Possible just to "mess up" a prophecy?

sometimes people just miss it. You gotta give them freedom to fail. And you need to know that you have that same freedom too.

What they are doing when they say, “Thus saith the Lord,” when the Lord, in fact, doesn’t say any such thing, is taking the Lord’s name in vain. And, unless I am mistaken, that is near the top of God’s Top Ten Sins List. And in the OT God had a remedy for that—But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, that same prophet shall die (Deut. 18.20).
Fact is, though, all the Lord’s people are prophets; we all utilize the true NT gift of prophecy all the time in the sense that the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation (1 Cor. 14.3). We just don’t always know when our good words are, in fact, God-words, used by the Holy Spirit to spiritually strengthen, encourage, and console someone. Because I am a public speaker, I often hear people tell me that something I said in a sermon/lesson or maybe in just a passing conversation gave them a boost over one of those life hurdles. It may have been something said offhand and I may or I may not remember the statement at all but it turned out to be something that was used by God to help someone else. Nothing sensational, nothing world-shaking, nothing elaborate—just a simple word used by God to help someone else.
This happens to you, too, probably every week, especially if you are walking in the Spirit. We are all the Lord’s prophets.
That’s my take on it. Whew! That feels better.

~Jim

Sorry, Jim, are you suggesting she stone her friend to death? And as for God's Top ten Sin list - that creates a huge image in my head of Jimmy Saville - "And now then, now then, now then, at number 4, up two places, Homosexuality!"

GrapeGirl said:

sometimes people just miss it. You gotta give them freedom to fail. And you need to know that you have that same freedom too.

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Now you get the Zzub award for saying what he was going to say, saying it first and saying it better.

woot!

JimB said:

This whole misguided idea of NT “prophecy” is a real issue for me and I cut most self-styled and self-anointed public “prophets” about as much slack and credibility as I do Chicken Little who said the sky was falling and the boy who cried, “Wolf!” one-too-many times. Some of these much-too-public “prophets” who make outlandish Nostradamus-style predictions couched in cloudy, ambiguous Nostradamus-like language and call simply add a “Thus saith the Lord” or “I have a word from God” to it are in every sense of the word “false prophets”. If they miss the mark they simply shrug, we overlook their error, and they keep right on doing it with impunity.
​

What they are doing when they say, “Thus saith the Lord,” when the Lord, in fact, doesn’t say any such thing, is taking the Lord’s name in vain. And, unless I am mistaken, that is near the top of God’s Top Ten Sins List. And in the OT God had a remedy for that—But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, that same prophet shall die (Deut. 18.20).

Apparently God puts more value in those who “speak a word in His name” than many P/C’s I know do.
​

Fact is, though, all the Lord’s people are prophets; we all utilize the true NT gift of prophecy all the time in the sense that the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation (1 Cor. 14.3). We just don’t always know when our good words are, in fact, God-words, used by the Holy Spirit to spiritually strengthen, encourage, and console someone. Because I am a public speaker, I often hear people tell me that something I said in a sermon/lesson or maybe in just a passing conversation gave them a boost over one of those life hurdles. It may have been something said offhand and I may or I may not remember the statement at all but it turned out to be something that was used by God to help someone else. Nothing sensational, nothing world-shaking, nothing elaborate—just a simple word used by God to help someone else.

That’s prophecy, IMO.
​

This happens to you, too, probably every week, especially if you are walking in the Spirit. We are all the Lord’s prophets.

I really don’t know what to call these people who predict sensational cataclysmic world events that too often don’t come to pass at all. But I don’t excuse them or cut them slack. If they intentionally take the Lord’s name in vain in this way I am just as repelled as if they were to shout, “G-- D--- it!” on TBN.
​

That’s my take on it. Whew! That feels better.

~Jim

On Mount Moriah, it was not Isaac God wanted – it was Abraham.​

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Jim just because God has not given some a message of warning to deliver doesnt mean that such warnings are not given to people to deliver. They should Consider themselves lucky God has not given them such a task there is no pleasure in knowing thousands will die in an area and watching it play out. there is no joy in having the responsibility of trying to deliver a warning to a specific area and have it fall on deaf and unbelieving ears all you can hope for is at least one listened. The burden is great let alone the burden of hoping that you didnt make an error in translating in hearing what God spoke to you or make an error in seeing what God has shown you. God uses each of us how and when and in what way He chooses wither it fits in our man made box or not. i realise there are many many false prophets running around just as God warned us there would be, it is up to each of us to test and keep track of the accuracy of each person who God is using to deliver His messages be it messages of warnings or edification or whatever it may be. interpretation of what one sees in their head and what is heard in their ears from God is like any other God given gift it takes some time to master and it seems a little silly to expect any man of flesh to never make an error in what they have been shown or what has been spoken to them. i for one have no problem being held to that standard because God will know my heart and its God who i serve. I believe all people and yes even servents of God whos dirty job it is to give Gods warnings of horrible disasters should be treated with the Love God defines in 1Cor13:4-7
those serving God in the way God has chosen them to serve will error because they are men of flesh. as in all things its a matter of the heart and that condition is usually evident . if some person is running around trying to make a buck off of so call prophetic warnings i would be the first to stay clear but if i see someone whos heart is in serving God and just want to deliver what God has given them then i will listen and be all ears.
Alot can happen when God is showing you something or telling you something. Just the other day during prayer God was showing me mountians with military men sneaking around i then see people in a city playing street football one of them looked up and there was a huge explosion it was horrific then God started to speak to me and said - about this time my pet dove cut loose singing me and it distracted me just enough while in prayer all i heard was the 11th now because i let myself get distracted by the dove i dont know if it was the 11th month ,day,year or what it was because i didnt hear the rest. point is i know better than to allow myself to be distracted during prayer and yet i errored now i cant deliver any message or warning because i would risk being wrong so i have to set back and watch it play out watch people die and know maybe just maybe if my concentration would have been better maybe i could have done my job and delivered a warning. i shared this just to show how very easy it is to make an error in this case it was as simple as a singing dove. and yes i have prayed but it seems i wont get a redo my concentration should have been 100% on what God was saying not some stupid bird

Hey, MillerRod, Good to have you back.

IMO, our lax attitude about judging prophecy is a scary thing. We tolerate much too much when it comes to spiritual giftings and that is probably why there is more scriptures regarding false (erroneous) prophets in the NT than about prophecy itself. Under Law prophets who prophesied erroneously were stoned to death. That should be an indication of how God feels about those of us who use his name in vain or presumptuously. Christians are told to judge prophecy (not excuse those who wrongly use it). Here’s God’s opinion on the matter, take it or leave it:
Some years ago an impressionable woman, a divorcee, in our city fell in with a small church of “prophets.” Two of these women seers played sort of divine matchmaking game and paired the woman up with a recently converted but severe alcoholic, boldly claiming they had heard from God. The woman told me about it, ecstatic that “God” had finally found her a husband. I told her to be careful and not act on it foolishly but to seek God about it and give the relationship time. She laughed, said it was God’s will—the prophets had said so—and called me an old fuddy-duddy. Two weeks later she married the alcoholic and her union with him was blessed by the prophets. The marriage lasted all of two years before the man had drained her of all her savings, wrecked her car, and fallen deeper and deeper into his alcohol addiction. He finally hitchhiked his way out of her life, leaving her spiritually drained and financially destitute. She is now so disillusioned that she has not been to church or in fellowship with believers since the man walked out on her and she just recently found a new husband after having an affair with a married man and breaking up a home. And the church full of prophets--what happened to them? Well, they disbanded about the same time her marriage to the alcoholic ended ... but not before ruining a few other lives.

That’s the fruit of not judging prophecies or resisting false prophecies. In the hands of manipulative people, just by saying “thus saith the Lord” carries a lot of spiritual currency. Some of it is counterfeit and we will never know the difference unless we take prophecy more seriously.

~Jim

When you get a prophesy, there is confirmation one way or the other - if it does not come true right now, put it on the shelf - God's timing is not our timing.

JimB said:

Hey, MillerRod, Good to have you back.

IMO, our lax attitude about judging prophecy is a scary thing. We tolerate much too much when it comes to spiritual giftings and that is probably why there is more scriptures regarding false (erroneous) prophets in the NT than about prophecy itself. Under Law prophets who prophesied erroneously were stoned to death. That should be an indication of how God feels about those of us who use his name in vain or presumptuously. Christians are told to judge prophecy (not excuse those who wrongly use it). Here’s God’s opinion on the matter, take it or leave it:

20 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.' 21And if you say in your heart, 'How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?'— 22 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. (Deut. 18)
​

Some years ago an impressionable woman, a divorcee, in our city fell in with a small church of “prophets.” Two of these women seers played sort of divine matchmaking game and paired the woman up with a recently converted but severe alcoholic, boldly claiming they had heard from God. The woman told me about it, ecstatic that “God” had finally found her a husband. I told her to be careful and not act on it foolishly but to seek God about it and give the relationship time. She laughed, said it was God’s will—the prophets had said so—and called me an old fuddy-duddy. Two weeks later she married the alcoholic and her union with him was blessed by the prophets. The marriage lasted all of two years before the man had drained her of all her savings, wrecked her car, and fallen deeper and deeper into his alcohol addiction. He finally hitchhiked his way out of her life, leaving her spiritually drained and financially destitute. She is now so disillusioned that she has not been to church or in fellowship with believers since the man walked out on her and she just recently found a new husband after having an affair with a married man and breaking up a home. And the church full of prophets--what happened to them? Well, they disbanded about the same time her marriage to the alcoholic ended ... but not before ruining a few other lives.

That’s the fruit of not judging prophecies or resisting false prophecies. In the hands of manipulative people, just by saying “thus saith the Lord” carries a lot of spiritual currency. Some of it is counterfeit and we will never know the difference unless we take prophecy more seriously.

~Jim

On Mount Moriah, it was not Isaac God wanted – it was Abraham.​

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Agreed

GrapeGirl said:

sometimes people just miss it. You gotta give them freedom to fail. And you need to know that you have that same freedom too.

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1 Thessalonians 5

19Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22Avoid every kind of evil.

Doesn't say . if they're wrong stone them . just says if they're wrong on something . then keep to what's right .

bless .

Chrisv said:

Hi Pink

I am going to reply against my better judgement as I generally try and stay away from discussions regarding the prophetic.

You will find that this forum is full of so called "experts" on the prophetic. You will find these people have long winded opinions about what the prophetic should and should not be and how it should and should not be operated in. Many of these people is and was in the ministry at one stage and they think that qualifies them to be a expert.

Question:
If you are studying to be a pilot, would you let yourself be trained by someone who have a lot of theoretical knowledge about flying but never actually flew a plane themselves? Of course not! You will let yourself be trained by a seasoned pilot who has spent many hours in a cockpit of a plane under all types of conditions, right?

Therefore, if someone gives you advice about something like the prophetic you should ask that person if he or she can provide actual proof of their own ability to prophesy. That way, you will know if the person actually knows what they are talking about.

Do I personally move in the prophetic? Yes!
Can I prove it? Yes, see this thread www.christianforums.com/t7408304/

Can someone mess up a prophecy? Absolutely! That is why there are certain protocols in place surrounding personal prophecy, eg.. Never change your direction just based on one prophecy. A prophecy that states that you must go to Africa for example, must be confirmed by God first!

My advice? Take every prophecy you get to God for confirmation.

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time-tested (Acts 11: 28)
judged by church leadership (1Corinthians14: 29)
confirmed independently (2 Corinthians 13: 1).

pinkputter said:

I am not a prophet, not that I know of.

But a friend of mine who I only talk to once a month, if that, said to me one time to read a verse. I read what she told me, only a few months went by and it came true. It was amazing almost to the point of it being a miracle.

She shared with me another prophecy she had, and it hasn't come true. At least as far as I can tell. After the first thing she shared with me, it was clear she prophesied. But her other prophecy hasn't become as true as the other.

Is there such thing as simply "messing up" or misinterpreting a sign God gives you...or is it completely wrong and just becomes false prophecy?

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GOD shows us many things in our walk with HIM, that doesn't make any of us prophets because of it.

The prophet ministry is one of Spiritual power, not just words. Jesus wasn't known as a prophet because He said so but because GOD moved in power and bore witness through Him.

We are to test all things and know folks by their fruits, if they don't have the power of GOD testifying to their ministry claim, don't believe them.

Arbiter,

you are correct in saying that it is not a matter of talk but of power

only thing i would add (which would tie in with your testing of fruit) is that without love all the knowledge and understanding of mysteries is just a resounding gong