LOVE - IS THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF THE "PROPHETIC"
From time to time a word, a song, a hymn, a picture will trigger a resonance inside and bring me to bow down inwardly to catch a divine drift, to pause and whisper a prayer. That is why I believe in the prophetic nature of artistic expression, it speaks to the heart mostly without words. Yet we sense that "we get it."
But I don't believe that God consistently - DAILY - talks to someone else about my life and relationships, with new directions, Bible verse slogans, teasing me with promises of prosperity or political victories "if only." Nor do I believe it is healthy to be constantly measuring my spiritual journey against so-called prophetic words published by so-called prophetic ministries.
But I have witnessed the birth of a "prophetic industry" producing so-called ministries (what they mean by "ministry" often relates to being a non-profit teaching outfit and fundraising business) that foster to the expectation of "hearing from God," personal oracles supposed to help on the journey.
What ends up happening over time, is that these act as a substitution to the voice of the Spirit in us, in favor of a "quick fix" voice of the very spirit that is driving these people. Which voice are we then following? They use trigger words and trendy topic to attract those interested in "going deeper with God." I believe it is a monumental mistake to enable these merchants of wind. I have seen people be so addicted to these that they consult their favorite "oracles" multiple times daily, as well as the oracles of other ministries they consider reliable.
The risk is real in raising "what's in it for me" people, but also causing stunted development in the school of love. But I think many of us who pass through these facsimile experiences have had their spiritual hearing challenged, and it has helped us focus on the authentic, shortcuts to maturity be damned. The best shortcut to spiritual maturity is to seek none.
Paul notes: "Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts" (1 Cor 14:1). Gifts are to be desired, but love is to be pursued. Sadly, when we rely on these purveyors of prophetic words, the quick-fix encouragements can be fleeting, and once we are alone again, facing real life situations and relationships, we may wish we had a deeper well within ourselves.
Many have often neglected to pay close attention to the very foundation of love, through which all spiritual gifts operate. and honor toward those they live with DAILY, abandoning relationships, work, church, even marriages and family, and always there is a parting of money, sometimes large sums are given, hmmm sorry: "sowed as seed" into these ministers of vapor. It is vanity and grasping of the wind.
The other toxic outcome for this is the message of usefulness to God which often is the sales pitch for conferences, courses, CDs, retreats or merchandise. Don't we all want to be "used" by God? Then how are we going to resist measuring others in terms of their usefulness to our destiny "to the nations?" It's a nasty trap...
Let's be aware of the temptation when it comes, to actually relate to the Holy Spirit as a familiar spirit that could be "summoned" from heaven by "anointed" priests, including ourselves. And that goes for words of encouragement as if they were spiritual horoscopes that mostly serve to gaslight us.
In Christ, we ourselves are a nation of priests (1 Peter 2:9). The Spirit lives in us, and there is no special abracadabra rituals that could enhance our ability to hear from God.
Are we mostly relying on others to chew our meat for us, or are we willing to take risks to explore life, mindful of God's grace, and mindful of others as recipients and canvases for Love to be revealed and manifested?
So, if we are *addicted to "prophetic words" about our own selves or our "destiny" (whatever we think this may actually mean, what they sell may not end up looking like what God had in mind, although He always will redeem), if we are constantly trying to find "signs" every minute of every day to be convinced that God loves us and cares for us, then maybe we ought to be careful in whom we put our trust: there are hustlers and carpet baggers among us.
I have known that addiction myself, it revealed my need to develop my own history of walking by the Spirit, and practice discernment through trial and error, like we should (Hebrews 5:14). It wasn't all that glorious a journey. But I learned to not be motivated by fear and insecurity as to my identity and value in the eyes of God. It revealed that in my insecurity I had become jealous, envious, lusting after prestige and position, a common detour in our walk for those familiar with the fear of being invisible, of having no real value. Which is all a blatant lie anyway.
Greatness is not about a "great" earthly destiny. It often is about little things, "a long obedience in the same direction," as Eugene Peterson puts it in one of his books. Pressing through to love those who may not even recognize it or be grateful for it. Losing our life, if you will, by tempering our aspirations with godly patience and long-suffering.
It is right and healthy to find value in words of encouragement, edification and comfort. What I'm addressing here are the excesses that come from being mislead by those who claim to prophesy or decree the future, especially when it comes to political, earthly powers.
If we mostly depend on *the man or woman of God,* to validate our usefulness for God, or to orient our life decisions in terms of marriage, workplace, vocation, family, politics, then two things could be happening as a result...
The first is that we live at a distance from God's love for us, because in reality His love doesn't depend on our usefulness to Him. So this didn't yet sink in, or we need a reminder.
The second thing is that we could be atrophying our own process of maturity regarding hearing God for ourselves, through trial and error, like everybody else. And as a result, we could end up paying the price of a stunted spiritual growth, becoming codependent from *the man or woman of God,* and wake up too late with bitterness and resentment when we realize we were lead astray by our own un-regenerated ambitions. Lives have been severely damaged by this, in all sorts of ways.
We are called, invited to, designed for spiritual maturity, bearing fruits that manifest encouragement, edification and exhortation for those around us, or wherever we may be called to serve at a particular moment of the day or season.
Inner transformation mostly occurs in the midst of simply living life, making better choices and becoming faithful forgiving friends, being real with real people in the here and now.
Oracles from God (prophetic words) should be consistent with His character and what we have come to know of Him through our own observations and experiences along the journey. Especially the prophesying part: “But everyone who prophesies speaks unto men to edification, and exhortation and comfort” (1 Corinthians 14:3).
In my experience, very few are yoked with the heavier gift of foretelling the future. We certainly can all draw conclusions on what we see, and feel things inside about the direction of things if conditions don't change, etc. I would not call that prophetic ministry, but insight, nor would I call "prophetic" the constant flow of "revelations," that hidden knowledge purported to pertain to theories of connecting dots with regards to politics.
It may or may not be, but the sure test of foretelling prophecy is - does the "prophet" have a history of being right? Have his words fallen to the ground more times than not, and is there humility or vanity in that person when confronted with reality?
God cares for us beyond and despite our political affiliations. Or usefulness.
Learning to love - as we are loved - that is the language of heaven. And no greater destiny exists than giving our lives to manifesting that love... even more so when done away from the spotlights of adulation.
May our validation be free from attachments to chronic performance, and come from Father God, with Whom we develop a history, like children do with their parents in a healthy home. God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, not the "CEO" or Hollywoodian god. We have His Spirit in us, the hope of glory, not a spiritual QAnon always throwing us "clues" to build an expectation of looming disasters.
We can be so easily distracted from the main thing, causing us to believe in a secret agenda only revealed to a select few via an accepted group of so-called prophets. Maybe we ought to ask ourselves and/or some leaders some questions, or maybe turn a few tables...
Where all anointings come together, through love, there we find the Body of Christ, human and divine, gifted, and a corporate expression of God's beloved Son. But the contrived prophetic is not an expression of divine love, neither are performance and competition for prominence among the self-appointed. Clinging cymbals, Paul calls them.
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