Got a word from the Lord that didn't (yet?) come true.

zoidar said:

For many years I have been struggeling with something. At a Christian festival as I sat among the people thinking about this problem an older woman (I never seen before) a few seats away started profetizing with a loud voice. It was like she was talking directly to me, starting with "So says the Lord..." and continuing with describing my problem and ending with that I didn't have to worry and that God would help me.

This is maybe five years ago and still the prophecy hasn't come true. Now I wonder why.

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Perhaps she was a false prophet?

Deuteronomy 18:20-22: But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.

zoidar said:

For many years I have been struggeling with something. At a Christian festival as I sat among the people thinking about this problem an older woman (I never seen before) a few seats away started profetizing with a loud voice. It was like she was talking directly to me, starting with "So says the Lord..." and continuing with describing my problem and ending with that I didn't have to worry and that God would help me.

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Well I'm sure he has been, and will continue to do so.
The problem is when he says one thing and we hear another - "I will help you" is not the same as "I will heal you."

But if he did speak to you, specifically promising healing, he will do it. He keeps his promises, but in his time, not ours.
Wait on him, trust in him and don't overlook any help/answers to prayer you may get just because they are not what you were expecting.

zoidar, it doesn't matter to me what the problem is, prayers will be said for you.

For there to be false prophets and prophecies, there are Godly prophets and prophecies. I Cor 12 and Eph 4 states prophets are a part of the church body.

What was said is Biblical - don't worry and God will help you. What made this a word of knowledge for you is that He revealed to her what the problem is. Sometimes He fulfills these prophecies in a way that we're not expecting.

Know of a believer who was told that they would go to another country for His purposes. For this to happen, this believer had to get a passport and other preparatory tasks. (They didn't act based on this prophetic word alone but it was a vital part). Anyway, there were some obstacles but God provided for it to happen.

We usually want it to be a miracle - and that's understandable. But sometimes He gives us keys. You may want to asks Him to help you to turn your attention, as Moses did in Exo 3:3, and realize His answer.

Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

If there's any prophecy, this is key.

zoidar said:

For many years I have been struggeling with something. At a Christian festival as I sat among the people thinking about this problem an older woman (I never seen before) a few seats away started profetizing with a loud voice. It was like she was talking directly to me, starting with "So says the Lord..." and continuing with describing my problem and ending with that I didn't have to worry and that God would help me.

This is maybe five years ago and still the prophecy hasn't come true. Now I wonder why. Is it because I doubted in God's promise or because of personal sins, or maybe something else? Maybe more important, is the prophecy still valid or do think God has taken it back?

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God doesn’t “take back” his prophecies. Look at the ones in scripture. They are thousands of years old in some cases and still valid.

There are a lot of false prophets running around today.

What is the test of a false prophet?

tturt said:

Know of a believer who was told that they would go to another country for His purposes. For this to happen, this believer had to get a passport and other preparatory tasks. There were some obstacles but God provided for it to happen.

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Exactly. I’ve experienced the same regarding my purpose. But I have to build the business and do the work.

My calling is in fashion. A couple of months ago I looked up woodworking classes. I was aware of the facilities that offered courses. But something told me to look again. I discovered a reference to a class in my area I’d never heard of. I’ve been here more than 20 years.

When I registered, I grabbed the last spot. The fees are 80% less than other courses. I expected we’d work on simple projects. That’s the usual approach for beginners. But my instructor doesn’t do that. He prefers for us to work on things we’re interested in.

He asked what I wanted to make. I had something in mind, but lacked the skills to do it. But I was willing to learn along the way. Nevertheless, I told him. He said, got a picture? I showed him two images and he replied, let’s do it.

We’re building two custom pieces for my studio. My out of pocket costs are minimal. Just the materials. The labor is free. To have a craftsman do the same would be $4K at least. He’s retiring at the end of the year. It’s an incredible blessing.

I didn’t get a miracle. But I got what I needed nonetheless.

What's the test of a Godly prophecy?

For starters: "And don’t be one who scorns prophecies, but be faithful to examine them by putting them to the test, and afterward hold tightly to what has proven to be right." I Thess 5:20-21

tturt said:

What's the test of a Godly prophecy?

"Never restrain or put out the fire of the Holy Spirit. 20 And don’t be one who scorns prophecies, 21 but be faithful to examine them by putting them to the test, and afterward hold tightly to what has proven to be right." I Thess 5

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That version omitted the part about discarding the bad.

I find in the New testament a lot of texts that help to examine if any teaching is true.

In Romans 13, it says if there is any commandment it is summed up by a brief saying that love does not harm their neighbour.

In Romans 14, it says that anything that does not come from faith is sin, including bible interpretations.

In 1st John, it is said that love is matured or made perfect in us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment because in this world we are like him, this passage dichotomizes love and fear giving a means to measure maturity.

In James 3, it is illustrated "the character" of what Godly wisdom is, and what the devlish kind is. For even the devil quoted scripture to Jesus.

In Revelation, it is said that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

You have some great questions concerning your encounter five years ago and your health situation. I would just accept that word of God's healing, no matter when it occurs. Why? Because there is a case to be made that God heals. From Matthew 8
"When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy a came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy."
I would not be self condemning that your healing has not manifested yet. Hebrews 6:12 reminds us that it is faith and patience by which we inherit the promises of God. In reality, the word of God has many promises of healing. That the lady would single you out is excellent but again, rather than question her and your experience, turn to the word of God concerning your healing. Here is one link i found with some scriptures that have to do with healing. (I just googled this, rather than look them all up individually.) There are many books on faith and healing as well. 31 Healing Scriptures

zoidar said:

For many years I have been struggeling with something. At a Christian festival as I sat among the people thinking about this problem an older woman (I never seen before) a few seats away started profetizing with a loud voice. It was like she was talking directly to me, starting with "So says the Lord..." and continuing with describing my problem and ending with that I didn't have to worry and that God would help me.

This is maybe five years ago and still the prophecy hasn't come true. Now I wonder why. Is it because I doubted in God's promise or because of personal sins, or maybe something else? Maybe more important, is the prophecy still valid or do think God has taken it back?

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I know how hard it can be to wait, but I pray that you will have patience. When God speaks to us, whether directly or through another person, we have to allow Him to show us how and when He will fulfill what He has spoken. Don't assume anything, but seek His wisdom concerning the prophecy you received.

Sometimes, God has spoken to me, and I've had to wait for years (even decades) to see Him fulfill what He has spoken. I'm not suggesting that you will have to wait this long, but you need to rest in Him. He would not have you be anxious about it.
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People should be super cautious about saying, "The Lord says". Even if the Lord does reveal something to you, there is no need to use such a self-important phrase.

It is much better and humbler to just give your message and the details of how you received it.

An honest messenger only needs to give the message according to their measure of faith, they are not responsible for the interpretation and application of the message.

Regardless of our individual spins on how it was delivered, it remains that God sent you a word.

I have received messages from God, and I have delivered some of those to others. I have also read a number of how-to books regarding the modern prophetic movement. So, while I support the utterance of modern prophecy, no one living today can claim 100% accuracy and clarity. Since we are not OT level prophets, let us speak humbly and avoid giving others false confidence in our messages.

I don't believe that God has ever told someone in the modern world to say "So says the Lord". Yes, it could happen, but then that person, if accurate, would be on par with the prophets of the Bible. If God doesn't demand this form of address, then we should humbly avoid it.

It is my experience that God doesn't demand we use his name to give our messages more weight. That tends to be a crutch that insecure prophetic people use.

I recommend the John Wimber/Vineyard method of delivering words from the Lord.

zoidar said:

For many years I have been struggeling with something. At a Christian festival as I sat among the people thinking about this problem an older woman (I never seen before) a few seats away started profetizing with a loud voice. It was like she was talking directly to me, starting with "So says the Lord..." and continuing with describing my problem and ending with that I didn't have to worry and that God would help me.

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First of all, what did you know about this woman? Nothing, it seems. How, then, do you know she prophesied legitimately? She could just have been some nut taking on the role of prophet without any real leading of God.

Could you not have found in God's word, the Bible, all that you needed to know about God's will concerning your problem? Surely, Scripture tells us again and again that God is with His own and will help them. You don't need a prophet to tell you so.

zoidar said:

This is maybe five years ago and still the prophecy hasn't come true.

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This is what marked a false prophet from a true one, in the OT. If a prophet's prophecy didn't come true he was declared a false prophet and was to be killed. That's how serious it was to presume to speak for God.

zoidar said:

Now I wonder why. Is it because I doubted in God's promise or because of personal sins, or maybe something else? Maybe more important, is the prophecy still valid or do think God has taken it back?

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I doubt very much the prophecy was ever valid.

Also, I would urge you not to make the mistake of assuming that correlation equals causation. In other words, just because two things seem directly related by their proximity to each other in time or place, does not mean they are. My father-in-law is a rather simple, superstitious man, a migrant from a still-tribal country, and so he is prone to thinking that because two things happen together they are therefore directly related. For example, he was up early one morning to use the washroom and tripped in the hallway. Right after he did, a rooster crowed outside. Because the two things happened one right after the other, he believes his stumbling in the hallway made the rooster crow. He can't explain how, though; that the two things happened in rapid succession is enough to link them directly to each other. This is fallacious thinking, however - superstitious, really - and not the sort of thinking in which a Christian should indulge. I find, though, that this is often how Christians think when looking for God's direction. I would urge you not to be one of them.

zoidar said:

Maybe God gave the woman the exact words to say, even "So says the Lord" ?

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I don't believe that is possible because it would be adding to His Word, the Bible.

According to Revelation 22, it says,

"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book" (Revelation 22:18).

The prophecy of this book includes more than the book of Revelation because God knew that the words "the prophecy of this book" would one day be compiled in a book known as the Bible. The words spoke also to our future day in having the Bible. For the poor bum on the side of the street who reads Revelation 22:18 is not going to know that Revelation is some separate book. He is just going to read his Bible and believe it. James says God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith (James 2:5).

Side Note:

Now if this lady said that God talked to her heart to pray for you about a problem you are having, and she prayed for you, then that would be different. But for her to speak on behalf of God is not possible today. We have the Bible. They are the only words we need today from God to guide us spiritually.

I hope we can avoid getting into a protracted argument over whether modern prophecy is invalid because scripture is complete.

Hopefully, everyone here agrees that the scripture is complete. I don't know any prophetic people who think their words should be added to scripture. Nor do I want to know them.

zoidar said:

For many years I have been struggeling with something. At a Christian festival as I sat among the people thinking about this problem an older woman (I never seen before) a few seats away started profetizing with a loud voice. It was like she was talking directly to me, starting with "So says the Lord..." and continuing with describing my problem and ending with that I didn't have to worry and that God would help me.

This is maybe five years ago and still the prophecy hasn't come true. Now I wonder why. Is it because I doubted in God's promise or because of personal sins, or maybe something else? Maybe more important, is the prophecy still valid or do think God has taken it back?

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The person who claimed to be speaking for the Lord did not know who the “prophesy” was for. It was not for you to be healed at that time.

I have read the Bible from time to time for decades. I had kidney stones in my late 50’s. I was scheduled for a bladder stone operation. I prayed to God fearing I might die. No more did I assume I might live to be 80. I wanted to live. Later I was walking across my room. An inner voice asked me to turn on the TV. It was tuned to a PBS show featuring a vegan doctor’s plant based nutrition plan. I was listening intently. After the show I went online and bought a Kindle version of one of his books. I began switching to a primarily plant based diet. My blood pressure started to drop, I started to lose weight and my kidneys recovered. I have not seen a kidney stone in a long time. My morning blood pressure has been in the normal range recently. I am on a no added salt diet. My weight is in the normal range while many are overweight or obese. Obesity kills people. I know God is alive and can communicate with people.

zoidar said:

For many years I have been struggeling with something. At a Christian festival as I sat among the people thinking about this problem an older woman (I never seen before) a few seats away started profetizing with a loud voice. It was like she was talking directly to me, starting with "So says the Lord..." and continuing with describing my problem and ending with that I didn't have to worry and that God would help me.

This is maybe five years ago and still the prophecy hasn't come true. Now I wonder why. Is it because I doubted in God's promise or because of personal sins, or maybe something else? Maybe more important, is the prophecy still valid or do think God has taken it back?

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zoidar said, "This is maybe five years ago and still the prophecy hasn't come true. Now I wonder why. Is it."

Zoidar, first, my heart goes out to you for experiencing this disappointment and discouragement.


Scripture teaches according to Jude 1:3, Eph 2:19-20, and 2 Pet 1:19-20 that the Gift of Prophecy has ceased.

What ever comfort, encouragement, and wisdom you have been looking to in this person who gave you a supposed prophecy is only found when you look with your whole heart to God's Word the bible and what promises has he made to his sons and daughters... Remember, satan is an angel of light dressed up todeceive...

You said that it felt like this woman was talking directly to you and that she described your problem. It all just could have been a coincidence.