Sometimes we need to fail before we succeed, but if we refuse to acknowledge our mistakes, we are sure to repeat them. The recent events in the States have shown us that there is still a great deal we need to learn about the prophetic. Things did not turn out as so many declared they would. Despite this, the essence of what I aim to say in this article is that we should not despise prophesying, but we should press on to get better at it. Faith in God is the key to victory and prophetic words, when they are accurate, encourage our faith. “Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” (2Chron. 20:20). The prophet is one of the ministry gifts Christ gave to the Church. For us to move on to maturity, we need to grow in our ability to speak and to hear accurately. Those who speak must do so with the inspiration that God provides (1Pe. 4:11), and those who hear must do so with the inner witness of the Spirit (1Jn. 2:27). If we have delivered or believed incorrect prophetic words, we must bear our own responsibility. We can only change what we have control over, which is our own behaviour.
Speaking prophetically is a manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit. In the first letter to the Corinthians Paul advised believers not to be ignorant of spiritual gifts. These are manifestations of the Spirit for the common good (1Cor. 12:7). We need to learn to use these gifts properly in order to be blessed and to be a blessing to others. If we choose not to operate in the gifts, we are resisting the Spirit of God. If we accept some of the gifts, but reject others, we are guilty of quenching the Spirit. If we use the gifts improperly, we are grieving the Holy Spirt. In our path to maturity, we should “pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts” (1Cor. 14:1).
So, where could the Church have gone wrong? It could be that the prophecies were conditional. If that is the case, then these conditions should have been communicated. Let’s not be too quick at drawing this conclusion; there are other possibilities. It could also be that the interpretation of a dream or vision was wrong. Maybe what we can learn from this is that a dream or vision should not be shared until the interpretation is known. Let’s compare it to a message given in an unknown tongue. It is not a prophetic word unless the interpretation is also given. Rather than sharing these experiences, we should reserve them for our communication with God. As we pray in response to what we think the dream or vision means, we may obtain a clearer understanding. If we share it in order to obtain the interpretation, we must be careful to only share it with those who have the ability to interpret and judge it, as the Scriptures advise for a message in an unknown tongue (1Cor. 14:27-29). Without the interpretation, it should never be shared with the Church in general because with social media, it can take on a life of its own. Even with what we believe to be the interpretation, let us be careful to only speak what we “know”, not what we “think”. Like Paul said, “we know in part and we prophesy in part” (1Cor. 13:9). That does not mean that we should expect to be inaccurate. No, it means that we should describe accurately only the portion of the picture we see, not add to it what we think the rest of the picture looks like. God may show someone else another part of the picture, then together we will have confirmation and a greater understanding.
There is still another reason why we could have been wrong. What if the source was not from God? There are many reasons why this could be. Sometimes we want to hear something so strongly because the problem is so great. This opens us up to other voices, even our own imaginations. The best time to hear the Lord is when we are at peace, focussing on Him, not on the problem. And, sometimes our motives, even as ministers, can be wrong. If we are in any way influenced by financial needs or public opinion, we are susceptible to the voices of evil. The Lord is always willing to speak to His people, but His message is not always popular. If there is any possibility that this is what happened, we must humbly allow the Lord to search our hearts and bring correction. Even in New Testament days, some ministers went shipwreck in their faith because they forsook their consciences (1Tim. 2:19).
What is also very alarming is that multiple people got it wrong. This indicates that there is a problem with the Church in general. We need revival. We need to be restored to the power and character of the New Testament Church before we can move on to our end-time purpose. If we want the fruit of revival, we must pay the price of contrition (Ps. 51:17). Which one of the messages to the churches in Asia would the Lord say to us today (Rev. 1:4)? Are we those who have forgotten their first love (Rev. 2:4)? Or, are we those who tolerate doctrines of demons (Rev. 2:14,15; 2:20)? At the very least, we are asleep and need to wake up (Rev. 3:3)! We are rich with knowledge but poor with good works (Rev. 3:17). Is it any wonder that we do not see properly? Unless we truly repent and allow the Lord to anoint our eyes, we will not see clearly (Rev. 3:18).
Our walls are broken down; we are without protection against the approaching enemy. The word of the Lord through Ezekiel was: “You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.” (Ezek. 22:24). Will the Lord say of us what He said about Israel before the destruction of Jerusalem? “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” (Ezek. 22:30). I believe there is still a remnant, like in Sardis, who have not defiled their garments. We must be watchful and strengthen the things that remain (Rev. 3:2-4). We must press in to overcome by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of our testimony (which is the spirit of prophecy), and with a crucified life (Rev. 12:11; 19:10).
Highway in the Wilderness 