PROPHETIC MALPRACTICE

To date, the prophet, Moses, had one of the greatest prophetic ministries the world has every known, second only to Jesus Christ. Wherefore, if anyone should know about the logistics of the nature and operation of prophecy, Moses undoubtedly would.

And here is what the Almighty inspired him to record about prophetic predictions:

"And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the Name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously" (Deut. 18:21,22).

Mose emphatically stated that a prophet's prediction failing to come to pass is clearly indicative of a word which the Lord "hath not spoken."

Whence, then, this modern day tendency to blame failed predictions on those who do not "war" with their prophecies?

Moses insisted that all predictive prophecy---personal or otherwise---is unconditional.

This truth is accentuated by the fact that predictive prophecy is disclosure of the future not advice for the future. Consequently, the actions of an individual cannot determine the outcome of an event already foreseen and affirmed by God.

For example, if the Lord foresees that a particular individual will not run for the presidential election ten years from now, would He then inspire a prophet or prophetess to predict that that individual will run for election in ten years?

Of course not.

But and if God does indeed tell a prophet or prophetess to prophesy that a certain individual will run for election ten years from now, it is because---by His foreknowledge---the Lord has already foreseen that particular individual running for election.

According to Scripture failed predictions have absolutely nothing to do with a person not "warring" with his/her prophecy (as is commonly believed in most prophetic circles today). It has everything to do with a prophet or prophetess giving forth false prophecy!

Presumptuous Prophets
Perish the thought that false prophecy can only come from false prophets, for even true prophets of the Lord, by being what Moses calls "presumptuous," can give forth false prophecy.

Presumptuous is synonymous to the word "overconfident."

True prophets and prophetesses often blunder and give forth false prophecy by being presumptuous. That is, they become overconfident in their ability to speak an accurate word of prophecy without having first prepared themselves to prophesy.

Yes, that is correct---without having first prepared themselves.

I've seen many prophets and prophetesses blunder in this fashion.

Just as a surgeon cannot walk off the street directly into an operating room and begin performing surgery but must first prepare himself to operate, so, too, a prophet cannot just begin prophesying without having first prepared himself to prophesy.

If a surgeon performs surgery without first properly preparing for the operation (i.e. by washing his hands, putting on a sterile mask and scrubs, etc.), he naturally runs the risk of infecting the patient with germs and bacteria. Perhaps, even with a life-threatening virus.

Likewise, if a prophet attempts to prophesy without first properly preparing himself to drop that oracle, he runs the risk of infecting people with false prophecy.

Although the giving forth of false prophecy is taken lightly in many prophetic circles today, it remains a grave thing in the sight of the Lord. I was physically present at that fearful gathering when Bishop Kirby Clements (not the bombastic, Kim Clement), under a mighty and sobering anointing, denounced to a company of prophets and prophetesses that one can actually die prematurely by uttering prophecies in an irreverent and haphazard manner. To his words the Scriptures agree, recording the death of the prophet of God, Hananiah, for presumptuously proclaiming a false prophetic word to the people of Israel and Judah (Jer. 28:1-17).

Yet in spite of these warnings, it is painfully evident that irresponsible prophesying is actually on the rise throughout the Church.

Pay For The Damages
If a doctor's prescription is inaccurate he has committed medical malpractice and must, in some manner, pay for the damages.

Likewise, when a prophet's prediction is inaccurate he has committed prophetic malpractice and, if he is ethical, he will---in some manner---not only apologize to the victim of his malpractice, but also seek to make amends for the damage.

If, perchance, he is unable to locate that individual or compensate for the resultant damage, he must then, with all due humility, sincerely ask God to forgive his presumptuousness, then take the necessary steps to avoid a repeat occurrence.

At first, such an high and exacting standard may seem a bit intimidating but only to juvenile prophets because it exposes their spiritual immaturity, and to false prophets because it checkmates their deceitful intentions.

Mature prophets (possessed as they are with a strong spirit of justice) celebrate integrity.

Therefore, if today's prophets and prophetesses would simply adhere to the ethical guidelines that preclude prophetic malpractice, the line of demarcation between true and false prophets would become more distinct and pronounced for all to see. As proven by the ministries of the prophets of ancient Israel, 100% prophetic accuracy is both essential and attainable for all those called to the prophetic office.

This reminds me of an incident that occurred in the ministry of a particular prophet. One evening while holding a revival meeting at a certain church, he stood up to prophesy but could not tap into the prophetic flow of the Spirit. At that very moment he panicked, knowing within himself that he could not prophesy that evening simply because he had not adequately prepared himself earlier in the day. So instead of performing in the flesh in order to impress the people or to get an offering that night (like certain prophets and prophetesses would have done), he immediately shut down his meetings and returned home to repent with godly contrition. He was deeply sorrowful before the Lord for allowing himself to be distracted by causal fellowship throughout the day instead of remaining sequestered in his hotel room, spending the preparatory time necessary for giving forth accurate prophecy. That's integrity!

Achieving Devekut
According to Scripture, in order to ensure the accuracy of their prophecies, prophets and prophetesses must enter a state of consciousness called devekut in the Hebrew tongue (i.e. spiritual ecstasy through intimate communion with God) before prophesying.

Certain spiritual disciplines were used by the ancient prophets in order to achieve devekut. These disciplines are clearly revealed in Scripture, and the individual who attempts to prophesy without having first exercised these prophetic disciplines is being presumptuous about his/her prophetic abilities, engendering the risk of doing great harm to the people of God through false prophecy.

Woe be to the prophet who seeks to impress others by pretending he can accurately prophesy---any time, anywhere---by the Spirit of God without first having to utilize the prophetic disciplines of Scripture to do so!

Prophets and prophetesses must be mature and responsible people, and cease blaming those to whom they prophesy for not warring with their predictions if and when those prophecies fail to come to pass. This form of blameshifting is characteristic of juvenile prophets who seek to make light of their superficiality, and of false prophets who endeavor to conceal their artificiality.

I have seen people overjoyed and completely elated about bright and promising prophecies they received concerning their future, only to see these same people years later, downcast and dejected, morbidly blaming themselves for failing to somehow properly "war" with those prophecies which failed to come to pass.

However, their depression was grossly unfounded simply because they believed the lie that failed predictions was their fault. If only they knew to lay the blame squarely where God lays it---upon the presumptuous prophets and prophetesses who are guilty of committing the unthinkable act of prophetic malpractice!