Much of the ‘Prophetic’ Has Become Pathetic

This past week I was watching and listening carefully to judge a supposed “heavy” prophetic word a friend sent to gain my perspective. More on that later. I normally don’t have the time, patience or even interest to listen to the 999 supposed “prophetic” words that are out there on internet la-la land, with most not worth a nickel to me, but because I have high regard for my friend I made time to watch and listen to the prophecy.

We have so much of the so-called prophetic in America, and this is one of the reasons for the rampant deception that presently exists in many churches and Christians. Frankly, I’m weary of the excesses, extremes and abuses of the gift. Most Christians are not familiar with the real prophetic, so they are swallowed up by the false. People aren’t grounded in the full counsel of the Word or how to follow Jesus and be led by the Holy Spirit. Instead, they follow their favorite elevated preacher(s) and make idols out of their false prophets. “Ooo! Aaah! Wow! Amen!” they say as their mouths drool with false wonder and emotionalism when it’s not even God who is speaking through them.

Just to be clear, I do not despise the authentic prophetic, for I have been a beneficiary of it throughout the many years of my life and ministry. I believe strongly in the Ephesians 4:11 ministry gift of the authentic prophet. But most of what I’m seeing and hearing today is not that. Instead, it’s a cheap imitation at best. It’s false. It’s highly manipulative. Worst of all, it is deceptive and misleads multitudes of Christians who have itching ears for sweet-tooth messages and possess no discernment. Many of these poor souls lack the fear of God and a genuine love for the truth, so they are easy targets for the enemy and those self-promoting foxes (cunning and crafty; Luke 13:32, Ezek. 13:4) who peddle the false prophetic. The landscape of Christianity today is filled with such. They are tares that must be separated from the wheat.

There are two main sides of the false prophetic. One is the sugary, dainty prophecies that only prophesy “peace, peace” (Ezek. 13:10, 16) and the other is the gloom and doom kind that usually only speak of judgment and wrath, falsely implying that God is angry with everyone.

What the Lord is really saying in this hour is what we need to hear. And yes, I realize He can be saying many different things through many different vessels, but there is a true and a false. There is a soulish and then there is the spiritual. The Lord rebuked the false prophets throughout Israel’s history as He did through the prophet Ezekiel:

“And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, “Hear the word of the Lord!” Thus says the Lord God: ‘Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!'” (Ezek. 13:1-3).

(For a sobering example of this, read the entire chapter of Ezekiel 13.)

Back to the supposed prophecy from a supposed prophet from the link my friend sent me. Initially I sensed no anointing on it, but as time went on, I wavered because the individual seemed sincere, even shedding tears at one point. Why did I doubt my first impression when I did not sense the true anointing and the “check” I had in my spirit that something was not quite right? I wasn’t sure any more because I moved into the soulish realm. This is what Christians do all the time because they’re not familiar with the real anointing of the Spirit.

Know the True Anointing

“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things” (1 John 2:20).

“These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you” (1 John 2:27, author’s emphasis).

You can only know all things “in the anointing.” I cannot always explain to you what the anointing is, but I can sure tell you what it ain’t. That anointing is simply the Holy Spirit who abides in every true believer. It’s also important that we are established in the Word and know the whole counsel of God, but have you ever thought of the fact that the early Christians didn’t have a full Bible yet as we do? The Comforter, whom Jesus left us, is all they knew. In fact, the apostle John was so bold to tell these early believers, “They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have remained with us” (1 John 2:19). Sounds pretty denominational and self-centered, doesn’t it? But back then they knew one another by the Spirit. They discerned the true from the false by the anointing.

Notice in verse 27 that John said that we don’t need anyone to teach us. Now that sounds pretty arrogant, too, doesn’t it? But he’s not saying we don’t need to be taught, for God had placed teachers in the body of Christ. What he’s saying is to let the anointing teach you while men speak.

Before I minister the Word of God I will sometimes say: “It’s not important what I say. What’s important is what the Holy Spirit says while I’m speaking.” See the difference?

When I was listening to the aforementioned video of this supposed prophet, I disconnected from the anointing within me. I yielded more to my soul and emotions and was fooled.

Believers today need to familiarize themselves with the true anointing of the Holy Spirit and be around it. Quit putting your faith in the wisdom of men and put more faith in the power of God. {eoa}

Bert Farias’ books are forerunners to personal holiness, the move of God and the return of the Lord. They also combat the departure from the faith and turning away from the truth we are seeing today. The Tumultuous 2020s and Beyond is his latest release to help believers navigate through the new decade and emerge as an authentic remnant. Other materials/resources are available on his website, Holy Fire Ministries and YouTube channel. You can follow him personally on Facebook, his Facebook ministry page or Twitter.

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