THE EMERGING PHENOMENON OF LYING & EXAGGERATING IN PROPHETIC MINISTRY

🗣️ We have now reached a crucial point of practice where many of the dysfunctions that have gone unchecked by some of the previous generations are now being reproduced by the younger, and in turn, normalized as ‘standard operating procedure.’

Unfortunately, the absence of prophetic integrity has so prevailed within many prophetic circles that an ever-expanding culture of compromise exists right in front of us – though rarely ever addressed. The issue of lack of integrity, and even outright dishonesty, has peppered some of even our foremost prophetic voices.

A CULTURE OF UNCHECKED EXAGGERATION

Why address this uncomfortable subject? Probably only a few have soiled themselves with such compromise. However, manipulation, gimmicks and dishonesty have become quite common among many prophets and prophetic voices in recent years.

Of course, it is easy to join the bandwagon of YouTube and other media critics calling out anyone who found themselves prophe-lying at some point, a false prophet. This falls into the category of what we might call, verbally stoning the person. But the complexity of this issue goes much deeper and is worth looking at.

In a way, we could have predicted the dysfunction in this era of social media fame, and celebrity leadership model representing some of the most predominant expressions of “the work of the ministry” (Ephesians 4:12).

ANSWERING THE QUESTION

Why has the reputation of the prophetic movement has fallen into disarray in recent years?

This is largely due to an almost complete absence of the ability to look backwards at previous prophetic words, along with a reluctance to properly weigh, judge and assess words spoken directly to the body of Christ.

As yucky as all this sounds, we must remember… For the true Believer, God does work with us and through us, even on our worst days. The sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, is a reality we can experience.

But this issue also raises an interesting question. Knowing that compromise so easily creeps into our hearts as the result of our fallen human condition, even within the Church, on what basis can we announce to everyone, “Thus says the Lord,” and then open our mouths and have people trust us?

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Until we reach maturity 🙏🏻

(Cont’d)