Objective Prophecy: an ancient method to verify modern day prophecy

What if I told you “God told me to write this piece?” Would your hearts sentiments be the first to demolish my “heretical claims”? Or would you be the first to ride on my band-wagon, keenly clinging on to my prophetic mantra (besides, who are you to outlandishly write-off my spiritual experience?). Or would your disposition be one of indifference? Whether we choose to ignore it or take a curious peek through the curtains of Christendom, we will perhaps soon realize the swift surge of the prophetic that has extended its waters through our churches, television screens and city billboards.

“God told me to tell you…” Stop for a moment. What did you just feel? Encouragement? Affirmation? Or was it distaste and anger? A couple of years ago I remember telling my uncle, with utmost buzz and excitement, of all the different preachers I had heaped up. I was like a kid in a candy store. Everything that was branded Jesus lit the fire in my eyes. The desire to grow closer and deeper catapulted me into a journey of wonder. He genuinely seemed happy for me. He genuinely seemed to share my hearts sentiments. He leaned in and signaled the warmth he felt with a smile: “I’m glad. Just remember to be careful.” I stood offended. How could he? Or rather, how could he not?

“God does not want you to be suspicious. He wants you to be discerning”

We often, perhaps, wrestle with the “position” one ought to take regarding the prophetic. Are we to fully dive in its gushing streams or are we to stand at its shores wondering “maybe” (and conversely, “maybe not”). As we peek into Christendom, we will perhaps see the multiplicity of camps and dispositions that have erected themselves over the course of church history. However, the crux of the subject matter is not the “tent” in which we choose to lodge in. No. The tug of war pulls at the fabric of our faith posing a more crucial, and perhaps more deeper question: whose voice are you hearing? Whose voice are you obeying?

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” – Jesus

Our battle stems from the garden. Because of sin, our hearts have been “naturally” primed to heed to all other voices but the Lords. Throughout the course of the age God has been drawing His children and turning their hearts and ears towards Himself. Many times, both then and now, He has had to fine-tune our ears to hear His voice. In our modern era, the enemy’s art of deception has not cowered away. Each waking moment he employs “new” methods of deception. Each waking moment he devices “new” methods of trickery. Each waking moment he trickles in “new” falsehood. Yet God offers ancient ways that remain timeless, to dampen “new” spiritual fads that seek to derail us. “It takes one to know one.” Though this is often said in a manner of spite, the notion of truth can equally be applied: it takes truth to know truth. The art of deception falls prey to truth when deployed through the prudent art of discernment. Our ears fall prey to trickery and to what sounds like Gods voice when our being is void of the voice of truth: the word of God. Jesus often drew the line in the sand by drawing their eyes beyond the blurred edges: “you shall know them by their fruit.” Yet, their ability (and ours) to discern fruit that comes from God grows stronger as our ability to hearken to Gods word becomes more devoted.

The crux of the matter is the timeless weaponry and filter that is the word of God. Whether it be a word of knowledge or a prophetic word that seems to fall right into season, the backbone by which all utterances are measured remains to be the word of God. As we seek more and more manifestations of the Holy Spirit, let us be reminded of this: not only has He endowed us with power; He has also endowed us with truth.

“…for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” – Acts 17:11b

At His Feet…