me, probably more than she realizes. My oldest sister is very tuned into my emotional health.  She is able to speak into my life concerning how I think versus how I feel. Because of this balance it has helped me to truly be slow to act, react or speak while going through an emotional turmoil.

As a woman I must be very careful that my emotional wires and prophetic wires do not cross, but rather complement. My sister helps me to see things from a perspective I would have overlooked when I am going through an emotional crisis. Learning how to separate your emotions from the prophetic has to do with learning how to respond to everyday life.  It is the same process as separating business issues from personal issues.

Prophets, though social, can be loners. My sister always tells me that when you are alone a lot it is important to include others in your life who can give proper input. While a normal characteristic of a prophet is the “alone time” they must be able to submit even that time to others who will help to balance them.

4.  It is not an “us and them” situation.

This issue of being alone can create more problems for the prophet than they ever thought if they are not careful. Many prophets, as they are growing up, find themselves angry all of the time at people. They do not think they are, but their actions are perceived as being disapproving of everything everyone else is doing. However, they rarely see themselves in that picture. I remember twenty years ago being offended when a friend of mine told me that I was self-righteous. I can now see in myself what they were seeing.

When God gives a prophet a word for the body of Christ the prophet must remember that they are also a member of the body of Christ and that word applies to them as well.

Many prophets are angry at the church because it does not function according to the way the prophet understands the word of God. The Apostle Paul gave some very strong instructions to the various churches and regions where he had stewardship. Yet he did not exempt himself from following those same instructions.

John said it best in 1 John 2:6 – If anyone claims to live in Christ they must walk also as He walked. Paul says more than once to follow him as He followed Christ.

Until “them” becomes “us” and “you” becomes “we” the prophet will continue to walk self-righteously. They will continue to have the attitude that everyone is in bad shape but them. As a result the prophetic word will be delivered void of love or compassion for the people involved. This was Jonah’s problem. As far as he was concerned the people of Nineveh deserved to be destroyed. If our goal as a prophet is only to speak forth the word of God and let the chips fall where they may then we have completely missed the heart of God. Our bringing forth the word of God should be motivated by a desire to see the body of Christ move into His plans and purposes–and be willing to be a part of the solution by teaching and training the people how to move into the word we must deliver to them. This is why we must walk through much of what we prophesy.

I am of the opinion after so many years that the safest place for a prophet to be is under the tutelage of seasoned prophets and/or apostles. The worse relationships are when disgruntled prophets who are unhappy with the church and authority band together. This usually comes about when a pastor or someone in authority in the life of a prophet either does not see what the prophet is seeing at that time; or the pastor does not move fast enough for the prophet. Elisha is a type of how the prophetic lifestyle should be. His two shining moments were:

1.  Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him. (1 King 19:21b) He left his position as CEO of his business to become a servant to Elijah. There is no indication that Elisha saw this as a stepping stone to a better position.

2.  And Elisha said, “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” (2 Kings 2:9b) Elisha did not ask for more power or anointing as has been taught by many. The double portion (inheritance) belonged to the eldest son. Elisha was asking, after all that time as a servant, for the position of a son.

He merely deepened his commitment by moving from slave to son. Is this not what Jesus talked about in John 15:15?

No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

The moment a prophet starts kicking and screaming to become independent and to get out from under authority is when they begin to make small messes. These smaller messes eventually turn into larger messes. It is symptomatic of rebellion coming to surface that has not yet been brought under the word of God. That rebellion usually exists because of past pain. Our independence and control is usually the last thing to go. Each time we say we are fully surrendered to God, these areas are challenged and we are given opportunity to give Him control where we still rule, including these areas of hurt and pain.

I have run into some prophets who want to cite examples in the bible where there were prophets (or other ministers) who did not have spiritual authority in their lives or who did not have to answer to anyone but God.

When judging difficult questions in the bible Jesus is always my benchmark. In Luke 2:49 we discover that Jesus at the age of twelve has gone off on His own, becoming separated from His earthly parents. In His thinking because He knew where He was He was not lost (Luke 2:49… Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”). However, to His parents, since He was not where He was supposed to be–He was considered lost. When they did find Him, the scripture says that He went with His parents and continued in subjection to them. Had He not obeyed the natural authority placed in His life, he would not have been entrusted with the “true riches” as mentioned in Luke 16.

Now, Jesus made quite a discovery at the age of twelve. He knew He had a destiny that was beyond His earthly father. By submitting to His parents He had to wait eighteen years before going off on His own to fulfill that destiny. But wait! Those eighteen years of submission taught Him how to hear from His Heavenly Father. Once He was an adult, able to make His own decisions, His first recorded miracle came about by obeying His mother even when He knew “His hour had not yet come (John 2:4).”

And if you have not been faithful in [the use of] that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? (Luke 16:12)

Then Jesus, as an adult, continued to set the example by only doing what He saw His Father do and only saying what He heard His Father say (John 5:19; 8:28; 12:49; 14:10). He learned this by His submission to His earthly authority. By remaining subjected to His earthly parents, He learned the earthly family trade. He also had opportunity to observe His parents in their relationship to God and their adherence to God’s law, which has never changed.

Bottom line, Jesus was as much a part of obeying the law that He eventually began to teach.

This area of Prophetic Integrity is so important that we will continue it further in the next lesson. We must know how to judge a prophecy as well as the ability to judge the prophet. We must also learn how to judge the atmosphere, discern the time and understand the condition of the sheep…and so much more.

© J M Bush November 27, 2009