Prophesiers vs. Propheliars: The Saga Continues

It’s one thing to be called by God, it’s another thing to knowingly or unknowingly exploit God’s calling for the purposes of self-exaltation.

So, is it okay to give yourself a “title” when it comes to being called to the ministry? Sure, but you gotta be careful.

Let’s take a quick look at the five-fold ministry offices as according to Ephesians 4:11:

11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

So we see, according to the Bible, God assigned ministerial offices to The Body for the building up of God’s people and to help prepare them for works of service.

Unfortunately, all five of these ministerial offices have been either abused or mistreated by many of those who profess themselves as Christians.  Why? Simply because some who felt called to the position did not understand the difference between God’s calling and being infatuated with a call. There’s big difference.

The prophetic office has been exploited more often than most, especially as of late, because it’s perceived as the most glamorous office.  Why? Well because, if you read the bible, it’s the office where God speaks to his certain “called out” servants to help guide his people.  The prophetic office has also become glamorized through Christian television.  However, we cannot solely blame Christian television for this.  Though the Office of The Prophet has been influenced encouraged by Evangelicals and is mostly prevalent in Evangelical Pentecostal circles, the decision to become “a prophet” lies within the individual.

Unfortunately (again) Christendom has turned into a circus of both prophesiers and propheliars, battling for the attention of God’s people.  And why is there such a fight?  Well, because it’s human nature for a person to have to try and prove to someone that they’re spiritual.  The more they can convince others that they’re close to God; in fact, if they can convince you that they’re even a prophetic servant of God, the better they feel about themselves.  This is the mindset of some of those who believe that they’re called to the prophetic office.

So, what’s the first thing they do after they get–”the call?”

They go out and get business cards that reads: “Prophet” or “Prophetess” on it.  Anything wrong with that?  Whatever tickles your fancy, lol.  But know this: true prophets of God usually don’t reveal their office because they understand the consequences of misusing God’s words.  And if we all miss the boat sometimes, one should question whether or not they should proceed to market the “prophetic office.”

Also, if you’ll notice, there’s not a lot of prophets or prophetesses out there breaking down the specifics of what is on the heart of God.  In the Old Testament days, there were specifics.  Additionally, in those days, death was declared upon those prophets who didn’t speak the true words of God, whether it was done intentionally or not.

If I’m black and overweight, I don’t necessarily need you to tell me that God told you to tell me to lose weight because I have high blood pressure, lol.

Let’s face it, organized church is a business.  It may be “God’s business” but it’s still a business.  The hard question is, where do you draw the line?  When does the utilization of the five-fold ministry office become an exploitation and misrepresentation of that office?  Ideally everyone is accountable to God but the accountability in regards to the misrepresentation and abuse of the five-fold ministry offices is scarce in the local churches.

Lastly, a lot of people believe they’re called to the prophetic office just because they assume they heard “the voice of God.”  They start goin’ around telling folks, “The Lord told me to tell  you…” or “The Lord revealed to me that you should…”

First of all, listen; if God does have a plan for you to speak to others, the first thing he’ll work on is you.  Not the others, lol…you.

The Prophet Joel.

Those who have misrepresented God either willingly or unwillingly have given the word “Christian” a bad rap because through their immaturity and zealousness, they spend most of their time trying to change others instead of working on themselves.

If you want to be used by God, you have to pay your dues, and you pay your dues by continually “decreasing” each time he uses you.  I hope that I do not come across as harsh.  If so, forgive me, but I just want you to be careful.  A “title” will seemingly help to give you an identity, I understand that.  However your true identity can never be found in a title alone.

You can walk like a prophet, talk like a prophet, tell people that you are a prophet, but that doesn’t make you a prophet.  And the spirits of the prophets are always subject to the prophets.

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