We live in a generation that is hungry for the paranormal. Recent movies, television shows, games, and books present a spirituality that is devoid of God's Light. Instead, what is being reflected is the dark lies of the enemy and the gospel of Satan. A few even proclaim the gift they display as coming from God.
Our culture today is obsessed with witchcraft, astrology, necromancy, sorcery, and spiritism. We live in a time when the lost, often unwittingly, "exchange the truth of God for the lie" (Romans 1:25). Scripture foretold of this time:
"For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect" (Mark 13:22).
To lure the unsuspecting into their web of deceit, psychics often endorse themselves with such titles as being an "accredited psychic" or a "proven psychic" or a "registered psychic." Often, well-known celebrities who claim to have been helped by a psychic, empathetically tell viewers they, too, can be helped. Sadly, it is often people who are at their lowest point who are the most vulnerable to this deception.
Surprisingly, the same hunger is portrayed in the Church. I am not talking about Christians who are consulting with fortune-tellers, although it may shock you to learn that hordes of God's people are doing so. What I am addressing is the temptation of Christians to make "fortune-tellers" out of those in the Church with a prophetic gift.
PROPHETS NOT PSYCHICS
For some reason, the Church has begun to view revelatory people in the same way as the world views psychics. They believe that prophetic people should have an answer anytime to anything the inquirer wants to know. They treat prophetic individuals as if they were "Christian psychics."
On several occasions, I have experienced this type of feeding frenzy. In my immaturity, I succumbed to the demand of hungry inquirers who were a part of the Body of Christ or who sat in the pew next to me. However, we do not need to be driven by this demand.
We as prophetic people are not in competition with occult practitioners. Nor are we to take the place of God, who longs to speak individually to each individual through His Holy Spirit. The Lord gives all of us the assurance that if we call on Him, He will answer us in ways that will astound us (Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew 7:7).
At the same time, God gives some individuals prophetic words and insight that we need to hear, just as Ananias brought God's word to Saul, before he was known as the apostle Paul (Acts 9:17). To everything, however, there is a time and a season (Ecclesiastes 3:7b).
RESPONDING WISELY TO THE FEEDING FRENZY
In the midst of the feeding frenzy for prophetic words, some revelatory-gifted people may wonder how to respond to the demand facing them. They may ask, "If I "know" the answer to someone's question, should I feign ignorance or lie?"
On various occasions, I have watched a friend of mine, who is very mature in his prophetic gift, exhibit great humility. Although God has revealed many things to him about future events, and the economy in particular, my friend has felt impressed by the Holy Spirit not to reveal everything God shared with him publicly. Instead, he committed what the Lord showed him to prayer. So, when my friend was asked publicly about the economy, I watched with amazement as he responded with godly wisdom to the hungry demands of others. Although my friend had a very clear word from God, he wisely said to eager inquisitors: "The economy is a very complex thing and has confused even the most educated men. What do you think God is saying?"
With his reply, my friend did not lie nor violate God's confidence. Instead, he responded as Jesus often did -- by answering a question with a question.
From God's perspective, everything has a proper time or cycle (Ecclesiastes 3:1). While God may reveal to a prophetic person future events or the answer to a problem, it may not be the time to reveal it. We must walk in the Spirit of Wisdom and discern the proper times and seasons.
God who is all knowing has granted to us as prophetic people a sliver of revelation. Therefore, we do not need to appear as "prophetic know-it-alls." We do not always have to have "the" answer to a question or issue that is posed to us. In fact, one sign of spiritual immaturity is when we try to answer everything that is asked of us! Remember, "Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive" (Proverbs 17:28). Usually, a person's insecurity and need for recognition causes a person with a prophetic gift to respond prematurely and presumptively.
LESSONS LEARNED
Here are a few lessons that I have learned in the past 20 years of prophetic
ministry:
* Do not allow another person's insistence and impatience force you to produce revelation. If you do, you will be offering the person your soulish speculation or personal opinion.
* Do not allow yourself to feel pressured into telling others everything you know about an issue. Be sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. You must believe God will promote you and raise you up, if that is His purpose for you.
* Do not spend time seeking God for an answer to another person's dilemma, unless he or she has spent more time in prayer concerning the issue than you have. Another person will only value what you have to say if they have exhausted his or her own strength.
* You do not have to generate a prophetic answer for every question posed to you. You are not God. You only know as much as He gives to you. Furthermore, you were not given a revelatory gift to be a "prophetic 7-Eleven convenience store." We are all called to know God and to listen to His voice.
* In your dialogue with others, practice asking questions rather than making statements. This exercise of restraint will develop your listening skills and cultivate the fruit of patience. It will also help foster humility in your soul. In this way, your spirit will practice ruling over your soul.

INCREASING DEMAND TO KNOW WHAT LIES AHEAD
As time marches on, the visibility of psychics and occult practitioners will grow. As times crescendo toward instability, there will be an increased demand to know what lies ahead. Consequently, people will look to either the occult or to God for the answers.
We need to be careful not to look to prophetic individuals as non-Christians would look to psychics and astrologers. Remember, God is faithful to tell us what He wants us to know. We simply need to seek His face and listen to Him for the answers.
COMING WAVE OF PROPHETIC EVANGELISM
As the Church, we need to listen to God individually and corporately. This is not to say that we do not need prophetic gifts. I am convinced there will come a day when the "prophets of God" will openly challenge the "prophets of Satan," much like Elijah's encounter with the prophets of Baal (2 Kings 19).
I am now convinced that the highest use of the prophetic gifts are outside the walls of the Church. In the coming days, prophetic evangelism is about to flourish as never before. As it does, God will pour out His Omnipotence like we have not yet seen in recent history. It will be glorious. Just wait and see!
Copyright © 2002 John Paul Jackson, Stream Ministries International. All rights reserved.