Obviously, the answer is we are called to represent someone much greater than ourselves — the Lord Jesus Christ. Isn’t it time that we start acting like it? That’s what I’d like to talk about in this post. Why do I say the prophetic movement is gullible? Because we often accept statements by others that directly contradict doctrinal truth regarding prophets and prophetic ministry today. Are prophets still part of the Church? Yes! And I would argue that’s an established doctrine within the Church. Is prophecy still being given by God? Unequivocally, yes! There is no New Testament scriptures that states prophecies have ceased. None. Despite what Cessationism has falsely taught within the Church, prophecies haven’t ceased yet. That which is perfect, Jesus, identified in 1 Corinthians 13:8, has not yet come again. Jesus said, the least believer in the Church has a greater ability to prophesy than John the Baptist: “he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matthew 11:11, KJV. That is confirmed by Revelation 19:10, KJV, “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
Let me illustrate the prophetic movement’s gullibility. Recently, a number of individuals have sought to correct the prophetic movement. As I watched their videos, I’ve seen individuals who lack understanding of prophets or prophecy seeking to hold prophets accountable for their prophecies. Their impetus for holding prophets accountable was in 1Timothy 5:20, NIV, “those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.” How can someone with little to no experience in prophecy who has false theology regarding prophets and prophecy seek to hold prophets accountable? Does that make any sense? Contrary to their opinion, much of what they base their correction on is the shifting sand of personal opinion rather than the solid rock of scripture.
In context, for 1 Timothy 5:20, Timothy was an apostle anointed and personally ordained by the Apostle Paul. He was not just another believer. He was a leader within the New Testament Church (not a self appointed one). That’s who this letter was written to — an anointed, ordained apostle. And the Apostle Timothy knew his commission as an apostle: To oversee, keep, and guard the flock of God. Yet, the Apostle Timothy was not perfect. In fact, he struggled with fear. And he wasn’t ready for what was coming — the horrendous persecution under Domitian. It was terrible. He made Nero look like a paper tiger. Irrespective, as an apostle and well known leader within the Church, the Apostle Timothy had the obligation to confront leaders in sin. Due to his revealed issue of fear, it’s likely he didn’t want to confront and correct those individuals. Nevertheless, the Apostle Paul said, Timothy, you must confront and correct them.
Unlike the Apostle Timothy, those individuals seeking to bring correction today do not have an issue with fear. In fact, oftentimes, they lack the fear of the Lord. Nor have many of them been ordained by anyone other than themselves. Yikes!!! Now, that should scare us. Nor is it evident that they have the best interest of the Church or believers in mind by their correction. I’m not convinced by what I’ve seen that it’s not clicks they’re seeking. In other words, they’re not only divisive, they appear also to be dangerous, especially when seeking to correct something they have little to no knowledge of — which they admit — prophets and prophecy. As such, their videos should be held with a healthy skepticism and not blindly accepted by those within the prophetic movement.
Yet, I’ve seen what they’re saying being blindly accepted by many within the prophetic community. Gullibly! Utterly shocking to me! Even a recognized prophet, who unlike other prophets, admitted he missed it in 2020 regarding the reelection of President Trump for that election, willingly stepped down from ministry for a season, and went through the process of restoration and healing before he returned to ministry, has been viscously attacked. The Apostle Paul described those who attack this way: “false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock.” Acts 20:29, NLT. Let me say this: there’s a right and wrong way, a scriptural and an unscriptural way, a healthy and unhealthy way to bring correction. The obvious question: Which one should we choose?
Some may say, well, they wouldn’t receive correction and that’s why we needed to bring correction as we did. Others may say, their board isn’t doing a good job correcting them. In the case of criminal acts, the civil authorities should be involved. In the case of moral failures (by moral failures, I mean serious sexual sin or predatory behaviors), exposure is warranted. In the case of doctrinal disputes, open debate not personal attacks is an acceptable way to confront erroneous beliefs. In the case of congregational dissatisfaction, disaffiliation is available. In the case of spiritual abuse, if there has been spiritual abuse, seek healing from a pastoral leader. Then, let that pastor bring correction to the alleged spiritual abuser. These are all acceptable biblical ways to bring correction.
That verse is a biblical injunction against harming God’s men and women. We should give heed to it. The future king, David, who had a heart after God, honored a wicked and rebellious king Saul. Why? Listen to his thoughts on the matter: “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.” 1 Samuel 24:6, Berean Standard Bible. King David honored a man who hunted him for years, tried to kill him, and was likely possessed by some type of demonic spirit. Why? He had been anointed as king by the prophet Samuel. King Saul was the Lord’s anointed. And he was a wicked and evil man.
What concerns me isn’t those individuals using YouTube videos to correct the prophetic movement, even though I believe correction is needed within the prophetic movement. Further, I am concerned for those individuals who are building platforms that way. Why? I know how this kind of systemic error ends. What I am concerned about is how many within the prophetic community have blindly accepted their false and erroneous perspective on prophets and prophecy. What about sound doctrine, theology, and instruction in righteousness. Each of those things must be applied to any teaching, preaching, instruction, or correction.
Our theology matters. Jesus said, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31, 32, KJV. Truth, when it’s espoused, liberates; it doesn’t dominate. Neither does it subjugate. Further, truth establishes and stabilizes us in a posture of humility not pride. We consider our own sins and shortcomings before seeking to correct others. We don’t point the finger at others for their sins without repenting for our sins. By the way, God hates it when we point fingers at others. Isaiah 58:9, KJV. When we point the finger, it’s as if we are giving God the finger. Let me be clear: God hates oppression that comes by finger pointing.
“Lord, have mercy! That should be our cry. We need it! Only God can give it. The question: Will He show mercy. on an unrepentant, unforgiving Church?” — Scott Wallis
Much of the “correction” coming forth today uses finger pointing, slander, accusation, and humiliation. That’s contrary to sound doctrine. Sound doctrine establishes us in righteousness. It points out our sin. Yes, sin must be dealt with. But it does so with a healthy dose of humility “considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” Galatians 6:1, NKJV. And therein lay the truth, how we handle the correction of others is a temptation of ourselves. It’s easy to fall into Pharisaism. By Pharisaism, I mean, “You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself?” Romans 2:21, NKJV. As the Apostle James said, “Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” James 2:10, Berean Standard Bible.
Let that sink in. Those who correct, beware. If you break one law, jot, tittle, or word, you yourself may come under divine judgment for hypocrisy. Yes, our sin “is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” Hebrews 4:13, NLT. God sees our sin. We know our sin. Our sin is written on our conscience. God allows our sin to be written on our conscience so we might repent. Ahhh! That glorious word. Repent! Turn! Change your mind and heart! That’s what the prophetic ministry does. It seizes us with holy conviction and turns us to a holy God. It brings us to our knees in humble submission to Christ. That’s what real prophets and prophecy do. And that’s what we need.
Every word will be judged. The secrets of men and women’s hearts will be exposed. Hidden motives will be revealed. The day of judgment has begun and will come. Repent! Search your own heart. Say and pray, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Psalms 139:23, 24, KJV. It may be that God will have mercy on us for our unrepentant pride and arrogance in mishandling the word of truth. Yes, that’s right! We, as the Church, have mishandled the word of truth. How? We’ve used God’s Word to subjugate men and women rather than discerning truth to liberate them, as we should be doing.
Lord, have mercy! That should be our cry. We need it! Only God can give it. The question: Will He show mercy on an unrepentant, unforgiving Church? Is that really how far the Church has fallen? Yes, that’s us. And we should be concerned — for ourselves, those who listen to us, those who have been offended by us, and those men and women of God we have hurt by our words. God is not obliged to the unrepentant and unforgiving to show mercy. And my dear fellow believer, that should concern us. As the Lord Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28, NIV. In Luke’s Gospel, He says, “But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.” Luke 12:5, NLT.
Here, I offer my thoughts: 1) Check what someone believes before accepting what they say, 2) when someone misuses a forum to correct something on which they have little to no knowledge, hold what is being said with a healthy skepticism, 3) remember God has His way of correcting those in error, and 4) when doctrinal disagreements arise, healthy debate should be used to persuade others on what we believe rather than personal attack and slander.
As such, I urge a healthy skepticism to be used by those within the prophetic community. We should do what the Apostle Paul wrote, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” 2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV. We mustn’t remain gullible. As God said through prophet Burton Seavey to me, “God’s going to toughen you up!” I needed it! And that’s what happened through the trials of life that I’ve faced.
When I first met Burton Seavey, he was a rough, gruff man of God, but he was a prophet who had a heart of gold, a father in the faith who had walked with other great men and women of God like Lester Sumrall, David Yonggi Cho, Tommy Reid, and many others. I learned a great deal from him. And one thing he wasn’t is gullible. Neither was Tom Slone, another wonderful prophet I met. Both were street smart prophets. Their messages singed those who heard them; they carried the fire of the Holy Spirit. And that’s what we need today — street smart prophets who carry the fire of God to a gullible Church and prophetic movement, largely untested by the trials of life.
Ahhh! But the fire is coming…!
Let us Pray!
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