“Why do you ignore me?”

Prophecy is severely underrated in the Church today. There are so many itinerant speakers on the "circuit" today claiming to be prophets that many have come to be dismissive of all prophecy. Yet one of the most valuable ways that God has to speak to His people is through prophecy.

But what is prophecy today?

What passes for prophecy is directive words spoken to an individual, which can be very dangerous. Nothing should be accepted from such a “prophet” unless it already confirms what God has been saying to you personally and is confirmed by others.

Prophecy in the Old Testament usually consisted of drawing people back to the Covenant. When the people had strayed from God, a prophet was raised up by God to point out the present dire situation and bring the mrssage “RETURN to the Lord your God.” God is so caring of His people that He won’t let them stray from Him without a prophet doing all that he can to draw them back to God and His ways. It is the same today. Yet there are so many false prophets around that the true word of prophecy is sometimes drowned out.

False prophets come in many guises but they generally fall into one or other of the following groups.

●   Doomsdayers who see evil everywhere from a human perspective but miss the actions of God.

●   Rosy eyed people who see nothing but good and ignore the warnings of God.

●   People pleasers who tell people what they want to hear.

●   Really dangerous people who want to control others and give highly directive words for individuals.

How are we to judge prophecy in the midst of all this?

Amo 3:7-8 NIV  Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.  (8)  The lion has roared-- who will not fear? The Sovereign LORD has spoken-- who can but prophesy?

The fact remains that true prophecy does exist. God is speaking today the same way He has throughout history. He keeps calling people back to Himself whenever we stray. He always reveals what He wants before He acts in retribution of judgment. This is usually a last resort. God speaks in other ways first. When this is ignored He raises up a prophet so that everything is made perfectly clear before the axe falls.

Prophets are often (usually?) reluctant to speak out for they know what the reaction will be. No one likes to be told they are wrong and need to repent. Jesus made it clear that prophets would not be welcome, especially in their home town or where they are well known.

Despite this there is a compulsion in the heart of a true prophet that he/she must speak. Not to speak means facing the ‘roaring lion’. The prophet who does not speak falls into the same trap as the people he is supposed to warn.

Look at what Amos had to say to the people

Amos 4:1-12 NIV  Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, "Bring us some drinks!"  (2)  The Sovereign LORD has sworn by his holiness: "The time will surely come when you will be taken away with hooks, the last of you with fishhooks.  (3)  You will each go straight out through breaches in the wall, and you will be cast out toward Harmon," declares the LORD. 

(4)  "Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years.  (5)  Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings-- boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do," declares the Sovereign LORD. 

(6)  "I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to me," declares the LORD. 

(7)  "I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one town, but withheld it from another. One field had rain; another had none and dried up.  (8)  People staggered from town to town for water but did not get enough to drink, yet you have not returned to me," declares the LORD. 

(9)  "Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards, destroying them with blight and mildew. Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you have not returned to me," declares the LORD. 

(10)  "I sent plagues among you as I did to Egypt. I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps, yet you have not returned to me," declares the LORD. 

(11)  "I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me," declares the LORD. 

(12)  "Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, Israel, prepare to meet your God." 

God spoke to them in many ways, and for a long time. He did this through difficult and often disastrous circumstances.  Yet THEY DIDN’T RETURN TO HIM (in the NIV) or more succinctly in The Message, THEY IGNORED HIM.

How contemporary this sounds. God is ignored in the affairs of state so the country has to pay the price. He is ignored in relationships and we suffer the effects of that in abuse, broken relationships, women and children at risk or abused. He is ignored in individual lives and we end up with an epidemic of depression and its effects, and aimlessness and its effects.

How many times does He have to speak before we take action.

The prophets are calling out “RETURN TO YOUR GOD.”

This is not just a call to a superficial recognition of God’s existence, but a call to a wholehearted return to full obedience to all that Jesus lays before us. It is a call to complete surrender in all aspects of life. But that is for another blog. For now it is a wakeup call.

Can you hear Him?

Will you hear His true prophets?