Unveiling the True Prophetic: A Call to Authentic Faith
1 Kings 21-22; Romans 13; Psalm 139
With all that is unraveling within the prayer movement, as we read through the scriptures together, I find myself reexamining what constitutes the true prophetic in our shared history and faith. It appears that the true prophetic voice is never popular or widely successful, according to the Word. This realization makes sense because a prophet is a man or woman seized by God to turn a people back to what they have willfully deserted.
How could such a calling ever be popular?
The scriptures are clear; we have all turned aside. We are all guilty. “All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:12)
A man or woman sent by God to remind a rebellious people that they are living off the mark could never be popular. Feared, maybe, but never popular. And as I’m reading through the Old Testament, comparing what passes in prophetic circles today with those obscure, wilderness walkers in our shared history, I am left undone.
“The beginning of the beginnings has begun. This is the year of the open door. This is a season of acceleration.”
Just a few phrases from the most recent prophetic conference, to name a few.
And the crowd cheers, and they pay their money for the chance to bless the prophet, not for the sake of being a blessing, but because to give to the “anointed one” will somehow mean riches for them. It’s a system built on false promises, vain ambition, and selfishness.
Haven’t we had enough?
Let’s go back to the ancient way. Let’s see what passed in our history as a true prophetic voice.
I Kings 21:3 And the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?” 4 And he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” 5 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.” 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”
400 men, all saying the same thing: “It’s the year of the open door, victory, and acceleration.” 400 men, all in agreement, and all misled and misleading.
7 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire?”
Why did Jehoshaphat have a check in his spirit? We find out in later chapters that he was a godly man. And here he is, with his spirit attuned, not to the popular voice, but he was listening for the Lord. And even though there was a groundswell, and the volume must have been high, the weight of God was missing from the moment.
8 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.” 9 Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.” 10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.’” 12 And all the prophets prophesied so and said, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”
What a setup! “And all the prophets prophesied.” They all said the same thing.
But God had in reserve a man. Just one man, who had to be summoned. He wasn’t in the king’s court, clamoring for favor. He wasn’t rubbing up against the power structure. He wasn’t learning how to make his voice sound just right, with a shaking falsetto, or trembling body.
He was at home. He was away from the system. Ambition laid down, he was not using his “gift” to make money. He was the Lord’s man. And like all of God’s true vessels, he had long since died to the system. You can’t address a system you benefit from propping up. Haven’t we learned this yet?
13 And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” 14 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I will speak.”
The real prophetic is willing to stand alone.
The real prophetic isn’t trying to be “one of the boys.” The real prophetic has only one loyalty: to speak what God speaks.
They are dead men walking.
This is the cost. Who will pay it?
Do we want to be a prophetic people? Do we want to stand in the council of the Lord and hear what He says? Do we want to herald that message, turning a people back from their sin?
Then we must learn how to stand alone. We must die to every other ambition.
Micaiah was such a man. And God, even now, looks to see if there is anyone today who is willing to be co-crucified with Christ. Maybe that’s you.
15 And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?” And he answered him, “Go up and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 16 But the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” 17 And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’” 18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” 19 And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; 20 and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ 22 And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’ 23 Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you.”
Who will stand in the council of the Lord? Who will die to their own ambition? Who will declare the Word of the Lord and turn our regions and nations back to God?
We don’t need programs. We don’t need better lights and sound systems. We need men and women who will allow themselves to be cut to the heart, who will allow their own waywardness to be addressed by the God who loves them best and most.
Do you want to see your family saved? Do you want your prodigals to come home?
Surely our God is no liar!
Come back to your first love. Learn to stand before this God. He will speak, and you will hear, and once you do, open your mouth and declare the word of the Lord.
Deepening Faith: Reflective Journal Prompts
- Reflect on the Role of True Prophetic Voices: Consider the differences between the popular prophetic voices of today and the true prophets described in the Scriptures. How does this contrast challenge your understanding of what it means to be a prophetic voice in today’s world?
- Examine Personal Ambitions: Reflect on your own ambitions and how they align with God’s call for your life. Are there areas where you need to die to your own desires to fully embrace God’s purpose for you? How can you begin to make those changes?
- Identify Modern Distractions: In what ways do modern “prophets” and popular Christian culture distract from the true message of the Gospel? How can you guard against being led astray by false promises and focus more on God’s word?
- Contemplate the Cost of Discipleship: Consider the cost of standing alone for the truth, as Micaiah did. What fears or challenges do you face in speaking God’s truth into your context? How can you find strength and courage in God to overcome these obstacles?
- Commit to First Love: Reflect on what it means to come back to your first love, God. How has your relationship with Him evolved? What practical steps can you take to deepen this relationship and ensure that His voice is the foremost one you hear and declare?
No matter the time of year, it’s never too late to start reading through the Bible with us. We invite you to join our community and embark on this enriching experience. You can access the reading schedule here to get started today. Explore the timeless wisdom of Scripture, grow in your faith, and engage in meaningful discussions with fellow readers. Don’t miss out on this incredible journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth.
Embark on a transformative journey with us by joining our mailing list. As a subscriber, you’ll receive heartfelt devotionals, insightful updates, and inspiration. Together, we’ll deepen our faith, connect on a deeper level, and embrace life’s beauty. Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of our close-knit community. Let’s start this faith-filled journey together. Subscribe today and let’s go after God with all of our hearts.
Additionally, we are excited to introduce “Prayer Altars” — our new initiative that embodies the belief that prayer alters our reality! In these intimate groups of 2-3, we’re fostering a revival in our everyday lives and surroundings. Our mission is to cultivate deeper connections with God and each other, united in communion and guided by the Lord’s Prayer. Build your Prayer Altar to experience firsthand how prayer can transform not just your life, but also the lives of those around you. Learn more and join the movement here.
