God is God of purpose. He has purpose in everything that He does.
He has purpose in creation. He has purpose in the rains and the shine.
When God gave gifts to men, He had purpose. There is prophecy purpose.
The purpose of prophecy is not to show-off. It is not to show that we are more spiritual than others. It is not to exalt others or us. Prophecy as a spiritual gift has three distinct purpose:
1) Edification
2) Exhortation
3) Comfort
But what do we mean by edification, exhortation and comfort? To edify
means to strengthen. To exhort means to revive and comfort means encouragement.
God instituted the ministry of prophecy for the strengthening of the church and not for weakening her. When we prophecy and people are discouraged. When men are not challenged and stirred up by our prophecies, then our ministration is not fit for purpose.
God designed prophecy to usher in peace and not war. When prophecies are made in the church and women carry their bags and leave the church. When men gather their Bible and run away from the presence of God because of prophecy. When people prophesy and the church gets wounded instead of being healed, things fall apart and remain in pieces, the atmosphere of God’s presence departs, we better retreat and seek counsel.
Spirit filled pastors, elders and members should not fold their hands and watch things go bad. We should commend whenever necessary and also rebuke when there is need for rebuke. But do you know that there are places where we have weak pastors and elders. Where gifted men and women are revered and treated like sacred cows. They fear the prophets and the church is torn apart. God forbid.
SAD
EXPERIENCES IN OUR CHURCHES
It is indisputable to say that most prophecies in our churches have caused
problems instead of solving problems. Some of them have caused confusion;
some others have divided the church; others have caused segregation, hatred,
grumbling and chaos. This is anti will of God for the church. Some people
have divorced their wives; others have abandoned their parents, jobs and
even Christ just because some body prophesied.
In some places, prophecies had become a weapon for manipulating innocent worshippers and thus making them spiritual robots. We should rise up against such odds and evil practices no matter who is involved.
THERE
IS NO DIVINE PURPOSE IN PROPHECY WHEN YOU SPEAK YOUR MIND
Prophecy is not speaking your mind, wishes and desires. It is not relaying
the information, which you gathered from anywhere concerning a thing,
place or person. If you heard that a brother fail into sin on a Friday,
and you come to church on a Sunday and prophecy that a certain brother
has committed fornication, you have not prophesied. You have only gossiped.
There is no divine purpose in this kind of prophecy.
Prophecy is an utterance to the church in a native language and in the power of the Holy Spirit to edify, exhort and comfort. When it is spoken to destroy and cause problems, then we are only hypocrites
A TRUE
STORY
A story was told about a confusion that once wrecked a church. In that
particular church, there was a sister who was described by many as beautiful.
She had an attractive personality. Her smiles and soft-spoken quality
made her outstanding and irresistible. Her punctuality in every church
activity earned her an enviable credibility. No doubt she became the dream
of almost every single brother in that church. Hence, she became a prayer
point to many young men.
In the same church there was also this zealous brother who believes in Mathew 11:12
“And from the days of John the Baptist, until now the Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
One day, he decided to fast and to pray for a life partner. As a Bible believing Christian, he quickly remembered Psalm 37:4 “Delight thyself in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart”.
He got focused
on the Lord and at the same time desired the sister. He believed that
God can do all things including giving him his burning desire for this
sister. He fasted and prayed a prayer unto the Lord. He told the Lord
that he needs a life partner and that according to His word he has desired
the sister. Having believed that God has granted his prayers, he remembered
that God does confirm His words with signs. A recent Bible study, which
they had on Gideon’s experience, was still fresh in his memory and
he recited the memory verse Judges 6:36-37
And Gideon said unto God, if thou Wilt save Israel by mine hand, as
thou hast said, behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and
if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside,
then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast
said.
On a Saturday
night, he prayed and said-
God of heaven and earth, I thank you because you have given so and so
person to me as a life partner. Now as a confirmation let it be that whoever
that will be the first to come to church tomorrow is your will for me.
On Sunday morning, the brother got ready and went to church expecting that the sister who usually comes first and whom she has desired will soon arrive. As he stooped low meditating and praying for answered prayer, he heard what appeared to be a noise from a moving wheelbarrow. His heartbeat increased still believing that it was the sister. To his utter dismay, the only crippled sister in the church wheeled into the church hall. Guess what. The brother bubbled in tongues and started rebuking the devil for challenging the will of God for him. He could not believe his eyes. He pinched himself to make sure that it was not in the dream. He stood up and walked round and he got convinced that it was in reality. He tried to muster courage and reassured himself that he will take it by force.
The worship leader had just concluded his ministration and there was this atmosphere of His presence when suddenly the brother rattled in tongues and started hopping on one leg and towards the sister. As soon as he got to the sister, he pointed at her and prophesied
La La La la
la la
Pa pa pa pa pa pa
Riba Riba Riba
Thus said the Lord,
You are mine wife
You are my wife
You are my wife
Without delay, the sister stood still, looking towards heaven and also prophesied:
Ma ma curia,
Ma ma curira
Ye ma ma ma ma ma
Thus saith the Lord God almighty
I am not your wife
I am not your wife
I am not your wife
Immediately,
the pastor rang a bell stopping the two prophets but to no avail.
Elders rushed to them and started unlocking them because what started
like a drama had turned to a mini “civil war”. The brother
wanted to take it by force and the sister decided to reject it by force.
What a shame.
THIS IS NOT PROPHECY. IT IS WAR OF WORDS.
Pastor Monday
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