TESTING THE PROPHETIC SERIES
Final Thoughts
(on testing the prophetic)
Gregory the Great, the 6th century leader of the church in Rome (making him the most influential man in Christendom at the time), gives us the language we need to understand what is required of those who purport to speak on behalf of the Father.
First, we ought not be quick to prophesy:
““…during the early years of our adolescence or youth we must abstain from prophecy, so that the plowshare of our tongue does not dare to cleave the land of another’s heart. For as long as we are immature, it is our responsibility to contain ourselves, lest while we show tender virtues too swiftly, we lose them.””
We must come to grips with the fact that actual human beings are going to be impacted by our words.
I can either help or harm others, even more so when I claim inspiration from the Divine. When I consider the responsibility of speaking into the heart of another; hesitancy, caution and wisdom should rule the day.
Gregory goes on to say that the test for readiness for someone to be used in prophecy is when they are no longer moved by criticism or praise:
““For the mind must first grow strong, and then be revealed for the benefit of neighbors presently, when it neither collapses after elevation by praise nor wastes away when shaken by criticism.””
To the degree you are moved by praise, you will be crushed by criticism. When criticism and praise become meaningless, the true journey of knowing the Father’s heart and sharing it with the world can begin.
““The beginning of salvation is for a man to reproach himself.” ”
While the prophetic movement of our day is marred by mistakes, inaccuracies, bad theology, fanciful thinking, aberrant uses, manipulation, and spiritual abuse, we cannot use those issues as an excuse to deny prophecy. Just as it was in the days of the early church, so it is today. Rather than reject the gifts of the Spirit, the early church learned to discern the life of the one who God would move through. To bring back the excesses we must expect those who consider themselves prophetically inclined to be formed into the image of Christ.
Christ was not a nationalistic prophet declaring the return of Israel to its glory. Christ was not one who was concerned with prophesying what was going to happen in each nation. He did not speak in a way that fomented pride in the hearts of his disciples.
Christ was the forbearer of the message of the Kingdom of God. The tenor of his prophecy was to call people back to the heart of God. The message of Christ is simple, die for others and live for God. Perhaps prophetic ministry should begin to echo that call once again.