Recently I was watching a Christian television program. A pastor on there was sharing with the audience how God had used him to prophesy to a young man that he was being healed of a terminal illness. How the doctor had confirmed the healing etc.
While he spoke I was hanging on to every word he said. I wanted to know more about the healing. Unfortunately, what he said next upset me. He said that the young man died of the same terminal illness he was supposed to be healed of. Why? The pastor said it was because he got his eyes off his healing.
Well, I’m not so sure that’s the reason. First of all, I don’t believe that God is going to tell this pastor, or anyone else for that matter, to prophesy to a man that he was going to live when God knew all a long that he was going to die. God doesn’t play games and more importantly, God does not lie. The pastor missed it and in my opinion, tried to cover his tracks by saying it was the man’s fault he didn’t get healed.
Take note, this man didn’t prophesy that he was going to live. It was the pastor who prophesied it therefore it wasthe pastor who missed it.
It upsets me tremendously when someone misses it like that and then tries to blame it on the dead person. What a lame thing to do! Even if it was the dead person’s fault they didn’t get healed, why say anything now? They’re dead. If you’re guilty of doing something like that you need to realize you’re only hurting their family. Do you really want to do that? Let the dead rest in peace and quit filling everyone else’s mind with doubt about that person. Don’t destroy their witness! Don’t destroy the family’s memories! Like I said above, if you’re doing that, what a lame thing to do.
There are two ways that the above pastor could have saved face
If the pastor gave the prophecy with an instruction of some kind and the man didn’t do his part.
Prophecy with instruction is very important. If instruction is given, the person, who received the prophecy, has to do what was commanded before the prophecy will even go into effect. If they do their part, God will do His. But apparently no instruction was given in this case.
If God had sent the pastor back to the man to tell him He wasn’t going to heal him. Much like what happened to Hezekiah, only in reverse.
You know the story. (2nd Kings 20) The prophet Isaiah came to Hezekiah and told him to get his house in order because he was going to die. But when Hezekiah prayed, God heard his prayer and changed His mind. He sent Isaiah, the same prophet, back to Hezekiah to tell him there was a change of plans and that God had added another fifteen years to his life.
It is important to note that God sent the same prophet back to Hezekiah with the updated details. If for some reason God changed His mind and didn’t want to heal this man, he would have sent the same pastor back to tell him of the change of plans.
God doesn’t make people look like idiots. People make themselves look like idiots when they say they are hearing from God when clearly they arenot!
Is it possible for a Christian to prophesy something and miss it, but still be a Child of God?
Yes. I have heard many preach the Word skillfully only to miss it over and over again when they try to prophesy. They are called to preach but obviously they are not called to prophesy. The bible says in 1st Corinthians 7:20,
"Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called."
7:24 says,
"Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God."
Many do not abide in their calling. And when they don’t, they get into spiritual trouble.
Here’s A Perfect Example of Someone Not Abiding in Their Calling
A while back we went to a church to hear an evangelist preach. He done such a good job the first night of the revival that we decided to keep going. However, he started doing something that I believe was clearly out of his calling. Actually, I believe he was in spiritual error altogether. He would stand behind the pulpit and say, someone in here has a stomach problem. Someone in here has a headache. Someone in here has this or that.
This reminds me of the time I went to an auction with my mom. Even though that was long ago and I was just a little girl, I still remember the Auctioneer’s words, I have 10 do I hear 15? Now I have15, do I hear 20? However, I am sure that the evangelist in this case wasn’t really trying to auction off sickness and disease each night. But I know one thing, if he was, no one was bidding.
After a couple of nights I realized that I never seen anyone go forward to get prayer for the things he was calling out. A couple of my friends said they didn’t either. And it made me think, either this guy is missing it, or these people don’t want to go forward. Then, it hit me. Why would God have this evangelist call out illnesses and problems, night after night, if no one in there was ever going to go forward and get prayer? The answer is, He wouldn’t. God is a straight shooter. Like I said before, He doesn’t play games and you can add to that, the fact that He doesn’t waste anyone’s time.
This particular evangelist may have thought he possessed the gift of prophecy. Or maybe he thought he had the gift of knowledge. I don’t know. Whatever gift he thought he had, obviously he didn’t. This man needed to abide in his calling.
Evangelist Misses It Big Time!
I was in a church service several years ago and a woman I knew was there. She had cancer and we all wanted her healed. The visiting evangelist, who was there that night from another country, called her out and prophesied to her that she would live. Well, sad to say, she died of the cancer not too long after that. Obviously, the evangelist missed it. But, do you know what? That man was asked back and returned to that same church again the next year. I couldn’t believe it. I thought, wow, this man missed it so bad that the pastor will never ask him back. But, he did. Go figure!
This Nonsense Has Got To Stop
Evangelists and pastors need to discern whether the spirits that are talking to them are of God before they start prophesying or acting like they’re prophesying.
1st John 4:1,
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
Pastors need to mark those who miss it and never allow them to occupy their pulpits again.
Romans 16:17,
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."
Ministers should be made more accountable for the things they do and say. They should be warned and reprimanded when they don’t comply.
1st Thessalonians 5:14a,
"Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly…"
God Doesn’t Toy With People’s Feelings
When it comes to the gifts and callings of God there’s no room for error. We must strive for perfection and never settle with imperfection in these areas. God is a good God. He doesn’t toy with people’s feelings and He doesn’t lead people on. He doesn’t go around telling people they’re healed only to watch them die later. That’s cruel and God is not a cruel God.
People have been hurt because their loved ones weren’t healed. Even though it wasn’t God’s fault that someone prophesied a lie to them, those people will never know that. They will only blame God for the outcome.
Ministers Miss It andThen Act As If They’ve Done Nothing Wrong
Why do these ministers’ keep missing it over and over, never to be reprimanded for it, and quite frankly, act as if they’ve done nothing wrong? I wish I knew. In this day and time, anything goes. You can say what you want and no one will call your hand if you miss it or mess up. Pastors allow these preachers right back in their pulpit when they know they have lied, hurt people, and worse, made God look bad? Yes, they make God look bad. How? By allowing lies to pour out of their mouth continuously, claiming it’s God.
Let’s quickly examine a couple of things.
1. Why do ministers miss it in the first place?
I’m convinced they miss it because they believe every voice that pops in their head. We are cautioned not to do that. I already used this scripture once in this article but worth repeating again.
1st John 4:1,
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
2. Why do ministers keep missing it?
Because they keep listening to the same dumb voice that keeps popping in their head. The devil is a liar and he will speak lies to you, and through you, if you let him. 2nd Corinthians says this,
"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exhalteth itself against the knowledge of God, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."
We must watch our thoughts being careful not to give place to the devil.
Ephesians 4:27,
"Neither give place to the devil."
In Closing,
If you’re one of those preachers who keeps missing it. Stop. Quit playing the guessing game. If you don’t have a spiritual gift just face up to it and abide in your own calling. And I beckon you, stop blaming the dead for your mistakes. If you prophesy someone is going to live and they die, then you need to wake up and realize, that maybe, just maybe, you don’t have the gift of prophecy.
Be careful who you listen to Children! Even your sweet little pastor could miss it. Discern the spirits. Stay on your spiritual toes.
Until next time, Remember, I said it, and you read it, right here at The Christian Online Magazine
