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When considering the importance of man's confession we must be careful to not ascribe Godlike power to man's words. I have great difficulty with the concept of "speaking things into existence." What power, if any, is in our words to affect things outside ourselves? Words spoken, or communication, can indeed affect the minds of men, but this afect is based upon their understanding, not the resident power in our words. If our words do have any power in this realm, who gave us this authority? God? The scriptures? It is a stretch to find a scriptural basis for the way we Charismatics practice speaking to this or to that. God may in fact wish to use our words to bring about some act, for instance, "speak to the bones", but this is in His choosing, NOT ours. We even speak to the devil as though we personally were the Master of the Universe. Even Michael considered the propriety of speaking to authorities in the following scripture;
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The way in which we truly can "affect the atmosphere"
either by our words or our presence must only be ascribed
to the Holy Spirit in us. If this ability is credited
to human power then we have indeed embarked upon a journey
of humanistic, Gnostic doctrine. Not much differentiates
this type of thinking from "Christian Science"
doctrine. If we understand that it is only the power of
the Holy Spirit, God's words, that can bring change then
this consideration is necessary; What authority do we
have in "using" the Holy Spirit within us? In
other words do we make the decisions as to where we go,
what we speak, what we "prophesy," what atmosphere
we change? I understand the spirit of the prophets is
subject to the prophet, but this does not mean we have
the authority to create or initiate these words.
Jesus plainly taught that He ONLY did what He saw the
Father doing. In fact He only SAID what His Father SAID.
No less, NO MORE! It is our course to do likewise.
Is this to say we can't do the simplest of human tasks
without being first told by the Holy Spirit to do them?
No. The scripture instructs us to do the good that's
in our heart. We all have a general command to love, to
walk in peace, pray, worship, witness etc.
God does speak and we are allowed to repeat some of his
words. Our responsibility, however, increases when
we begin to speak in God's stead, i.e. prophesying,
either to an individual or corporately (into the atmosphere).
The power to do this type of speaking rests solely upon
the will of God. If I speak because I am repeating what
I believe I have heard God say, assuming He wants it repeated,
then I am indeed prophesying. If I speak out of my spiritual
good intentions, or my belief that the power to produce
these actions, either individually or corporately, comes
from me, then I am attempting to cross the line into Deity.
(Jere 23, EZE 13) One may look at Jesus' comments
concerning the god-ness of man in John 10:35 and lay claim
to the right of divinity. Notice in this passage the "god"
begins with a lower case G. Some may quote from Ephesians
that we are "seated with Christ in heavenly realms."
Indeed we are, but first, we are not Jesus, in Him yes,
but not HIM. Second, if Jesus took His instructions for
speaking or working from the Father then we should also.
The Pharisees were upset that Jesus had said "I and
the Father are one." Indeed, in a sense, we may make
the same assertion. Jesus was establishing himself as
the Messiah and as a result we as the Messiahs people.
We must remember the Messiah is in us and we in Him but
WE ARE NOT HIM. Having the deposit of the Spirit within
us does not give us the right to use the Spirits words
or power as we choose.
The power to prophesy comes from the will of God, not
man's will. "Faith comes by hearing and Hearing
by the Word (Rhema) of God.." Romans 10:17
This
is how it works;
God speaks,
we hear, then we speak God's Word and He makes it
come to pass.
This
is not how it works;
We
want something to happen, we speak it out and it comes
to pass because of the power of our words.
THIS
NOTHING MORE THAN CHRISTIAN MAGIC.
Isaiah 55:11
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding {in the matter} for which I sent it. (NAU)
To presume to use the power to prophesy out of our own will or our imagination is to have complicity with Balaam's sin and perhaps with the very sin that got Satan's butt kicked out of heaven. Some folks present definition of prophesy is to dream up the best possible scenario for someone, then speak it over them and God is now duty bound to perform it. This is an arrogant, religious game.
As to the authority to speak at any time for God we must not forget the unregenerate mind of man and the affects of sin upon it. The scripture plainly tells us to examine both ourselves and what others say, (1 Cor 11:28, 2 Cor 13:5, Gal 6:4, 1Thes 5:21, 1 Cor 11:31, 1 Cor 10:15) even to judge prophecy. (1Cor 14:29) Why indeed would God command us to judge and examine these things? Because of human fallibility. This is not a sin mentality. It is taking the attitude of the written scriptures as to how to walk out your salvation. Perhaps we need a bit more "Fear and trembling" taught from our pulpits.
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear (phobos) and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for {His} good pleasure. (NAU) Philippians 2:12-13
Is this license to have a "spirit of judgment?" Of course not, the scriptures are plain on this as well. But if we think that because we are "in Christ" that whatever we might "prophesy" has to be from God, we have fallen into a great deception. Should we encourage the body to prophesy and instruct them in the ways of the Spirit? Of course, but with that we must teach them judge rightly as well.
Prophesying is not some cosmic game that we play that is void of consequences.
In fact,
John Paul Jackson, recently published an article,
"Are We Creating Christian Psychics?",
(Click to read
the article) addresses Charismatic Christians
attitudes toward the prophetic word. Mr.
Jackson claims many Christians want to go to the
"prophetic 7-Eleven convenience store."
I agree. Speaking for God is serious business,
people's lives and futures are held in the balance
and there are no guarantees God will erase the
damage you do, even if it was well intended. Scripture
contains serious ramifications to speaking falsely.
Plainly, we should not despise (I Thess 5:20 )
or prevent prophetic utterances. Sometimes it
is easier to simply avoid these issues by theologizing
prophecy away. Those of my brothers in Christ
that do this have, to use the old adage, "thrown
the baby out with the bath water." Conversely
the opposite response is to allow any one at any
time to prophecy or to so encourage the people
to prophecy, with out teaching them to judge the
same, that they simply dream up stuff.
My life and ministry has been guided by the prophetic word, but I'm not so starved to hear the "Word of the Lord" that I will run to someone claiming to be a prophet just to get a word. Am I hungry for God's Word? Desperately so, but I don't need a pontiff to hear God for me. A believers we have the privilege of hearing God for ourselves! The fact that we are presently in missions was very much influenced by a prophetic word through Jim Berkeley. But God first spoke His call to me personally then confirmed it through the scripture, my relationships within the church and then prophetic word. More often than not a word is a confirmation of what God has ALREADY spoken to you. We must position ourselves so as to readily hear God speaking to us.
God has much to say to you, will you hear and obey?
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