DESPISE NOT PROPHESYING!
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NOTES ON FALSE PROPHECIES:
1. Despise not prophesying! Forbid not to speak in tongues! I would rather have a little WILD fire amongst the REAL fire, than to squelch ALL fire & have NO fire! Don't forbid prophets to speak, even when you know they're out of the victory!--Of course there are always people who take advantage of it, but you've GOT to give people a CHANCE. I let them go on as long as the Spirit was moving, but I kept such a strong hand on things they knew they didn't dare prophesy unless they were in the Spirit, because I would instantly rebuke them.
2. But unless it was severely unscriptural, harmful or false doctrinally, if it was just a harmless prophecy that never said much even if it was in the flesh, I'd just kind of pass if off & go right on. They knew when I wasn't too enthusiastic about it. If I wasn't sure, I'd just keep quiet. If I liked it, I'd "Amen"! The only prophecies I judged harshly were those unscriptural or false doctrinally or containing personal, deliberate, vindictive false attacks on someone in the name of the Lord! But only with those which I considered false doctrinally, anti-Scriptural & really harmful & that would be apt to lead people astray would I have to say: "Now I don't think this is according to the Bible.--I think this person is misled or they've been deceived or confused or maybe I didn't understand it." I tried to let them down in love as easy as I could.
3. But I don't think I ever refused to let them speak, because how are you going to KNOW they're not in the Spirit unless they SPEAK?--Or how can the congregation know?--And if they ARE out of the Spirit, one of the best ways to let everyone know is to let them speak! Watch out about limiting the Spirit! But of course when you do allow freedom of the Spirit, you sometimes open the door to FALSE spirits too & there's quite often somebody OUT of the Spirit, inspired by a spirit that is NOT of God. If I knew the parties themselves were just dumb & ignorant & deceived & just did it in ignorance, I would just sort of toss it off.
4. But when they deliberately begin falsely prophesying against certain things & people as not being of God etc., I socked it to them & rebuked them openly before everybody & humiliated them on the spot & said, "Either take it back or get out!--You're prophesying falsely & you're out of order & you'd better repent or get out or God's going to judge you!" But you have to have a great deal of wisdom. You'd better always be sure you have somebody in control of the meeting who knows or senses the Spirit. Even if you don't think much of the person prophesying, you have to give them a chance. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, & when there is liberty the Devil always tries to take advantage.
5. But you've got to give them a chance, because you really can't KNOW unless you LET them. When it's been proven they're false prophets, then you have to put a muzzle on them & not allow them to prophesy any more until they straighten out. I believe in the liberty of the Spirit: Forbid not prophesying. You MUST let them speak, THEN judge it. Because if you don't, you're judging a matter before you hear it & it is a shame & a reproach to you! That kind of a meeting takes A LOT OF FAITH & you've got to be in tune with the Lord & you've got to trust the Lord that He will lead & there won't be any false prophecies without His permission, & that if He DOES allow them, He's doing it to bring out the TRUTH!--And also have faith that He will lead you in JUDGING the prophecies & give you wisdom in how to admonish anyone in love who has gotten out of line.
6. It is a heavy responsibility, but this is the mistake many churches have made: Because they were afraid of WILD fire, they didn't allow any fire! Even God lets the Devil have his say before the throne of God: Day & night he accuses the Saints! God doesn't muzzle him: He lets him expose himself & whose side he's on. Every dog has to have his day. Otherwise you won't know whether he's a dog or not!
NOTES ON PROPHESYING:
7. How to tell the difference between a prophecy of God & one of the Devil or your own spirit:
1) Is it SCRIPTURAL?
2) Is it APPROVED by God's chosen LEADERSHIP?
3) Is it ESTABLISHED in the mouth of several WITNESSES?
4) Is it FULFILLED?
5) Is it HELPFUL?
8. Remember, God will show His Moses first! There were many times when Moses made mistakes, but NO time when he was DECEIVED! Ask yourself: Can you find it confirmed in the LETTERS? Is it in accordance with the way GOD is moving? Is it SCRIPTURAL? Is it HELPFUL & encouraging?
9. To prophesy is one of the most serious things you can do! You'd better be sure it is of God, or shut up! There should never be more than two prophecies given in a row without stopping to judge them or you'll forget them!--Better still, judge each as it comes. In judging prophecies, the leader should ask the Holy Spirit to bring to his attention anything that needs comment. The leader must listen carefully & cannot let his mind wander.
10. As far as the prophet himself is concerned, you can ask yourself: Has this prophet generally been a TRUE prophet? Has his prophecy in the past PROVED true? Has his fruit been good?--By their fruits shall ye know them! Are his prophecies GOOD for us? Do they DO us good?
11. True prophecy does not generally administer condemnation.--The DEVIL is the ACCUSER of the Saints! It's a rare case when the Lord accuses, as Nathan before David, but it has to be VERY bad & something that has hurt EVERYBODY or the Lord doesn't usually bring it out PUBLICLY unless they have to be brought to PUBLIC REPENTANCE!--Like "Them which SIN before ALL, REBUKE before all!"
12. Usually a public prophecy will come with great force & inspiration & be Scriptural, edifying, instructive, encouraging & uplifting!--It's the FATHER ENCOURAGING His Children!-Only seldom is it a SCOLDING!--But even when it is, it will still be in LOVE!--GBY!--With GOOD prophecies!
Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family