When Personal Prophecy Becomes the Foundation
There are moments in my life in which I could take you to a physical location where I received what many of us deem as prophetic words. There were many times I believed and claimed to have heard the voice of God speaking internally to me, writing down these words in a journal now tattered and falling apart. Over the years, many of the public prophecies spoken over me were also written in this journal. I remember going to this book often as I reminded myself of what was said to be from the Lord, and I would instruct others to do the same with their prophetic words. This book showed the wear and use it endured as a once treasured possession.
In the prophetic movement, we were taught how to receive a prophetic word. Many of us were even told what not to prophesy (mates, dates, and children) and that a prophetic word will typically confirm what God has already spoken to you. If you received a word that did not resonate with your spirit, or it did not confirm something to you, that word was to be shelfed and reexamined. We were encouraged to write down these words and to value them and to have faith in them coming to pass. Samuel was used as an example of struggling to hear the voice of God personally, and Hezekiah’s extension of life was viewed as the capability to change God’s prophetic decrees.
As I revisited this journal I had kept over the years, I had a sinking feeling while reading both the words I had attributed to God and the words spoken over me in public gatherings attributed to God. For years, I had gone to this journal to be encouraged and reminded of God’s words over my life. I brought them to my remembrance many times in the waiting and desire for prophetic fruition. I had been encouraged by leaders in the prophetic movement to write these words down and to put them before me so I would not forget what God had spoken over me, and I did this without question. In fact, I did this for years without question, and what is even more unnerving is that I spent far more time reflecting and reminding myself of these words than what Scripture had to say.
These written words had become logos. It had become the trusted written Word of God, which could not be proven to be from God and which could be fallible in the modern prophetic movement without concern. Though I had said that these words were not on par with Scripture, I had inadvertently placed them on par with Scripture while neglecting the very God breathed Word profitable for instruction, reproof, and correction. In other words, my prophetic journal had become my Bible. Thanks be to God, that is no longer the case.
For those who have kept a prophetic journal and who have put stock in the contents of the pages, I would like to pose some questions: when words are written down on those pages, are they viewed as rhema now becoming logos with authority? If we are to value these words, is this not placing them on par with Scripture? Are these words receiving precedent over Scripture for your personal life? For those who have come out of this movement, we must be willing to ask the tough questions regarding our personal lives and to consider if a god of our own imagination has been created in these words we value, telling us how special and anointed we are, rather than pointing to Christ and to His glorious gospel, the more sure Word of prophecy (2 Peter 1:19-21).
When we read and study Scripture, we find a consistent pattern with God speaking to people and through His prophets. We find His Word to be authoritative and instructive. We find it convicting and testifying of Christ and His gospel. We find the call to repentance. We find accuracy and sound communication. What we do not find are vague generalized words that are said to bear witness with our spirit and to confirm what God has already told us personally. We do not find accounts of people being told “put the word on a shelf”, as if to insinuate that a true word from God is to be ignored or even dismissed. We are to stand on the Word of God as the standard of truth. God has spoken through His Word. It is sufficient, and it is a firm foundation.
Listen to this episode of The Lovesick Scribe podcast regarding the topic of prophetic journals and personal prophetic words: The Lovesick Scribe Podcast: When Personal Prophecy Becomes the Foundation on Apple Podcasts
4 thoughts on “When Personal Prophecy Becomes the Foundation”
As the old saying goes, “I was not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet.” But I’ve heard my fair share of so called “personal prophecies” and personal words over the span of 30 years in Pentecostal/Charismatic churches, and I always had my doubts about many of them. However, on the other hand what about those of us that sat under years and years of the preaching of pastors and preachers who were masters at Eisegesis of the Scriptures? Those who “preached” only a few words from a single verse or two, then proceeded to tell you “what God showed them that this really meant?” And many never declared themselves a prophet but were quick to speak their “God spoke to me and told that this verse really means, yada, yada, yada!” And the unsuspecting “sheep” wrote down their “God spoke to me interpretations!” And studied those words, and lived by those words, not the words of Holy Scripture. You might be in the wrong church if you quote “the words” of your pastor more than you quote the words of the Bible!!!
I’ve got notes from many sermons that have some of the most unbelievably Biblically errant teaching ever! Nothing new that you don’t hear from discernment writers, but nevertheless they are heretical and one can never see Christ in all the Scriptures from their teaching. Instead the teaching promotes an I-Me-My, Dream-Destiny, speak to your mountain, ear tickling gospel of greed, success, and health. In other words, it appeals directly to the desires of the flesh.
I was hoping you might even be able to address situations like this in future podcasts. Oh the damage that it does! And as you well know how many years it takes to “undo” the damage of errant teaching! And then there’s the daily nagging guilt and shame of, “how did I ever fall for and follow such damning, self-promoting lies for so many years?”
Thank you so much for your teaching and encouragement!
Thank you for sharing. It does indeed do much damage. Thanks be to God for the truth of His Word and for His mercy and grace. Blessings to you, Ron.
I know a man who was given this word: “Do not compromise with controlling spirits.” So, everyone that came to him with a disagreement or suggestion was deemed a controlling spirit to be resisted. This man is in the last days of his life and wonders why he has no friends. So very sad.
I do sincerely agree with this post. I know this post is focusing on the prophetic movement and those getting out of it , but I would like to mention that all teachings whether labeled as a prophecy or word from the Lord must be scrutinized. Even well known or respected teachers. We must do our own research in all doctrine. We cannot be spoonfed, but do the digging ourselves. This means seeking for truth from all sides of a perspective to be sure we are growing properly rather than falling for other man made doctrines. Waking up from such a diabolical movement as the prophetic we must be extra cautious of all teachings we find ourselves gleaning from. Do the work of research and hearing all sides of a perspective before drawing conclusions. We are very susceptible to being drawn into misleading teachings that don’t use “god said” but are just as damaging yet less obvious. If the fruits of the spirit are not present when challenging beliefs or digging deeper, that’s a red flag and it helped me realize the truth has nothing to fear. But when Christians show unchristian behavior check the doctrine they believe. It will stand the test of scrutiny if it’s true. But it’s a good litmus test because the fruits of the spirit will be evidence and the love we have among ourselves we will be known by. If those two things are missing, research the foundation of the doctrine you are believing as truth.
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