One thing God-called prophets get good at is discerning motives. It goes along side the gift of discerning of spirits - knowing or discerning the source of the action, whether be it God, man's flesh, or evil spirits. If a man sets himself up as judge, it sometimes is pretty obvious that "he is setting himself up as God in the temple of God," but his god is not God.
While true prophets can be friends of God, paying the price of dying to the flesh to choose His will over theirs, some others become "pals" and "advisors." Many do this inadvertently, actually noticing a true shortcoming or error or flaw, but then take His Seat rather than their seat in heavenly places. Until we pay the price of Jesus the Servant, we cannot exert the rule of Jesus the Judge.
Some may discern God's ways in nature or acts but is it redemptive? Or do they just notice sin, discerning the evil consequences of such and pronouce judgment on what God has already judged? Rather than being intercessors, they become accusers and proclaim death rather than repentance and redemption for life. It's as if sometimes the repentence is to be unto them rather than to God, and in effect, presuming upon and usurping His Authority. We should be trained up.
When we become One in Christ, and there are aspects of that today, we can pronounce and proclaim and decree and declare as He has and does. But if it divides and disects the Body, then it's not pure ministry. If the price of death is not paid for Life, if submission is to man's will and flesh rather than holiness, we have missed it somehow.
And thus we will get strange prophets (and other ministers) who minister out of a faulty doctrine. Most are blind to it, but some are not and when confronted, reveal themselves by the fruit. Some can be so attractive on the "outside" yet working the fruit of death. The Bible warns that Satan comes as an angel of light, attractive, appearing righteous but with death as his purpose, to kill, steal and destroy.
But if we know the True, we can discern the false. There is no need for us to walk in fear over this if we know the Truth, if we know the Scriptures and if we know the Spirit of the Living God. So God is going to judge an area? OK, so what? Will it bring forth life, or death?
It's true God will tear down to build something up properly with man. But He is also looking for the "ten righteous ones" in the city through intercession (as Abraham) before He condemns those who through their innocence might live.
Is God going to bless an area? OK, so what? How good will it be? Will it be for whosoever will? Who will it lift up?
If we forget there is an evil one to contend with (and oh, I know we would like to forget!), we will miss our dominion in the Spirit of God. But we can't afford to forget because our enemy is strong against this Companion of Christ. But He (our Lord Jesus) has overcome with a heart of love and expects us to do the same. It is challenging, but it is Life!
The Church is forever biting on itself. It is forever pointing out the deadness and death of what it has while not bringing forth life. It has an accusatory mouth with no plan for redemption or restoration. It is time to leave such accusations and ask for the true prophets of God for His Work. It's a true prophetic spirit.
It is true that many of us have been hurt by a system that limited us or denied God's definition of our lives. The local church is famous for exerting control and ties beyond the Scriptural bounds. But it is up to us to shake free through the gift of His Word and anointing (through prayer) which has the full ability to set us free. The problem is that many of us just do not want to change. We fear it, yet it is our life.
How can we come into our callings and destiny if we never leave the land of bondage? How can we enter the Promised Land if Egypt is comfortable? We complain loudly but do not exalt that which is right. And thus we never enter in.
What have we missed? What are we missing? What lack of agreement is holding us back? What glories and releases do we not see because instead of loving, we are accusing, even judging that which is our own? Why do we not know what redemptive tough love is?
What are we afraid of, that God will fail?