I write to you today not from a place of great courage or with a clear knowledge of what the immediate future holds. It has been my practice to remain silent during times where I do not have a deep feeling of assurance and confidence, as I do not want to speak anything which is not what I believe the Father is saying.
With that said, I believe that He is guiding me, and the church itself, into a season wherein He is digging out new depths of trust and patience even as our emotional states may experience less of the rapturous feelings of joy that we’ve come to know during seasons of closeness. Nevertheless, even—and perhaps especially—in these times, the Word of God which we have studied for so long stands clearly in our sobered minds as evidence of His Goodness and His Nature. This is especially poignant for us during this time where so many foundations have been built on emotion and feeling, though many are also lacking in the reverence that comes from the sure foundation of His Word. While emotion is critical, I believe that Truth remains our foundation.
There is one thing that most all of us who carry the banner Christ may agree on during this time, which is our shared desire for His Power and Presence to be restored, as it was when the Ark of the covenant was brought back to Israel after her victory. Where I believe that we have come to a place of tragic divide, however, is in our reverence and handling of that Presence.
I believe that many of us in the greater church have come to misunderstand what His role is and what ours is. With that in mind, thank you for spending some of your time with me to allow me to explain what I mean.
I must also beg you to hear me to the end, if you can, as what I have to share is ultimately wonderful news, but it may sting for a moment, as it certainly does for me, also.
A Young Prophet
Today, I found myself in a situation which exemplified this divide very well. I wrote to a young man who has been prophesying, consistent with the other American prophets, that Donald Trump would become president again on January 20th. While so many have said this, this particular young man displayed what I believe to be a different spirit than the majority. Most of these prophets shout and point their fingers at the camera in displays of anger and forceful language, meant to display their purported authority. These prophets wear elaborate suits with ornate trim, their wrists often sparkling with gold watches and diamond bracelets. Last year, I heard one of their ranks tell the people, “This coming year (2020) will be the greatest transfer of wealth in history, and it will go to you if you give money to the prophets.” Notably, as with each year, all of these prophets named 2020 as “your year of victory,” and what a year it has been.
The difference in this young man, however, seemed stark to me. He did not shout, his clothes were plain, and his attitude, seemed to me, to resemble meekness. He is sure and resolute in his belief that what he claims is true, and I should say that, while I do not believe that it will play out as he says (for Biblical reasons), I do not know for certain. I wrote to him, however, with the hope that I might appeal to him on how to handle a great concern that I have for the Body.
I opened with some kind words and encouragement, but at the root of it, I made my appeal.
“If it turns out you are wrong,” I urged him, “I beg you to ask the Father for strength, humility, and the words to say to the people who are scared and disillusioned.”
I wrote this because I see a growing number of people who have now attached their faith to the words of these prophets, and I am concerned that many will fall away and even kill themselves when it does not come true. This has happened countless times in history, one of the more recent being with Harold Camping’s predictions of the rapture. Sadly, many ended up homeless, many lost faith, and some even lost their lives. When this happened, Camping had nothing to say. Instead, he simply tried to recalculate the date and take another shot.
My hope is that this young man truly does love the Lord. If he is wrong, I pray he will be willing and able to speak words of true repentance and also to guide people to the Father, as there will be many confused and awestruck people who listened to him and the others.
Of all the prophets I’ve seen with this message, this young man is the only one whose spirit I think may be able to hear this message. I hope you’ll join with me in praying for Him. And if you may have been prophesying the same, I hope you’ll also recognize that it is possible to love God and be wrong, but I hope you will take some time to deeply seek the Father on getting properly aligned with Him and His purpose for you, which may either be different than you think it is, or it may not be time yet for you to express that function.
An Angry Woman
After writing my letter to the young man, a woman came out to “rebuke me”. She chastised me sharply claiming that I had no faith and that I was discouraging people from praying at this critical season. I asked her which needed more prayer—that which is certain (a prophesy that has no condition required for it to come true) or that which is apparently evil and is uncertain (which is the future wherein the prophecy is not true). Indeed, if the prophecy she held to was true, there would be less prayer needed, because it was not conditional. It was going to happen, according to them.
Her response, however, was somewhat surprising, yet it is perfectly emblematic of the very issue we now face, which is the same spirit that has crept into the church and seduced the people into a pythonic stranglehold in recent years.
“NO prophecy is without condition!” she exclaimed. “There is always the condition that we stand up and partner with Him in prayer and spiritual battle! We are kings and priests. He requires us to step up and DECREE and DECLARE. Stand up, step into your role, and start declaring the victory!”
There was much more to her response which disparaged me, personally, calling me lukewarm, faithless, a weak flea on a dog’s back, and so forth, but the above is the gist of her theological claims.
Chances are, many of you have heard these sorts of claims. Depending on the teachers you listen to, you may even hear them very often. In fact, they even may sound spiritual and good. It sounds like faith, and if it is, then anyone who disagrees must not have faith. But the question is not whether or not it is faith but rather—faith in whom? Is it faith in God’s sovereignty I lack, or is it faith in my own sovereignty?
Not long ago, I heard one of the foremost prophets in America give the following introduction before decreeing and declaring over the president.
“God!” she began her proclamation, “I give you permission to intervene on our behalf.”
Child of God, this should send a chill to the core of your soul. This is the true root of the theology behind this faction of people. They say that God can do nothing unless we decree and declare it; worse yet, many even admit that He requires our permission in order to accomplish anything.
But I ask you, if all prophecy has a condition—requiring our agreement—then why does Daniel prophesy the exact year that the Messiah would come? When He came, the church at large was not ready for Him and did not recognize Him, though they should have been prepared. Furthermore, they rejected Him. Who was there to decree Him to exist? Which man can we thank for permitting the miracle of the virgin birth? Who visited the bedside of Mary and decreed His delivery? The Scripture says, Christ was slain before the foundation of the earth. How can this be so if God needed to wait to see if we would permit Him?
In the days of Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, did God require the people to come into agreement and to decree and declare the victory? In those days, much like our own, the false prophets prophesied the victory, and the people decreed and declared it to be true. Yet Gods purpose was not victory. Instead, it was the captivity of His own people because of their wickedness. The people decreed, they declared, and throughout history they murdered the prophets who would not join them in their decreeing and declaring victory. At the same time these things were going on, these sinful people paid money to the many prophets who joined them in decreeing and declaring their victory. Church, have we become so blind that we cannot see the same thing happening before our very eyes?
God’s victory is not predicated on our hopes, it is rather a response to our hearts. Are we lowered down in humility, or lifted up in pride? Do we put our faces to the ground as a slave, in recognition of our failure, or do we hold our heads high as is befitting a king?
If you are struggling to stay with me, I ask you to bear with me just a moment longer. I know that this is difficult to hear and there is good news to follow about the future, but I must ask you first to consider—why did God not respect the decrees and declarations of the prophets and the people in Jeremiah’s day? Did the people give God permission for their demise? If not and this view is right, then how could God have acted without the people’s permission?
Is it possible that this theology is wrong?
There are many plans in a man’s heart; nevertheless, it is the Lord’s purpose that will prevail.
Prov 19:21
A Solemn Victory March
After my interaction with the angry woman, I prayed for understanding and opened my Bible. It fell open to 2 Samuel 6, and I began reading.
It tells of the story where David gathered up all of “the choice men of Israel” and they all went to go re-capture the Ark of the Covenant—the very vessel in which God’s Spirit and Presence dwelt.
After they retrieved it, they set out on the journey home to restore the Ark to its proper place. During this journey, the cart was jostled as the oxen pulling the cart stumbled, and a man named Uzziah reached his hand out to steady the Ark. As soon as his hand touched it, he was immediately struck dead. For those who do not know the story, the commandment of God was that no one should touch the ark, lest they die.
Over the years, I’ve heard many say that this action by God puzzled them. I questioned it myself, as it seems like such a harsh reaction, particularly against one of these “choice men”. Several years back, however, I heard a story of an electrical engineer who was studying a replica of the Ark. After inspecting it closely and looking over the specifications for the Ark and what was in it—as very specific details are written in the Bible—the engineer made an astonishing discovery.
“It’s a capacitor!” the man exclaimed. He went on to explain, “When they move it and it travels through the open air, the static charge will build up in the gold. The gold and wood layering would cause it to act like a holding tank for the electricity it gathered along the way, just like a capacitor does in our electronic devices. And like a capacitor, the tank will naturally empty itself into whatever touches it.”
So we see that it was not a matter of God lacking Mercy, but rather, it was the man, Uzziah’s, lack of respect or understanding for the nature of the force inherent to the very design of the box, itself.
Uzziah was warned of the Power of God. Just as any electrician is who is up in the bucket working on the power lines knows, what’s running through those lines is incredibly powerful. Applied with respect, that power can sustain lives and power cities, but mishandled, it can easily take a life in an instant. When the electrician is up in that bucket, he is careful, respectful, and reverent, because he knows the nature of the forces he is working with.
The electrician is not afraid because electricity is temperamental. He doesn’t think, “You never know what it might do!” Instead, he knows that it is as predictable as it is powerful. It follows specific laws of physics and electrodynamics. And, with a right understanding of those laws, that electrician helps us maintain power to the homes and hospitals that save and sustain our lives.
A Tall Tongue
Friends, I would like to suggest to you that this is the reverence that so many of us have lost focus of.
We’re now taught to say say, “The power is in my tongue! I must loose and bind, decree and declare!” Some even say, “God needs my permission!”
Others are even being taught to declare of themselves, “I am!” while being unaware that they are foolishly blaspheming by appropriating the Name of God for themselves.
But I must ask you, Church, how can we expect God to act against the ungodly in power and not to act against the arrogance in His own church? Will His Power be any less mighty for those close to it? Or could it be like Ananias and Sapphira or like Uzziah, that those who are closest to it should be the most reverent and mindful of its ways?
With all our desire to see prophecy fulfilled, will He do something great just so we can boast and say, “Look what I have done with my tongue!”
Or “Look! The prophets have decreed and declared for us, and they caused it to happen! Come, let’s all follow and be like them, since they tear down and build up nations with their tongues!”
They themselves say it, “I decree it to be so, from the office of the prophet of God.”
Look at what David says of those who say, “By our tongues, we will prevail.”
Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;
those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
Everyone lies to their neighbor;
they flatter with their lips
but harbor deception in their hearts.
May the Lord silence all flattering lips
and every boastful tongue—
those who say,
“By our tongues we will prevail;
our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”
“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the Lord.
“I will protect them from those who malign them.”
And the words of the Lord are flawless,
like silver purified in a crucible,
like gold refined seven times.
You, Lord, will keep the needy safe
and will protect us forever from the wicked,
who freely strut about
when what is vile is honored by the human race.Psalm 12
A Non-Prophet Prediction
So for those who listen to the prophets, let me make an appeal.
The prophets you listen to are bold and speak loudly, so I will also be bold. They tell you what is to come, so I will also tell you. We know that God uses the weak and the foolish things, so if you indulge their foolishness, then I beg you to indulge mine for just a moment. And how much more foolish and weak am I?
They are rich, and I am poor. They are famous, and I am an unknown whisper in the wind. They glory in their faith, popularity, and strength; and I am scorned, plagued by weakness and physical suffering, and I am continually facing one trial after another. Their pedigrees are impressive, while mine speak not of my faithfulness to God but rather of His faithfulness and ability to achieve His own Purpose. This purpose is achieved by His own abundant Grace which has restored and lifted me up repeatedly out of the pit of my own foolishness and sin when I cried out in repentance. By this Purpose, it is accomplished that the weak, foolish, and unknown things—such as I am—may confound the wise, so that only He is able to get the glory and not the strong who say, “Look what I declare.”
With all of this in mind, it is foolish that I should say anything at all to you, as I am nothing compared to them. But if you’ve listened to foolishness, then I ask you to hear a little more—and what is more foolish than “a weak flea on a dog’s back” standing up boldly and telling you what is going to happen?
So if you will hear me, as lovers of prophecy, then hear what is coming.
His Spirit is returning. His Ark is coming home. Home is not America, neither is it any other nation—Home is His Bride. This Bride will be presented pure and without blemish, and they will all be One Body. This Bride will despise (think little of) countries, races, and denominations. They will love one another as their own flesh and defend one another in meekness, contending for the spiritual preservation of one another at all costs.
Like Uzziah, those who mishandle the power of God like the wicked prophets and their followers who declare “Peace, peace!” when there is no peace will be struck down. When this happens, I plead with you not to make the mistake that David did.
After Uzziah was struck down in 2 Samuel 6, it says that David became angry and afraid of the Lord.
Because of his offense, instead of bringing the Ark home to Israel, he left it for a time in the home of Obed-Edom. David may never have finished his mission to restore the Ark to its proper place had it not been for a messenger who came to him with the report, “God has greatly blessed the house of Obed-Edom because of the Ark.”
When David heard this, he repented of his offense against God and had learned two lessons.
- God’s Power and Presence commands respect
- The Purpose of His Presence brings blessing to His People.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is my plea—when His Spirit strikes down those who mishandle the Spirit of God, remember these words and do not become offended. All that you’re hoping for in the blessing that comes from the restoration of His Spirit is still ahead, but it cannot endure the wickedness in His own house.
Be as David says in the Psalm above (Psalm 12). Be the poor and needy as opposed to the proud and lifted up. Remember Jesus’s commands toward the same and his strange proclamation, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” To be poor in spirit is to be broken, contrite, and reverent before a Holy God—not elevated up in pride, but lowered down in humility. For it is not by might nor by power, or even by our own tongues, that we overcome.
No—the Scripture tells us that it is by His Spirit that we overcome. And, if it is by His Spirit, then we know that we can obtain it by his prescribed means, which is:
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
This verse in 2 Chronicles is an example of a prophecy that does have a condition.
An Exhortation
Finally, brothers and sisters in Christ, I want you to understand that we may see suffering; and, we will see shaking.
I believe that many of the influential in the visible church will fall and rise up and fall again. False prophets will prophesy, and people will divide against one another, devouring one another, because of their alliances to different prophets and teachers who have differing predictions and doctrines. Others will band together as rogue factions or as individual mercenaries, taking aim at all the prophets, teachers, and even the members of the church itself. Many will fall away from the faith and there will be confusion in the Body of Christ like never before.
And yet, when these things happen, hold fast to your Faith. Decouple yourself from the elevation of preachers, prophets, singers, and celebrities above God. Rather, pray for those who stand in elevated places, because the level of temptation they face is at a level far greater than most can understand, and the consequences of missing the mark are far more severe than for those who have no influence.
If you have no platform, thank God for His protection during this difficult season. If you have a platform, fall on your face and pray for strength and discernment.
Above all, knit yourselves together in Love—first with the Father, coming to know Him by enveloping yourself in His Word rather than in the words of ministries or media outlets—second, with one another, when you have learned to discern for yourself what is good, acceptable, pure, and worthy of praise.
Forgive one another, and pray for Love, as it safeguards you against the snares of offense. Remember that offense is like wildfire. One person who is offended for a single reason can offend ten thousand others for many new reasons. But, like water extinguishes fire, let Love cover the multitude of offenses that you will encounter in the days to come. In many cases, your love which covers the offenders sin will douse even the fire that is ignited in their own hearts, which causes them to repent and turn to the Father. If the power of offense can spread, how much more the power of Love?
As you draw near to the Father, also draw near to those who strive to walk in Love as you do. No body member stands on its own, but all need one another.
Lastly, in all things and in continuous prayer, remember to give thanks and to praise God. Though offense will come along the way, we are still in our victory march home, and like David famously did when the Ark was finally home, we will soon all dance together with full abandon of any concern over how we may appear to those sitting in the royal towers who missed out on the journey because they were holed up in their places of luxury instead of in the dirt of the battle.
God bless you and, in Christ, I love you!