Unfortunately, for years, prophets and prophetic believers have been mistreated by the Church. That mistreatment has created a network of isolated prophets and prophetic communities. And it has resulted in a lack of accountability among prophets and prophetic believers for those prophecies being given. Further, that lack of real accountability has resulted in the manipulation and abuse of prophecy among prophets and prophetic communities, including the selling of prophecies (something that should be anathema to the Church), select access (an elitist mentality), and self promotion (using prophecy as a means to receive affirmation from others). All of those things are currently happening. And we should ask the question, Why?
Being a prophet for many years, and growing up as a prophet when prophetic communities were only just beginning has enabled me to see the abuses over time that have taken place. And prophets have been blamed for many of the Church’s issues (it’s always easier to point the finger than fix the problem). That has resulted in calls for accountability by current well known and respected leaders of emerging prophets (which I agree with) who lack influence among those they seek to hold accountable. And as could be expected, their calls have gone unheeded for obvious reasons (none of which are spiritual, but relational). The prophetic movement has remained on the outside of the Church looking in, and not as it should be, prophets inside the Church looking out for the Church (doesn’t that sound better?).
Yes, God set prophets in the Church. In fact, among leaders, prophets are identified immediately after apostles as being set in the Church. In 1 Corinthians 12:28, ESV, we are taught, “God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.” Yes, there is a proper order and authority in the Church. And it’s not based on what is being done in the Church today. Rather, the order we have in churches today is really disorder (from a Biblical perspective). How then, can we switch towards a more Biblical worldview of God’s established order from our current unBiblical order?
Yes, there’s disorder in the Church. It’s evident by lack of fruitfulness. The Church, by and large, has been fruitless. Yes, there are spots of fruitfulness here and there (wholly predicated on God’s mercy). But as a whole, the Church hasn’t been bearing fruit. Rather, the Church has had exposure after exposure of ungodly, unBiblical, UnChristian conduct (which should be exposed, Didn’t the Apostle Paul say, “Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them”? Ephesians 5:11, Christian Standard Version). Further, it’s evident that a shift is needed towards a Biblical worldview. The question: What does that Biblical worldview look like?
As a prophet for nearly forty years, I’d like to offer some insights on that Biblical worldview. First, my Biblical worldview includes prophets; it doesn’t exclude them (prophets are needed). Second, in my Biblical worldview, although prophets are identified as second in the appointed order of the Church, they shouldn’t be treated as second class citizens of the Church. Third, the exclusion of prophets from the appointed order of the Church because they say things that need to be said, but aren’t being said, should never happen (We need someone to say things no one else will; it’s the only way we grow). Lastly, and I think most importantly, prophets, true prophets, should be cared for by the Church.
Being a prophet, I’ve seen the good side of prophecy: its benefits and blessing. At the same time, I’ve seen the bad side and ugly side of prophecy: its misuse and/or abuse. Yes, prophecy can be abused, as our recent history has taught us. Ungodly men or women can use prophecy to manipulate, control, or dominate believers (the real Jezebel spirit), especially naive and trusting believers, into compromising Biblical values, including sexual manipulation and abuse. Prophets, real prophets, don’t sleep around. Often, they stay awake in prayer. There’s a difference. We should know the difference. If someone is willing to use prophecy to manipulate others, they will do that in any area to get what they want: perceived power, money, fame, fortune, sex, position — anything.
That’s the bad and ugly side of prophecy. What about the good and godly side of prophecy. I’ve met many prophets who were good and true prophets, often unknown. They’ve selflessly prophesied over many individuals accurate, life-changing, prophetic words. Then, and I’ve seen this over the years, they’ve been casually tossed aside. Oftentimes, facing dire needs without any nest egg built up for their future. Now, don’t get me wrong, I believe God is a provider, and He does provide for His prophets. At the same time, as it has been said, God doesn’t bless a mess. And what we have is a mess. My question: How can God bless our mess, especially when we don’t take care of our own, including God’s prophets?
Now some of you may be thinking, Is he going to receive an offering. No, I am merely pointing out a problem (for free I might add) as to the issues we currently have in the prophetic movement. In this case, the old adage, you get what you pay for, is absolutely true. People are willing to pay hundreds, even thousands of dollars to psychologists or psychiatrists, to bring relief to what they’re facing. Prophets bring a word that sets them completely free, and they give five, ten, twenty, or a hundred dollars. Then, they move on. And the prophet is forgotten. Similar things happen in many different areas: finances, relationships, marriages, family blessings, healings, calling, destiny, and so on.
Why am I raising this issue? Because I believe that, while this issue in how prophets are treated by the Church continues, prophetic ministry within the Church will continue to suffer degradation, humiliation, rebellion, exposure, and worse. Why? Because prophets, like every other ministry gift, including pastors, have bills to pay, mouths to feed, and natural responsibilities to take care of.
By God’s grace, I have learned to receive supernatural provision, walk through extreme hardships, and bless others expecting nothing in return. As the Apostle Paul said, “If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust.” 1 Corinthians 9:17, NLT. Being faithful isn’t a choice; it’s a requirement. I must. Therefore, I do. Obedience is required.
Yet my obedience to God’s call as a prophet, which has required great sacrifice on my part, doesn’t take away from the very human aspect of the needs that I daily face. Yes, prophets have needs. I have seen those unknown, unheeded, and uncared for needs among prophets for my nearly 40 years as a prophet. And I’ve had to learn how to pay my own way to do what God has called me to do (thankfully, over the years, I’ve had a small cadre of faithful supporters who were touched by my life over time who have cared enough to support me as a prophet. Few, I might add). Nevertheless, I have expended those meager resources to fulfill my calling and mandate. Why? That’s what prophets do. As I said, I must. I have no choice in this regard.
Few understand the price I’ve paid when I minister to them accurate, lifegiving, lifechanging, powerful words of prophecy (which I do by the grace given to me for the edification of Christ’s body, not to line my own pocket). In fact, oftentimes, I’ve been called to give prophetic words to people who didn’t want to receive prophetic ministry, didn’t know they needed prophetic to see their lives changed, or were unaware of the benefit prophetic ministry could bring to their lives. Further, ever after receiving life-changing prophetic ministry, some have been unable or unwilling to acknowledge the benefit they received for free. As I said, I do because I must.
Nevertheless, although I have lived as I have lived and served as I have served (often in secret) for nearly forty years as a prophet, that doesn’t mean it’s as it should be. That it has been that way and needed to be that way for me to survive is a shame on the leadership of the body of Christ (of which, I am a part). Therefore, in this season of exposure, where secret sins are being confronted by numerous parts of Christ’s body in reference to the prophetic movement (of which I am a part), let’s not forget the exposure of the sin of the mistreatment of prophets and prophetic people in the Church. And while wagging our finger at all the wrongs done in the name of prophetic ministry, let’s not forget that which was right. Neither should we lose sight of the blessing prophets bring or fault them for the very real needs they have and how they have oftentimes carried their ministry load like an ox hauling an oxcart for less than minimum wage (because we’ve had an oxcart mentality when it comes to ushering in prophetic ministry into our midst).
At this stage of my life and ministry, I have nothing to prove. Nor do I need to prove to anyone who I am or what I’ve been given by God’s grace. Those days are over. Now, I give my advice (to leaders who will hear it): If we continue doing what we’ve been doing for more than forty years, and treating prophets and prophecy as we have been treating them and it for forty years, we will continue to get what we’ve gotten for more than forty years (that is, unless, and until, the King David’s in our midst have their Uzzah moments). Therefore, I suggest change. I suggest humility. I suggest the easy and less painful way of humbling ourselves in God’s sight. As the prophet Jeremiah teaches us in Jeremiah 13, the price of our pride is painful: it can reduce us to our skivvies (underwear).
Isn’t it time for change?! Shouldn’t we take care of God’s prophets? Selah.
Let us pray!
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