Posts Tagged ‘prophecy’
In recent weeks Glory to the King Ministries and I personally have been attacked by a word that was given as a “prophecy”, but was definitely not of God. This kind of false word is one of the devil’s favorite tactics against God’s people. He well knows that a word given as “thus saith the Lord”, or that purports to speak with God’s voice, has far greater power to penetrate the Christian’s heart than words that don’t pretend to be anything other than the opinions of man. Unfortunately, the more soft we are toward God, the greater the possibility of being attacked in this way. Sadly, the devil also knows that many Christians would not have a clue how to distinguish a “word of the Lord” from one straight from the pits of hell.
Now, I don’t want anyone to think I am saying that you will never receive a word of rebuke or correction from the Lord. I have personally received such words, and I have been His instrument to deliver such words (mercifully, not very often.) However, if a rebuke is from the Lord YOU WILL KNOW! Even if you don’t want to hear it, something in your spirit will tell you, “this is true!” It will be totally consistent with both God’s Word and His character. I’ve just put a post about some ways to test prophetic words at my Rev. Lynn’s Blog: http://www.revlynnsblog.com/christian-life/2010/06/01/testing-prophecy/ so I won’t repeat that here – just follow the link to check it out.
What I want to address in this post is how to protect yourself when you receive words that purport to come from God, but are really an attack of the enemy.
We are all familiar, at least to some degree, with the armor of God listed in Ephesians 6. (If you are not sure what it’s all about, sign up for my free e-course.) When this recent attack happened, the Holy Spirit took me back to school and gave me a lesson in how to apply the armor very specifically in this situation. I hope that I can share that insight here in a way that will help you if you find yourself in a similar situation.
The first part of the armor is the Belt of Truth. In the case of the prophecy that was made against us, some accusations were made about me personally that were simply not true (one of the reasons that I knew this was not from God, because He is a God of truth and knows my heart.) If you are given a false prophecy, it may contain untrue accusations like this. On the other hand, it may contain untrue flattery – building you up by crediting you for things you know you haven’t done. So the first thing you need is to be absolutely honest with yourself. What is the truth about the things that have been spoken? Take hold of that truth and wrap it tightly around yourself. Remember, man may only see the externals, but God knows what is really going on in your heart. Every time the devil tries to attack you with these falsehoods, simply tell him and yourself – aloud if necessary – “That’s not true!”
Next is the breastplate of righteousness. The devil will try to break down your righteousness by causing anger, bitterness or resentment toward the person who brought the word. Be sure to keep your heart pure by relying on the Holy Spirit. Make sure your responses are gracious, be sure to pray blessing on the person, and be quick to cut off any thoughts of revenge or retribution.
The word you have received will be designed to bring confusion, turmoil and hurt. Be sure that your feet are shod with the Gospel of peace: that is, walk in the peace that is yours as a blood-bought child of the living God. Take hold of Romans 8:28Romans 8:28
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28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
WP-Bible plugin, that God works all things together for good to those who love Him, and allow the peace of that knowledge to saturate your soul.
Take up the shield of faith, remembering that faith is not mere intellectual assent, but a relationship of total trust in God. Your faith should never be in what He does, but in Who He is. Trust absolutely that, because of Who He is, He will complete that which He has begun in your life, and nothing – including the word you have received – will prevent Him from doing so.
The helmet of salvation is given to protect your head. Remember, the key component of salvation is GRACE. The word you have received will quite possibly have a strong element of judgment, even to the extent of condemnation. The Word of God tells us that mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13James 2:13
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13 For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
WP-Bible plugin), and grace is greater than mercy. (Mercy is “not receiving the penalty we deserve”, grace is “receiving the blessings we do not deserve.”) The Word also tells us that “there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1Romans 8:1
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8
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
WP-Bible plugin) God may correct or discipline us, but He does not bring judgment or condemnation against His redeemed people. Remind yourself that you stand by grace. If there is an area where you genuinely need to repent, do so – and know that once you have sincerely repented, you are forgiven! Don’t let the devil, or the person who gave the prophecy, tell you otherwise.
Take up the Sword of Faith, the Word of God. A good Scripture to use against this kind of attack is Isaiah 54:17Isaiah 54:17
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17 No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Yahweh, and their righteousness which is of me, says Yahweh.
WP-Bible plugin – “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.” Remember also that the “Word of God” does not just refer to Scripture, but to the true prophetic words that you may have received. If you have had true prophecies that relate to the word being brought against you, bring them out and begin to declare them over the situation.
Receiving a false prophecy can be a very shaking experience, particularly if it comes through someone you know, respect and trust. But by making sure the Armor is properly in place, you can withstand the attack and come through victorious.
This blog is © copyright Lynn Fowler.
There is one God, and one mediator between God and people, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:51 Timothy 2:5
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5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
WP-Bible plugin)in Whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9Colossians 2:9
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9 For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily,
WP-Bible plugin)and Whom God the Father has exalted to the highest place, giving Him the Name which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11Philippians 2:9-11
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9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name;
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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There has been some discussion recently on one of the forums I frequent about prophecy, and particularly about people who claim “God told me” when it seems obvious to others that they may be hearing from a different source. Because it is important for us to be able to recognize the source of the messages that come to us, I thought I should post this article I wrote some time ago about testing prophecy.
These guidelines apply to prophetic words, words of knowledge or words of wisdom that we believe receive personally from God, that are given to us as a personal word by somebody else, or that are spoken out in the congregation.
1. Does it line up with Scripture?
God is the author of both Scripture and a true prophetic word. (2 Tim 3:16., 22 Tim 3:16., 2
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16 Every writing inspired by God literally, God-breathed is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction which is in righteousness,
Štetje svetopisemskih vrstic se za?ne z 1! Vrstica 0 ne obstaja!
WP-Bible plugin Pet 1:20) He does not change, and will not say something different in prophecy to what He has already said in His Word. If someone tells you that God told them to do something that is forbidden in the Word, you can be sure it was not God.
2. Does it line up with the character of God?
Sometimes something can line up with the letter of the Word, but is contrary to the character of God – e.g. it is harsh, unloving or unjust. The letter kills, but the Spirit (who embodies God’s character) gives life. (2 Cor 3:62 Cor 3:6
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6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
WP-Bible plugin) If a “prophetic word” kills rather than bringing life, it is easy to see who is behind it.
3. Does it line up with my own spirit?
As New Covenant believers we have the Spirit of God living within us. It is His job to communicate the things of God to us. (Jn 14:26Jn 14:26
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26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.
WP-Bible plugin). Prophecy simply confirms, or occasionally prepares us for, God’s word to our own spirit. If it does not strike a chord with our spirit, we should throw it out. Interestingly, I have found that even when someone is in rebellion and refusing God’s purposes for his life, if the word is truly fom God, the recipient will recognize it even if rejecting it.
4. Is it true?
God is a God of truth. He does not lie, exaggerate, or fiddle with truth. If it is not true, it is not God.
5. Is it relevant?
Unlike the devil, God is not interested in tickling our curiousity. Nor is He interested in showing off His knowledge or anything else. He does not need to prove a thing to anyone. If a word is true but irrelevant, chances are it came from a psychic source not God.
6. If a time frame is given, does it come to pass in the time frame?
Deut 18:22Deut 18:22
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22 when a prophet speaks in the name of Yahweh, if the thing doesn’t follow, nor happen, that is the thing which Yahweh has not spoken: the prophet has spoken it presumptuously, you shall not be afraid of him.
WP-Bible plugin. God knows when He plans to do things. If a prophetic word says, “Today I will do such-and-such,” and by 1 minute past midnight tomorrow morning such-and-such has not happened, it was not God. If a time frame is implied (eg personal prophecies imply that what is spoken will happen in the person’s lifetime) it must happen within that implied time frame.
However, if no specific time frame (particularly in relation to what God is going to do in and through your life) don’t thing it’s going to happen tomorrow. Put it on the back burner and let God cook it properly!
7. Where is it leading me/us?
Deut 13:1-5Deut 13:1-5
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13
1 If there arise in the midst of you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give you a sign or a wonder,
2 and the sign or the wonder come to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, Let us go after other gods, which you have not known, and let us serve them;
3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams: for Yahweh your God proves you, to know whether you love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
4 You shall walk after Yahweh your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and you shall serve him, and cleave to him.
5 That prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he has spoken rebellion against Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to draw you aside out of the way which Yahweh your God commanded you to walk in. So shall you put away the evil from the midst of you.
WP-Bible plugin. A word might meet all the above criteria, yet still be from the pit of hell to lead us away from God. Acts 16:16-18Acts 16:16-18
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16 It happened, as we were going to prayer, that a certain girl having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by fortune telling.
17 Following Paul and us, she cried out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation!”
18 She was doing this for many days.
But Paul, becoming greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” It came out that very hour.
WP-Bible plugin. We need to ask, “If I take this into my spirit, will it bring me closer to God or take me away from Him?”
8. What is the spirit behind it?
When God is active, the devil is also active in imitation and deception. Like Paul in the above Scripture, we need the gift of discerning of spirits to recognise what spirit is active behind any spiritual activity.
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This blog is © copyright Lynn Fowler.
There is one God, and one mediator between God and people, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:51 Timothy 2:5
English: World English Bible - WEB
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
WP-Bible plugin)in Whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9Colossians 2:9
English: World English Bible - WEB
9 For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily,
WP-Bible plugin)and Whom God the Father has exalted to the highest place, giving Him the Name which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11Philippians 2:9-11
English: World English Bible - WEB
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name;
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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