Every year, there is an influx of prophetic words released by those claiming to hear the voice of God and what He is saying for the New year. There are so many words circulating online that it can be difficult, if not impossible, to keep track of them all and to keep those accountable who claim to be prophets. Recently, I took time to listen to several prophetic words for 2023 and to test them against the more sure Word of prophecy, Scripture. If you have listened to my podcast for any length of time, or if you have read my blog, you know my background and how much I value the Word of God. You also know how much error I acknowledge personally from years past, and how thankful I am for God’s mercy and forgiveness.

When watching or listening to these words, a pattern emerged in “one-word prophecies”. This is not uncommon or exclusive to the New Year. There were several individuals claiming that God told them a specific word and then elaborating on that word. Some of the words for this year were reset, establish, extreme, acceleration, relevance, and sobriety. People were warned about distractions, disappointment, and deception. There was talk of the Jehus rising, the Josephs being established, and the Deborahs stepping into authority and power. An emphasis on the revival and prophetic partnering with the deliverance ministry was also stated by some, and at times, people were encouraged to sow into this New Year and to expect a harvest, particularly after hearing the release of these prophetic words.

Amos 3:7 was mentioned on more than one occasion, stating that God does nothing without revealing it to His servants, the prophets. This is a commonly noted verse of Scripture in order to validate the word being spoken as coming from God. Passages and chapter numbers containing the number 23 were claimed as confirmation of the prophetic words being released for 2023. There were visions attested to for this year, one consisting of people trying to catch the glory of God with their hands. Scripture is helpful to record for us the reaction of those who were in proximity to the glory of God so that we may test such a claim (2 Chronicles 5:14, Exodus 40:35, 1 Kings 8:11, 2 Chronicles 7:2).

Perhaps you are wondering why I spend time even discussing such matters. I do this to help other women who have come out of this movement or who are still in this movement. I want to offer insight and to encourage the practice of being a good Berean and obeying Scripture. We are told to test everything. We are told to judge with righteous judgment, and we are instructed to speak the truth in love. There are concerns and thoughts surrounding such claims that I believe should be considered.

Anyone claiming to speak for God is espousing tremendous authority in what they say. This is noted time and again in Scripture with the prophets of God, and we also see what false prophets had to say to God’s people and the consequences of their actions. God takes it seriously when individuals ascribe words to His name which He never said. Ironically, Jeremiah 23 talks about the false prophets filling people with vain hopes, speaking of visions of their own minds and not from the mouth of the Lord (Jeremiah 23:16). God did not send them or speak to them, yet they ran, and they prophesied. They relied on dreams and visions to be the standard of truth to lead the Israelites astray. This concerns me for those who put stock in the words of these alleged prophets today. Sadly, there are many who know more about these modern prophetic words than they do about the written Word of God, and they have been told to trust the prophets and to believe them so that they will succeed. They have been potentially manipulated to not question or to test these things when Scripture says otherwise.

Did any prophets in Scripture say they heard “one-word” prophecies? Are we told to expect the emulating rise of Biblical characters in our personal lives? What about looking for descriptive passages referring to specific numbers, are we to prescribe those things to our lives in a prophetic or mystical way? These are some questions that come to mind when I listen to these words. There was much in the way of self-exaltation rather than exalting Jesus Christ in many of these words. It was also evident the scarcity of God’s written Word while focusing on the new and fresh claimed in God’s name.

The angel in Revelation 19:10 told John the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. The Bible continuously testifies of Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ is to be proclaimed and to be recalled. We are reminded of being conformed to His image. Thank God we are not called to be Jehus, Deborahs, or Josephs because they were fallible people in need of a Savior. As believers, we are to be like Christ.

I have a word for you in 2023. All of us have sinned and have rebelled against a holy God. Sin entered through Adam, and now all sin. We have broken His law, and being a just Judge, He punishes sin. Apart from Christ, we are sons of disobedience and children of wrath. There is good news though. God sent His Son, born of a virgin, pure and perfect in every way, to fulfill the Law and the words of the prophets. He did what we could not do. He atoned for our sin on the cross. He satisfied the wrath of God by drinking the cup of God’s wrath to the dregs. He took upon Himself the iniquity of us all. He has made a way for reconciliation to God the Father, and He has cleansed us from all unrighteousness while we were yet sinners and enemies to God. There is no other way to the Father except through Him. His atonement washes us clean, clothing us in His righteousness. He has saved us from the penalty of sin, and He has saved us from the power of sin, praise be to God. He not only died for our sins, but He rose from the dead. He gives us the promise of eternal life by grace through faith in Him, and one day, those in Christ will be saved from the presence of sin in glorification. Our faith is in the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Repentance is God’s kindness. He does not have to grant repentance or His grace, but He does. He is just, holy, long suffering, merciful, and gracious. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not something we graduate from in our lives. There is no other word that we need to hear daily and to proclaim often. I will never get over what He has done on my behalf. I will never get over this good news to my bad news. It is something I need to hear every day and to remember from what I have been saved and to rejoice in Him. The gospel is prophetic, and it is Christ centered.

Proclaim this word. Meditate on this word, and if I could encourage you in any way for this year and the years to come, the Word of God is sufficient and more than enough.

Listen to this episode as I discuss four of these prophecies in-depth: The Lovesick Scribe Podcast: I Have A Word for You in 2023 on Apple Podcasts