In the last blog post, A Prophet's life (Part 1), I focused on the relationship aspect of the prophet's life. Prophet's are first and foremost friends of God. That also makes them enemies of the world. Prophet's decry worldliness in all forms in the church. That has been absent from the prophetic movement and it must be restored for the prophetic movement to be restored to the purposes of God. When prophets are truly friends of God, they will abstain from fleshly lusts.
The Apostle Peter was especially concerned about this spiritual attack on the body of Christ in the first-century church. In 1 Peter 2:11, Good News Translation, he says,
I appeal to you, my friends, as strangers and refugees in this world! Do not give in to bodily passions, which are always at war against the soul.
Had the Apostle Peter seen the level of fleshiness in the church today, and if he was here to confront it, it is likely that more Ananias and Sapphira moments would happen. Thankfully, the Apostle Peter did see what would happen today. What we lack is the Apostle Peter caliber of apostolic and prophetic leaders. That is why the prophetic movement is experiencing correction on the level it is. And that correction will increase until it touches the entire body of Christ.
Too many prophets today are playing with sin. In 2 Peter 2:1-22, the Apostle Peter confronts the heresy that has entered the prophetic movement today. The Apostle Peter speaks to false prophets entering the body of Christ who make merchandise of believers. We cannot merchandise the anointing of the Holy Spirit without facing the discipline of the Holy Spirit. Simon the Sorcerer learned that lesson from the Apostle Peter.
In Acts 8:9-24, Simon, a well-known wizard in Samaria who had bewitched everyone in Samaria, saw God's power at work in the apostles' lives, and said, "Let me have this power, too!" vs. 19, NLT. Simon saw having this power as a gold mine. It was his way of getting even richer. Unfortunately, too many prophets today have Simon's heart of greed. The Apostle Peter's response was epic: "You and your money will both end up in hell if you think you can buy God's gift!" vs. 20, CEV.
Simon gulped when heard what the Apostle Peter said, and he repented, saying, "Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me." Acts 8:24, New Heart English Version. Today, we lack that kind of apostolic or prophetic boldness to confront Simonesck errors. Where are the David Wilkerson's, A.W Tozer's, and other strong prophetic voices confronting the Simon's in the church? They are largely absent.
Once, I had the privilege of seeing Art Katz, a Jewish prophet, confronting an abusive apostle. That event left an impression on me. I saw a prophet administering public correction to an apostolic leader. Prior to that moment, I ministered a prophetic word to him. In that prophetic word, I said he would be confronting the errors in the messianic movement. Later, he went to Israel to speak with numerous leaders in the messianic movement. Although he invited me to attend, I was unable to come.
Sadly, we lack that kind of prophetic voice today. Prophets are meant to be strong men and women who bring correction to the errors they see. God designed them that way. Why? Because they must be able to confront error. If prophets are unable to confront the error, they will fail to fulfill one of their primary purposes. Prophets are needed to confront and correct errors, especially errors within the hearts of the leaders of the church.
Because so much of the prophetic movement has focused on personal prophecy, we have little to no strong voices of correction in the prophetic movement. We have too many prophets who have been trained to stop speaking corrective words. How can the prophetic office function without prophets administering correction within the body of Christ? I don't think things can remain this way for very long. No! God will raise up His own prophetic voices to confront what He desires to confront.
So, part of the prophet's life is rejection. Prophets are called to be friends of God. Prophets are also called to be enemies of the world and worldliness in the church. God won't allow His people to sing Kumbaya for very long. No. God will send strong prophetic voices to wake up His church and His people for the times that lay ahead. As someone called to be a prophet, you must be ready to face rejection. That is part of a prophet's life.
I have personally faced that kind of rejection. I was divinely positioned where few prophets were willing to tread - the American legal system. I learned about corruption from a front-row seat as one facing that corruption. Eventually, I was silenced; they could no longer stand the sound of my voice. Faithfully, for years, I reproved numerous persons, including judges, involved in the legal system. A few listened. But, I was faithful. So, I speak from experience.
The Apostle Paul faced that kind of threat. So did Jesus. So did John the Baptist. Each faced legal systems that were used by Satan to stifle the prophetic voice. All were martyred. Prophets should be prepared for threats from the legal system. Prophets should also be prepared to be sent to that system. Jesus said, "God in his wisdom said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.'" Lk. 11:49, NIV.
Are you ready? What if this happens to you? Sadly, few prophets have been taught this side of being prophets. Prophets love the mountaintop experience. Few show them the valleys. Yes, for prophets, there are many valleys you will go through. David did. He said,
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Ps. 23:4, NKJV.
Yes, being a prophet is an awesome experience when you are on the mountaintop. But it can seem like hell when you are in the valley. Prophets must be ready for both. That is part of a prophet's life. I share this with you so you can understand the persecution you face where you are. Some of that persecution may be because of you. As prophets, we want to minimize our idiosyncrasies being the reason for any persection we face. And that often takes a lifetime.
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