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How can we avoid the misuse of prophecy in the church?

A Special Ministries Today Forum

Interest in prophetic ministry has grown in recent years, but along with it has come a wave of important questions. How should the gift function in the local church? Are there guidelines for its operation? And how do you handle situations in which it is abused or when prophets step out of line?

Because the prophetic is often misunderstood and misused, many pastors choose the easy way out and avoid it altogether. But this isn't the best solution. Understanding the gift and how it functions in balance can release a new level of anointing in a church's ministry.

To provide insight into this critical issue, Ministries Today asked recognized leaders in prophetic ministry for their observations and understanding regarding the gift of prophecy. Following is our dialogue with Cindy Jacobs, Ted Haggard, Bill Hamon, Mike Bickle and Juanita Bynum.

MINISTRIES TODAY: How does the gift of prophecy differ or coincide with prophecy in the Old Testament?

Jacobs: In the Old Testament, prophets were the main people who heard from God. In contrast, all New Testament believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and have been given the ability to prophesy (see 1 Cor. 14:39).

However, not everyone is placed in the body by the Lord in the office of prophet. In the Old Testament there were those called to be prophets and those who were occasionally touched by what might be called the spirit of prophecy, such as when Saul fell down under the power of God and it was pondered, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" (1 Sam. 19:24, NKJV).

Bickle: The Old Testament has a higher standard required for prophetic ministry than the New Testament. In the Old Testament they prophesied from a direct open communication with God, such as hearing the audible voice of the Lord or seeing a vision.

In the New Testament, we often prophesy by faith as the Holy Spirit gives impressions in our spirit. There is room for misinterpretation of these impressions; thus, prophets are exhorted to judge or discern one another.

Haggard: In Old Testament times, God's people relied on prophets to tell them what He was saying. Dependency on prophets was so high that it was a capital offense for a prophet to misrepresent the word of the Lord.

In the New Testament and throughout church history, we continue to have both the office of the prophet and the gift of prophecy, but our dependency is not as great because the Spirit has been given to all believers.

Thus, the New Testament church has very few "Thus saith the Lord" types of encounters to communicate a specific word of the Lord. The letters written by the first apostles are the Word of the Lord. Most importantly, Jesus is the Word of the Lord. God described Himself perfectly in Jesus (see Col. 1:15), and we have His example to follow. So in today's church we are not as dependent on prophets in order for us to know His will.

Our New Testament churches cannot find fullness in ministry without the prophetic, however. Paul describes necessary ingredients for church life three times, and only prophecy is mentioned all three times (see Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:10; 30). No other office or function is discussed with equal frequency or fervency (see 1 Cor. 14:1).

Bynum: Today prophecy is taken so much for granted that I believe people treat it as if it is the latest fad. Often an individual recognizes that they have the gift of prophecy from having been given a word, instead of having received a word for another. A sense of excitement flares, and they go on a roll, trying to prophesy to others. The bad part is when they become high on their gift to the point that they do not deem it necessary to fast and pray.

Too often, prophets operate out of their soulish realm, which is dangerous. A prophet misusing the gift of prophecy will subject that gift to what is felt instead of what God is really saying.

Hamon: My broad definition of prophecy is "expressing the heart and mind of God by the revelation and enablement of the Holy Spirit." It is a gifted ability that can be "stirred up," activated and exercised by the faith of the believer.

Prophesying is not to be belittled. "Despise not prophesyings" (1 Thess. 5:20, KJV). Prophecy is to be desired, manifested, proven and then fulfilled. All Christians do not have the gift of prophecy, but all can move in the "spirit of prophecy," which is the testimony of Jesus to His people (see Rev. 19:10).

Prophets in the Old Testament prophesied only when the Spirit moved strongly upon them or God spoke directly to them. New Testament prophets have a continuous abiding of the Christ within and that special grace and faith for drawing upon the heart and mind of God whenever their faith makes a draw upon that anointing.

Some have asked me how I can prophesy to anyone, anytime. I usually reply that it is by the revelation, grace and faith that Christ has given. To help a person understand this principle one has only to ask a charismatic if he can exercise his spiritual gift of praying in the language of the Spirit anytime and anyplace.

The way that a Spirit-filled Christian speaks with their gifted ability of praying in tongues is the same way that I prophesy with Christ's gift of prophecy, and it is the same way a believer prophesies according to his revelation, grace and faith. Biblical prophesying is the same from Genesis to Revelation in that it reveals the heart and mind of God by supernatural insight and utterance.

Prophets and prophesying are mentioned more than 400 times in the Bible. Prophesying started in the Garden of Eden when God spoke His heart and mind to Adam and Eve and when Adam prophesied to his wife. We find prophets and prophecy still alive and active in the last chapter of the last book of the Bible.

Prophets and personal prophecy are the main avenue through which God has communicated with mankind and His church. Paul declared that when he went anywhere he communicated the heart and mind of God in one of four ways. The first two were by knowledge and teaching of the logos, or written, Word of God. The other two were by the rhema, or revealed, word of the Lord and by revelation and prophesying (see 1Cor.14:6).

MINISTRIES TODAY: What guidelines should local pastors have for the way the gift of prophecy should operate in their services?

Jacobs: I do not believe there is simply one set of guidelines for pastors to use. Each local body will determine how the gift of prophecy should function in their church.

This subject is covered extensively in my book, The Voice of God. Here are some general guidelines most charismatic/Pentecostal churches might use. I suggest that these be published in the church bulletin each week:

1. If you believe God has given you a prophetic utterance for the congregation during the service, please submit it to an elder, leader or pastor. (Your church should determine who will judge these words, and it should be known where they sit for the administration of the word.)
2. Share the gist of the word with the leader.
3. The leader will then determine if or when the word is appropriate for the congregation. Do not be offended if the word is not shared publicly. It may not have anything to do with its validity. Trust God to let it come out in His way and time.
4. The reason we administrate the gift of prophecy this way is so that the word can be given over the microphone, heard by all for their edification, and recorded. The word then can be kept and prayed over as part of the word of the Lord for our congregation.

Haggard: At our church, believers often want to share a prophetic word during the music portion of the service. They come up to the pastor and explain what they would like to share. If we know and respect them, or believe that their word would be helpful for the body, then we have them share with the church. If not, we briefly explain to them why we are not going to have them share right then, and they either share in another service or use the word as a point in prayer.

We often have two or three words in each of our four services every weekend. Prophecy is the norm in many of our 530 cell groups. Sometimes the words are purely prophetic. Other times they are visions, specific scriptures or words of exhortation. Often we hear words of wisdom, revelation or knowledge. It is always powerful for the body to hear what the Spirit is saying.

Hamon: I have found that sincere individuals operate best in their giftings in the context of clear expectations and guidelines. Therefore, it is important for local pastors to establish and communicate the protocol for bringing a congregational word in their church. Some practical guidelines that we have found to be effective include:

1. Congregational words of prophecy are for the purpose of edification, exhortation and comfort (see 1 Cor. 14:3). Words of rebuke or correction should only be brought forth by seasoned ministers, and then only through the explicit agreement and oversight of the pastor or overseeing elder. Many times these types of words are best shared with church leaders in private.
2. In order to facilitate the flow of prophetic words being brought forth, it is often good to have a designated elder to whom the individuals submit the content of the word before bringing it publicly. The elder may choose to give the general message of the word himself in order to best accommodate the flow of the service. Certain words may carry a greater impact coming from an established leader.
3. Pastors should encourage individuals bringing words not to go too long, nor to change the directional flow of the service without the witness of the overseeing elder. "The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets" (1 Cor. 14:32, NKJV).
4. All prophetic ministry, whether congregational or personal, should be recorded. This gives the opportunity for the word to be accurately remembered, properly evaluated and appropriately applied.

Bynum: I believe two very important guidelines regarding prophetic words should be implemented in the local church:

1. The individual must be an active member of the church, have the reputation of being consecrated before the Lord, and must be one of the leading intercessors of the church (see John 16:13).
2. The person with a prophecy must be one who is not just interested in projecting his gift, but is more interested in projecting his fruit. First Corinthians 13:1-2 says that if we "speak with tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, [we are as a] sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though [we] have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though [we] have all faith [to] remove mountains, and have not love, [we] are nothing."

This means that even if we speak exactly what the Lord is saying, if it is not done with the love of God, it profits nothing. We should feel a sense of satisfaction in knowing that we are not rewarded just because we get a job done-we are rewarded for how we do it. The word must be delivered with such precision that the person receiving it ends up thanking God, not us.

We must always remember that a person's life is transformed not just by a word from the Lord, but a word loaded with fruit-especially the foremost fruit of love.

Bickle: If a prophecy that includes correction or a new direction for the church is to be given, it should first be submitted to the governing leadership team. Then that leadership team would decide if all or part of the word is to be shared publicly. It is often better for one of the governing ministers to share it instead of the prophetic person, since this is often more effective in the body receiving and acting on the word.

If the prophetic word contains no element of correction or direction, but rather is confined to encouragement and comfort, then the main issue of sharing it is one of timing. Know that when the Holy Spirit is moving on a worship service, many people will receive prophetic encouragements and that it will not be practical for them all to be spoken publicly. Receiving a genuine prophetic impression is not an automatic indicator that the word must be shared publicly.

MINISTRIES TODAY: If abuses occur, how best can a pastor or church leader handle them?

Bickle: The pastor ideally balances gentleness on one hand with sufficient directness on the other hand. We should avoid a public correction unless the situation requires it. For example, if someone prophesies a false doctrine such as Jesus not being God, then the correction must be public and immediate. Basically, if harm would come to the church through not correcting the prophetic person, then there must be public correction.

In the case of prophetic words that are fleshy, pushy or hyped up, yet without something that creates real harm to the church, you should gently correct the person in private, with assurance of your love and willingness to train them in the area in which they are making mistakes.

Hamon: The best way to avoid abuses is to teach and train individuals in the proper operation of the gifts and their purpose. Then you must consistently model the release of anointed prophetic ministry in your church. In 13 years of overseeing a prophetic church and almost 45 years of ministry, I have found it to be a rare occasion to have to openly rebuke or correct an individual in a public setting for mishandling the prophetic gift.

A distinction needs to be made between those who are purposely disruptive and out of order and those who are perhaps immature or make a mistake in delivering a word publicly. It is almost always possible to graciously follow up an inappropriately given word and redirect it toward edification without shaming the individual, quenching the flow of the Holy Spirit or interrupting the direction of the service.

It is almost always best to deal with individuals privately through personal counsel. If the counsel repeatedly goes unheeded, then it may be appropriate to put restrictions on that person's prophetic ministry in the church. The severity and context of when and where the word was shared may dictate the severity and context of how adjustment and correction are given by the church leader.

Haggard: In the 15 years that I have pastored New Life Church, we have only had one false word given during a service. When this happened, we as a congregation stopped and talked about it right then, and everyone was fine. Actually, it was a great opportunity for all of us to learn more about the work of the Spirit. It was a life-giving experience, even for the person who gave the false prophecy.

Body life, credibility and integrity are absolutely essential to healthy spiritual growth. That is why anyone who gives an inaccurate word and claims it is prophetic needs to admit the mistake and work through the process of growth in the same venue where they gave the original word.

If a word is wrong or turns out to be wrong over time, then the person who gave the word should return to the place where they gave the message and ask forgiveness for misleading people. This gives an opportunity for healthy growth in Christ for everyone involved and strengthens the integrity of authentic prophecy. However, if the person who gave the word displaces responsibility or stretches the facts in order to try to appear correct, they should be dismissed as weak and not taken seriously.

Jacobs: Of course, this will probably be determined in part by the size of the local congregation. My suggestion is that it should be known through teaching on the prophetic that informs the congregation that all words given (whether personal or corporate) will be judged. This should be done on a teaching tape available to all members and visitors of the church.

This really cuts down on "flakiness." Should someone abuse the gift, the policy (which should be on tape or in writing) has already been set on how the situation will be handled. If an abusive situation occurs, someone on the leadership team should approach the person with humility and tenderness to see if it is only ignorance, or a true spirit of deception trying to come into the church.

If the person who prophesies abusively still continues and is unteachable, I suggest they be asked by the leadership to leave the church.

Bynum: If the abuse is caused by a single individual, the best way to resolve it is by pointing out to them how the word was incorrect or untimely. I believe the person should be shown examples in the Bible where people either spoke a word out of season and caused great pain because it was not the right timing, or they were not the perfect choice God had to deliver the word in the first place.

One story comes to mind in 2 Samuel 18:19-20. Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, came to Joab and said, "Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies." And Joab answered him, "Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead" (KJV). He was saying that Ahimaaz was not skilled enough to deliver this kind of word. This word had to be delivered with skill, communicating joy that the king's enemies were defeated, but with sensitivity to the fact that the king's son was dead.

Joab perceived that though Ahimaaz was a faster runner than Cushi, he had not yet matured enough to deliver this word, so he sent Cushi. However, Ahimaaz insisted that if Joab allowed him to run, he would stay behind Cushi. Right then, deceit was birthed in his heart. He knew that if Joab allowed him to run, he would outrun the real messenger. But Joab said to Cushi, "Go tell the king what thou hast seen" (vs. 21).

A very powerful thing happened: "He [Cushi] bowed himself unto Joab, and ran" (vs. 21). He was submitted to authority; therefore, he was running under a covering and anointing. In the meantime, Ahimaaz became so persistent in asking to run that Joab gave in to his zeal and let him run. This is a tragic mistake for a leader to make.

I encourage you to study 2 Samuel 18 in depth. There are three important lessons that can be learned by observing who delivered the message, how it was delivered and what resulted:

1. A person can look the part, have the right zeal, and wear the right garments, yet be the wrong messenger.
2. Just because you are familiar with a person's character does not mean he has the correct word of the Lord for you for a particular season. Never allow yourself to accept a word simply because you know a person. The sin of familiarity is a true trap of the enemy.
3. Many people can give a partial word to an individual, but some words are meant to be delivered by those who are seasoned in God.The most important lesson for any prophet is to know your "level" (or "spiritual aptitude") in God and in His Word. Stay in your "grade."

MINISTRIES TODAY: What criteria should pastors teach people for testing prophecies?

Haggard: The first test is consistency with biblical teaching. It's important for a high view of the Scripture to rest in the heart of every prophetic movement, word or act.In addition to biblical accuracy, I teach a simple three-step test: truth, timing and tone:

1. Truth. I recognize that God can and does change His mind, that prayer changes things and that all believers are growing. But if someone claims to be God's spokesman, he needs to tell the truth.
2. Timing. Sometimes a prophetic word is right in one setting but not in another. It's important to know when to say what we hear the Spirit saying and when to be silent. Does the word complement what the Spirit is already doing? Will it be distracting or inhibiting to people's worship of God? Timing is nearly as important as the word itself, because timing has a great deal to do with how it is received.
3. Tone. The words "I love you" in various tones of voice mean very different things. I believe that one reason God had to send Jesus to demonstrate His love for us is because we lost the tone of love in the Decalogue, in the Pentateuch and in other written revelations of God. Some say that tone communicates more than 50 percent of the meaning in speaking and writing. Very often in prophetic meetings, we use tape recorders to record not only the actual words, but the tone, both of which help us hear His meaning.

Bynum: I suggest these criteria:

1. Ask the person giving the prophecy who his pastor is, and if his ministry is active and submitted in the body.
2. Ask to have a word of prayer with the person about to deliver the word to you. Begin to pray and bind all fleshliness and every word that is being developed in the soulish realm. If it is a real word from the Lord, it will hold until you are done praying.
3. Ask the person if he would have a problem if you wrote down what he is saying in order that you may show it to your pastor or to one of the elders of the church to have the word judged. If the word is not the word of the Lord, inform him that you will not be intimidated to say so.
4. Ask that the word be based in the Word. God does not speak outside of His Word.

Hamon: First, the most important criterion for testing prophecies is that all prophetic revelation must be submitted to and line up with the whole counsel of God as found in the Word.

Second, it is important for us to bear witness by the Spirit with what is being spoken. We must be able not only to discern the content of what is being said, but also the spirit in which it is said (see Acts 16:16-18). Our spirits may bear witness even though our minds may not understand or our emotions may be contrary to what God is saying. We must learn to trust the inner joy and the peace of God, which passes understanding, to lead us in truth.

Third, it is good to look for confirmation and consistency in what God is speaking. Many times God will bring emphasis concerning His will through repetition. In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word is established and our faith is increased to receive the word as from God (see 2 Cor. 13:1).

Fourth, evaluate the vessel through which the word is given. Are they proven and seasoned in their ministry, or unknown or a novice? Greater weight may be given to the word simply because it was given by a proven minister. However, we must be careful to remain open to whatever vessel the Lord may choose to use, as we know God can even speak through a donkey!

Finally, submit the word to those in spiritual authority in the church for oversight and counsel. One should never be afraid to submit a revelation from God to those positioned by God with authority in the church.

Jacobs: I give these guidelines based on 1 Thessalonians 5:21, "Test all things; hold fast what is good" (NKJV):

1. Is what has been shared as a prophetic word scriptural?
2. Does the prophecy display the character of Christ?
3. What is the fruit in the life of the person giving the prophecy?
4. Is there anything tainting the word?
5. What is the Holy Spirit giving me in the way of an inward witness?
6. Is the prophecy from God? (Three possible sources of prophecy are: (1) the Spirit of God; (2) the spirit of error or demonic spirits; and (3) the flesh.

Bickle: First and foremost, is the content of the prophecy within the bounds of Scripture? Second, does it motivate us to trust and love Jesus with greater passion? And finally, does it promote a life of holiness and obedience?

MINISTRIES TODAY: What is God speaking prophetically to the church as we enter the year 2000?

Haggard: God is saying that this is the generation of opportunity to reach every unreached people group with the gospel. The United States is the world's superpower for a reason. Global economies are prospering, and that globalization is happening in the megacities of the world so that we can spread the gospel to every people group.

We are in Matthew 24:14: "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." We have now codified the people groups who are unreached and least evangelized, so we can now strategically work to complete the Great Commission. We are closer to answering Jesus' prayer in John 17:23 than ever before.

This is the generation of rapid expansion, an incredible outpouring of His Spirit and of martyrdom as the gospel threatens the darkest areas of this world. In the next few decades, Asia will be evangelized and discipled, and then the whole world will have known.

Jacobs: A new outpouring of revelation is coming to the church, and with it will come a new wave of deception. As God is moving to release the whole body of Christ into laying hands on the sick, casting out demons, and so on, Satan will try to deceive even the elect. We need to pray for a spirit of discernment now more than ever before.

One of the most important issues on the heart of God right now concerning the prophetic is the linking (or hitching, as Peter Wagner is teaching) of the apostles and prophets to function together to lay the foundation of the church.

Bickle: I will isolate one dynamic that the Holy Spirit is emphasizing: 24-hour-a-day citywide prayer in the spirit of the Tabernacle of David, or intercessory worship. This is spiritual warfare led by worship teams.

I believe that throughout the whole earth many people are receiving invitations by the Holy Spirit to embrace 24- hour-a-day prayer meetings in their cities. I urge everyone to seek God's way to combine intercession with worship. This is one of the most pressing things on God's heart to bring in the great harvest.

I believe we will see more than 1 billion new souls come to Jesus in the coming hour. In Kansas City we have been conducting night-and-day prayer led by worship teams 24 hours-a-day since September 1999. Free resources and information are available on our Web site, www.ihopkc.com.

Hamon: Since the Protestant Reformation, God has systematically been restoring truth to the church. God desires us to "be established in the present truth" that we might be fully equipped and made ready to accomplish and fulfill all the divine purposes for His bride, the church (see 2 Pet. 1:12).

The Spirit of the Lord is urging the body of Christ to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord, make straight paths for Him and to make a people ready, just as John the Baptist declared before the first time Christ came to earth (see Matt. 3:3; Luke 1:17). God is raising up a mighty army of believers who will move in power and authority (see Mark 16:15-18), not only within the four walls of the church, but in the marketplace and government as well, that He might accomplish Revelation 11:15, which declares that the "kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.

"God desires that His people hear His voice and know His heart, will and mind so that they can accomplish His plans in the earth. We must be as the sons of Issachar, who knew the times and seasons and knew how to strategically respond to them (see 1 Chr. 7:5; 12:32). The church must walk in the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we may know God's purposes and accomplish them in His time.

I sense that this is a strategic, appointed, kairos time in which the Lord is encountering His church in a powerful way. We will see a fresh release of the miraculous anointing of the Spirit. Signs, wonders and miracles will become as frequent and free-flowing as prophecy has become in the last several decades. God will be stirring and activating this anointing, not only in the five-fold ministry offices of church leadership, but in the lives of the average saints who will begin to affect cities and nations with the power of God.

God intends to bring a mighty revival in the young people of the United States. This generation will be bold, daring and radical in demonstrating the message of the gospel to the world. I believe we will see a tremendous harvest of souls. In fact, I believe we will see more souls saved in the next several decades than we have seen in the previous 2,000 years. We are living in a time when we will see entire nations turn to the Lord in a day!

The season of favor is upon the church (see Is. 61:2), and we must position ourselves in faith and in diligent intercessory prayer to pull His purposes forth from the heavenly realm. God is declaring that this is the time for the transfer of wealth to the church to accomplish kingdom purposes (see Prov. 13:22). It is a time of the double-portion release of His anointing (see Is. 61:7) and of continued shaking in world governments and economic systems, terrorism and political instability. However, God is using this shaking to set the stage for a dramatic paradigm shift in His church, which is even now ushering in the final reformation of the church and the coming of the Lord Jesus to be united with His bride.

Editor's Note: The respondents were invited to pose a question they believed needed to be asked. Bill Hamon posed this question and answer:

Why is there such an emphasis on apostles, prophets and prophetic ministry?

According to Ephesians 4:11-15, all five of the ascension gifts of Christ (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers) are needed to equip and perfect the saints. However, several hundred years ago some theologians started teaching that apostles and prophets were no longer a valid, active ministry within the church, and that even their very existence ceased after the establishment of the first-century church.

For the last 20 years, God has been restoring the reality of apostles and prophets as being active and vital today. Jesus said, "I will build My church" (Matt. 16:18). He is still in the process of building His church. Apostles and prophets are major builders within the church, and are actually foundational ministries upon which the building takes place (see Eph. 2:20).

1 Corinthians 14:4 states that "he who prophesies edifies [builds up] the church." Therefore, we see that the ministry of prophesying is one of God's strategic tools for building His church in power, that the "gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18, KJV).

Ministries Today Prophecy Forum Guests

TED HAGGARD pastors New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is the co-author with John Bolin of Confident Parent/Exceptional Teenagers (Zondervan).

MIKE BICKLE is founder of Metro Christian Fellowship and director of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri. He is the author of Passion for Jesus and Growing in the Prophetic (Creation House).

BILL HAMON is the director of the Christian International Network of Prophetic Ministries and founder of the Christian International (CI) School of Theology, which has helped hundreds of churches start their own Bible colleges through CI Extensions.

CINDY JACOBS is co-founder with her husband, Mike, of Generals of Intercession, an organization that helps build prayer ministries throughout the world. She is the author of several books, including Possessing the Gates of the Enemy (Chosen Books) and Women of Destiny (Gospel Light).

JUANITA BYNUM is the author of the popular book No More Sheets (Pneuma Life). A well-known conference speaker based in Hempstead, New York, she also hosts Morning Glory, her ministry's TV program.