The Office of the Prophet
There is the office of the prophet. Without going into
detail about it, we will touch the office of the prophet
briefly concerning guidance. For one to be a prophet, he
stands in that office and uses that ministry. Other spiritual
gifts besides prophecy must operate in his ministry. The
simple gift of prophecy, as we have said, is for speaking
unto men for edification, and exhortation, and comfort. In
this simple gift of prophecy there is no foretelling—no
prediction whatsoever. However, in the ministry of the
prophet there is foretelling and prediction. A prophet has
the revelation gifts (the word of wisdom, the word of
knowledge, and/or the discerning of spirits) in operation
along with prophecy.
It is important to realize that spiritual things can be
misused just as natural things can be misused. Some folks
have never realized that. They think that just because it is
spiritual, it has to be perfect—that it cannot be misused.
I have known people who were at one time wealthy
who are now bankrupt because they listened to someone
prophesy how to invest their money.
I remember a dear man who was in one of my
meetings. I knew who he was, but I didn't really know him.
I did not know that he would never make a business deal
without calling a so-called "prophet" to prophesy to him
what to do.
I said to him, "I seem to be impressed to say this to you.
You are going to lose everything you have and go bankrupt
if you keep listening to whoever is advising you."
He didn't listen. The poor fellow, who was very
wealthy, lost his home and everything he had. I have seen
this happen not just one time, but many times.
I have seen ministers who have lost their ministries
because of wrong prophecies.
You have to judge prophecies by the Word of God. If
prophecy is not in line with the Word of God, it is not right.
Secondly, you have to judge personal prophecies by
what you have in your own spirit. If you do not have
something in your own spirit, do not accept a personal
prophecy.
For years I have traveled extensively in the ministry.
Everywhere I go there is always someone who has a
"word" from the Lord for me—sometimes two or three. In
all these years only one or two of them have been correct.
Do not build your life on prophecies. Do not guide
your life by prophecies. Build your life on the Word! Let
those other things be secondary. Put the Word of God first!
People sometimes say, "Well, if God is doing it, it has
to be all right."
You have to realize that it isn't exactly God doing it. It
is men prophesying under the inspiration of the Spirit of
God. Anything that man has to do with, is not perfect!
