Q&A: Are Prophets to be Rejected as True Prophets of God When Their Words Do Not Come True?

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="129a11c3.png"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Welcome to the Heart4God Website!"><U><B><IMG SRC="4b55a500.png" border=0 width="90" height="80" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Writings of Joseph Herrin"><U><B>Writings by Date</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id212.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Writings of Joseph Herrin Organized "><U><B>Writings by Topic</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.heart4god.ws/Audio/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.heart4god.ws/Audio/index.htm"><U><B>Audio Files</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id690.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Videos"><U><B>Videos</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id323.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Writings of Others"><U><B>Other Authors</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id324.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id339.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Questions and Answers"><U><B>Q&A</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id328.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Heart4God Email List"><U><B>Heart4God E-mail List</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.parablesblog.blogspot.com"><U><B>Parables Blog</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id306.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="File Downloads"><U><B><IMG SRC="2b264140.png" border=0 width="100" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <div> <B>Q&A: Are Prophets to be Rejected as True Prophets of God When Their Words Do Not Come True?</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="c2827160.png" border=0 width="807" height="22" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Dear Sister, </div> <bR> <div> Thank you for writing and asking your excellent question. I have read some prophecies that spoke of the current President as a 'burning bush', and I may have even read the same ones that you have. The things that I wrote about in the article "Black Oil Anointing" are presenting a greatly different picture than what some have portrayed in their writings. Yet, I haven't concluded that those who have expressed other opinions are false prophets. I believe that all those who prophesy, or who publish prophetic teachings (such as myself), are capable of erring, and at times they do err, and therefore all such words should be tested. </div> <bR> <div> I have noted a tendency among some groups to magnify the gift of a particular prophet, and in doing so they begin to treat every utterance from such a person as if it is gospel truth and is free from all error. I believe that it is only normal, and even right, to give great weight to a person who has proven themselves as an accurate vessel of God, yet we would be wrong to get to a point where we deem them to be infallible. An example might be a prophet such as Bob Jones. I have been blessed and instructed by a number of prophecies from him, yet I continue to examine all words carefully. I think that some have ceased to test words from prophets like Bob Jones because they regard him highly, and this has the potential of leading to great error. The early apostles instructed us in this way: </div> <bR> <div> I Corinthians 14:29<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> Let two or three prophets speak, <I><B>and let the others pass judgment</B></I>. </div> <bR> <div> I Thessalonians 5:19-21<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. <I><B>But examine everything carefully</B></I>; hold fast to that which is good...</div> <bR> <div> I John 4:1</div> <div> Beloved, <I><B>do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God</B></I>, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. </div> <bR> <div> I do not mind having others test the things I have written. In fact, in a number of writings I have quoted Paul's words about the Bereans being more noble than others whom he preached to for they searched the Scriptures to see whether the things he was speaking were true. I think all prophets should be pleased when others take the time to examine what they have said carefully, and it is a safeguard for the church. Even the most seasoned spiritual servant can err at times, and if any of these servants are offended at others testing their words, rather than accepting them at face value, then this is evidence of pride, and pride always opens up a door for deception to enter in. The more humble a servant of God is, the less prone they will be to stray off into error. </div> <div> You wrote: </div> <bR> <div> Does the Lord stop giving truth at any point a person stops receiving? I seem to faintly see something I can't find scriptural support for, and wonder if it is truth or not? I heard the "burning bush" analogies by several people who I believe hear from God. When you discussed the black oil, it made more sense, in line with what I was hearing from God personally. Like maybe deception comes in layers? For instance, when somebody says "put Christ back into Christmas"...it demonstrates a degree of truth...but Christ didnt' belong in Christmas in the first place, right? So, can prophetic people REALLY be hearing from God, but have the wrong conclusions because they stop listening too soon? Is there scripture about that? </div> <bR> <div> I believe there is Scriptural precedence for what you are asking about. One thing that often occurs is that a man or woman can have a preconceived idea that does not have its origin in God, but rather it has come from their soul, or from some other source, such as a demon. A recent example of this was seen during the build up to Y2K. Many people concluded from physical evidence and faulty understanding that Y2K was going to be devastating. </div> <bR> <div> Because they had this mindset, and they were settled in their thinking about the devastation that would occur, they began to see corroborating evidence in many places. Some of this evidence was quite remarkable, and it had the appearance of being a confirming sign from God that things would be devastating as January 1, 2000 rolled around. Based upon the conclusions and prophecies of many sincere, but sincerely wrong, prophets and teachers, many people began taking measures to prepare for Y2K. Some went so far as to move out of the cities and establish a safe refuge out in the country somewhere. </div> <bR> <div> In hindsight we see that all the prophecies of doom and destruction were wrong, though things could have been quite serious had not so many businesses and governments taken the matter seriously, and upgraded their computer systems at the cost of many billions of dollars. To my own chagrin, I had gotten caught up in all the hype and I had also believed things would be bad and I had shared these thoughts with many. When things did not pan out as I anticipated I posted a public apology. I cannot express the upset that I felt knowing that I had been led astray by my mind to draw conclusions that were erroneous. I did a lot of soul searching after this event, and I could only conclude that the Spirit allowed me to suffer this embarassment and grief to teach me the dire necessity of dividing between soul and spirit. This is a difficult matter, and many who cannot separate the voice of their soul from the voice of the Spirit end up proclaiming many things that are false, and saying that these soulish words are the mind of God. The Scriptures tell us: </div> <bR> <div> Hebrews 4:12<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. </div> <bR> <div> Hebrews 5:14<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.</div> <bR> <div> It is to be expected that when one is a babe in Christ, or a young believer, that they will have difficulty in discerning the difference in that which arises from the soul and that which arises from the spirit, of discerning the difference between good and evil. This is why the apostles exhorted the saints to test ALL prophetic utterances, and to try EVERY spirit. They did not give this admonition so that the church would label all those who erred as false prophets (though some were). It was aimed more at teaching those who were immature in a certain area to grow to maturity, and it is a safeguard for the church. </div> <bR> <div> You specifically asked if someone could receive a word from God and draw a wrong conclusion. This is certainly possible, and it happens all too often. One thing that many prophets err in is that they often get a true word from God, or a dream or vision, and they attempt to give the interpretation when they have not been given it by the Spirit. This too is something that prophetic people need to grow in. They need to learn to not exceed what they have been given. It is like a person who has been given a tongue trying to give the interpretation also because no one else has come forth with an interpretation. Yet they do not have the interpretation themselves. </div> <bR> <div> As we look at Scriptures we see that God often speaks in such a way that more than one person is involved in bringing forth the true understanding. We see Pharaoh dreaming and Joseph interpreting. We see Nebuchadnezzar dreaming and Daniel giving the interpretation. In the church too, we are told that two or three should speak in tongues, and one should give the interpretation. We are told that a few prophets should speak and others should pass judgment. There have been times when the Spirit has given me the interpretation of someone's dream, though I rarely dream myself. There have also been even more times when people have related their dreams to me and I have discerned nothing by the Spirit, and I have told them so. It would be error for me to seek to interpret when I have not been given spiritual insight, though many feel pressured to do so lest some might think their gift is not so great. Pride is a terrible thing among the saints. We should all have enough humility to say, "The Lord has not shown me anything..." </div> <bR> <div> I will give you an example of a very seasoned prophet from Scripture who misspoke and had to go back and correct his false word. He answered from his own soul because what was shared with him seemed right to him, though it was clearly not the will of Yahweh. </div> <bR> <div> II Samuel 7:1-17<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <div> Now it came about when the king lived in his house, and Yahweh had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, that the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains." Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your mind, for Yahweh is with you." But in the same night the word of Yahweh came to Nathan, saying, "Go and say to My servant David, "Thus says Yahweh, "Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in? For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle. Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?'"' Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, "Thus says Yahweh of hosts, "I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth. I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the wicked afflict them any more as formerly, even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Yahweh also declares to you that Yahweh will make a house for you. When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever."'" In accordance with all these words and all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> I can imagine Nathan's anguish when God spoke to him and he realized that he had given the king an answer from his own soul, and now he had to go back and tell him so. This temptation to answer according to what our soul perceives is present in each one of us. It is the humble and the mature who will seek with all diligence to not give such an answer, but to wait until they are confident that God has spoken. </div> <div> I hope these words are helpful in some way. </div> <bR> <div> May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days, </div> <bR> <div> Joseph Herrin</div> <bR> <div> E-mail: </div> <div> website: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Georgia" ><A HREF="http://heart4god.ws" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://heart4god.ws"><U><U>http://heart4god.ws</U></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>