For prophecy never had its origin in the human will …
Summary: Prophecy is like a knife. In the right hands, it cuts away distractions and helps us focus on God. In the wrong hands, it cuts us.
Why are human prophets so fallible? Why are our interpretations so flawed? Peter points to the answer in today’s passage. Prophecy cannot come from the human will.
We cannot decide to be a prophet. To do so, we would need access to information that we cannot have. For one thing, we would need to know the future. Humans cannot know that. For another thing, we would have to be righteous.
It is a fact that human beings are corrupt.
“Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.” (Psalm 143:2)
“There is no one righteous, not even one…” (Romans 3: 10)
Like a witness in a court case who has been bribed to commit perjury, our self-interest is always twisting our judgment and warping the way we see things. We are not objective.
Real prophecy comes from God. Jeremiah explains:
“But if I say, “I will not mention his word
or speak anymore in his name,”
his word is in my heart like a fire,
a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;
indeed, I cannot.” (Jeremiah 20:9)
Once the power of God’s Spirit takes over, there is no saying “No.” We have to respond.
We also know that God is unchanging (Hebrews 6:17, 13:8). God’s nature is such that he cannot contradict himself. Prophecy cannot contradict God’s prior Word.
Which brings us to an interesting question: Is God still sending a spirit of prophecy to his people?
In Acts 2, Peter quotes from the prophet Joel:
17 “In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.” (Acts 2: 17-18)
Paul teaches that prophecy is one of the gifts of the Spirit (Romans 12: 6, 1 Corinthians 14:31).
From what I can discern, there are two categories of prophecy. The primary category is the prophecy that God assigned to be in the Bible. The second category is what I would call the “Amen” prophecy. This kind of prophecy is God’s Spirit echoing God’s Word through his people.
An example of an “Amen” prophecy might be a brother or sister in the Lord proclaiming that Jesus is coming soon. (Amen!)
An example of a false prophecy would be someone proclaiming that Jesus is coming next Tuesday at 9:45 AM.
The first example affirms Biblical prophecy (Revelation 22:20), but the second contradicts God’s Word (Matthew 24:36). This is why John writes:
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)
Application: Trust in God, not in your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)
Food for Thought: Why would someone want to be seen as a prophet?
Why would someone want to be seen as a prophet?
The first thought that comes to mind for me is that among humans, it puts that person (in their mind) on the same level as God. The same level of importance. The same level of knowledge. However, we know that’s not possible because He is perfect and we are not. (Romans 3:23 – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God). He also created everything and knows everything. None of which another person can claim. (Psalm 139:4 – Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O Lord, You know it all.)
The next thought that comes to mind for me is that when given the right audience (a group of individuals who truly do not know God’s Word), the individual may be able to be truly seen as a prophet and become an idol so to speak to these individuals. They then begin to worship the wrong person, which again elevates this person’s ego. The person’s following, however, do not realize the false prophecy. (Exodus 20:3 – You shall have no other God’s before me.)
The most frustrating thing to me is false prophets can know the bible as well as its Writer (I mean even Satan knows the bible) so they may come off as “true” prophets. However, they are only taking advantage of those who do not know the Word of God. That’s why it’s important to read our bibles, study our bibles and know God’s word so it’s planted in our hearts. It helps keeps us close to the One the true prophet and keeps us from falling for those who claim to be prophets sent by Him.
Darla
Excellent overview of prophet motive. I especially appreciate the point about knowing the Bible. Someone can “know” the words but not know the Word. Big difference.
First of all, Jesus can’t be coming next Tuesday at 9:45 AM, because He is coming this Monday at 5:00 PM 😊.
All joking aside, I think someone might want to be seen as a prophet in order to make a profit. The other obvious reason to me is pride.
Rich
Thank you! One doesn’t have to get a lot to get a profit. It might be as simple as a free meal or a place to stay. It can also be as big as a TV evangelist raking in the money.
Morning,
I agree with both Darla and Rich, even without reading theirs first (lol), what comes to my mind when I think of someone “wanting” to be seen as a prophet is to gain some kind of power over resources or people. I also think that a person can have such a strong desire to serve God that they genuinely think they can “help” God. In that scenario, if they are seen as a prophet, they can “help” people along with their sin. In either case, false prophesy only serves as a barrier between God and people. God’s Word, and prophesy’s too, are there to strengthen the relationship between God and people.
Chris
Interesting thought! Helping God be God. That is more common than we might realize. God let’s us participate in his work but it is always His.
Helping God to be God. That makes me think about all the times I realize I’m keeping Him in a box and bringing Him out because my ways aren’t working. I guess at times I’m guilty of helping God be God without even realizing it. I once heard someone say God does some amazing work when we get out of His way.
As Jeff points out, He lets us participate and we get to glorify Him by using the gifts He has blessed us with, but it is always His.
Why would someone want to be SEEN as a prophet to be seen. Which is so wrong in so many ways. Taking people’s eyes away from the Lord and talking to get attention for their own profit. I’m in agreement with all the previous comments except for the Monday at 5pm. But I’m not a prophet.
Thank you Mr T!
Well said!
T. You are a wise man 😊. Well said.
!0-14-2021, 1Peter 1:21a, Why would someone want to be seen as a prophet?
Seeking to serve God in a specific way could be conviction of the Holy Spirit or pride of the flesh and should be prayed about. Our bibles teach us about variety of spiritual gifts and how we as humans may see one gift as greater than another, and seek what we perceive as the greatest gift so we can be of greater service to God. Others may view a gift like prophet as a desirable gift, from a human prospective believing they would be much more important than others with this gift. The disciples, like many of us, had this problem as they argued about who would be the greatest in heaven. Jesus sat them down and explained if we want to be first we must make ourselves last of all, and servant of all.
1 Corinthians 12, Mark 9:33-35
Our first priority must become one of submission to God. To become a living sacrifice, die to self and become holy and acceptable to God through Christ. This is our spiritual worship as we are transformed by the renewal of our minds and we begin to understand the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:1-2
The greatest calling, pleasure for any believer is to be used by God in whatever manner He chooses. Our goal during this time on earth should become pleasing ourselves by pleasing God. Responding to our intended calling and becoming the conduit as He does His work through us, showing His Love and Kindness toward those He places within our individual sphere of influence.
Psalm 37:4, Psalm 40:8, Ephesians 6:6-7
Ron
“ Jesus sat them down and explained if we want to be first we must make ourselves last of all, and servant of all.”
Regardless of who is used to prophecy or where they are in there faith walk if it is authentic it is done in God’s will and in his own timing.
Your point about servanthood is key to the Christian walk regardless of our role.
You Got it Jeff!
Mark 9:33-35
Ron
In case anyone is wondering when He’s really coming back, according to my ex-mother-in-law, her church is the only TRUE church and therefore He’s only telling them when He’s coming back so that they can go into hiding and be sparred. I still haven’t quite found this truth in the Bible ( but I’ll let everyone know if she goes into hiding.) ROFL
LOL!
Thank you for sharing! 🙂