Prophets and Fear

by Pam Clark

I have dealt with the subject of gloom and doom prophets in the past, and this is just a further thought on that.

There are many who are what I would call "wannabe prophets" who are good at coming up with scare stories and then telling everybody, "We need to pray!" No doubt, this is good prayer exercise, but when it doesn't come to pass, these people consider themselves leaders because they got people to do something.

Having been on the internet a while and coming across many of these, and even seeing ministry conferences totally dedicated to such, I can't help wondering, how gullible are people? In some cases, pretty gullible!

People have dreams, visions, and I promise you they invent imaginations of their own heart and call it "revelation from God." People get words and thoughts and ideas and play with them at the expense of the Christian community.

As one who is called to mentor prophets (and not the only one), I have seen a lot of this and consider it a trend now and part of the growing process that needs to be corrected. Teenagers often "know" more than their parents on many things, but then later you hear these same people say: "The older I get, the smarter my parents become!"

You can't complain when people get in the Scriptures and get closer to God through praying and fasting and come into unity through sharing. All that is good. But I've begun to see a trend that I cannot say is of God.

Since His thoughts and His ways are higher than ours, I think we should try to be more discerning.

"If the blind lead the blind, they both fall into the ditch." [words of Jesus] We can get a good rally going and then Crash Ka-boom!

The "Shepherding Movement" was such as that. It started off as a good idea for spiritual accountability, which we all need and is Scriptural. But sheep are sheep and many will follow some blindly and it wasn't long before you were told which stores you could shop at, what foods you could or couldn't eat and who you should or should not associate with, what clothes to wear and how to raise your kids. Some of it got totally out of hand because the leadership was evil and way too controlling. The fruit was not God.

Thank goodness, God gave us His Word in a Book and it's been with us from one generation to the next since not too long after the early Church was started. I have to be careful writing here, because some will say we should have no leaders, each should do his own thing, and that would not be true because Ephesians 4:11-16 plainly says that God has set up leaders for the Church as we know it today. According to the Word, Jesus set this ministry team up and defined their job descriptions.

Now of course, we have many who want to tweak this, but does it line up with the full counsel of God? After a while, you have to discern, "Is what I am getting building me up, making me closer to God, keeping me strong and on the right track for a productive life in Christ or not?"

I have prayed for many of these "scare events" only after a while to realize I was running around in circles, but looking and feeling mighty important! But when deluged with so many and not praying, and not getting a witness, I realized, this is just a game for some! Well meaning, perhaps, but I started feeling led to ask for Scriptures so I could put it in Biblical context and for proofs that this word was from God. God will give signs.

Again we have to be careful, because there are lying signs and wonders, but God will confirm His Word. And what may be right on for one, may not be for another, but the fruit and character of God, who is Love, will manifest, even the power.

I had a friend who used to dream many dreams almost every night. These were real revelations to her. Some were real good. Then I began to enter her dreams and at first it was curious and I thought, "Ok, I will think about that," and then the spirit of control began to grow and I knew these dreams were false because they did not witness my personal life.

She would see dangers for me or even something good, and it did not come to pass and most were without Scriptural foundation. Sometimes she would come up with a Scripture, but it was more to back up the dream than lay a Spiritual foundation.

She was a nice person, but was totally blown away by the winds of these dreams. I decided not to "go there" and got a big relief. It even made her mad for a while that I would not submit, but I finally realized this was a controlling spirit at work through her and I was delivered in breaking that connection.

At the time, I just considered her a baby Christian with a new gift. She was still learning the Word, and I pray that time will mature her with wisdom. Even though she is or was a baby Christian then, this was a test from the Holy Spirit. It is possible that some people will not pass the tests! You will know if you have stronger character for God's will or not by lining up with the Word.

If a person is born again and especially if they are Spirit filled, the Holy Spirit is at work trying to give right reason. He is on the inside of you and He is speaking. Because of past garbage and wrong mindsets, sometimes we don't hear clearly or interpret it well. But if we allow the Scriptures to shine the light and find loving people who will help, we can get the picture!!!

There will be wars and rumors of wars. Ask the Spirit to reveal to you even how you should pray.

Jesus said to pray:

Our Father who art in Heaven,

Hallowed (sacred) is your Name.

Your Kingdom come! Your will be done! On this earth as it is (already) in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread (it's ok to ask for physical and spiritual food everyday!)

And forgive us our sins (what!? where is that word that gets me off the hook, like debts or trespasses?) as we forgive those who sin against us.

And lead us not into temptation (help us to have the will of God and not the lusts of the flesh)

But deliver us from evil. (yes, we need that! Some will say they don't need that, but they lie. That's a good sign to let you know if they are a false prophet or teacher or not! Jesus came in the flesh because we ALL needed atonement. Those who deny this are not of God, the Scriptures say.)

For Thine (to you belongs) the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, Forever. Amen!