IS GOD ANGRY AT HIS PROPHETS??
Posted by: prophetic <prophetic@...>
about it. Many of the points I make in the below article are
similar to what I preached on my recent USA trip.
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IS GOD ANGRY WITH HIS PROPHETS??
-Andrew Strom.
In recent times I have come to believe more and more that the
prophetic movement worldwide is failing God. In fact, I have become
convinced that God is angry with many of His modern-day prophets.
The reasons are obvious. We live today in the age of the 'Lukewarm'
church - a church that is at imminent risk of being "spewed out" of
the mouth of God. I believe that God raised up the Prophetic move
specifically to awaken and challenge and convict His wayward
people before it is too late. But the history of the Prophetic - just like
other movements that have gone before - is a history of compromise.
Too many prophets have made themselves thoroughly comfortable
with the present system. They know that if they keep their mouth
shut in certain areas and "emphasise the positive" (as the old
advertising slogan goes) then they can do quite nicely for themselves
without too much risk. Thus, through their silence they have become
nodding supporters of the status quo. They are Laodicean prophets
in a Laodicean age.
But it is worse than that. You see, God gave to this movement an
abundance of signs and gifts so that the people would listen when
these prophets spoke on His behalf. But to a very large extent the
visions and gifts have been used to thrill and entertain, rather than to
make people sit and listen to an 'uncomfortable' word. In fact, there are
no uncomfortable words coming from the mouths of these prophets!
They are most unlike any prophet you will ever see in the Bible - men
who knew how to "cry aloud and spare not". -Which is exactly the
kind of preaching that a lukewarm church most needs to hear. Don't
hold your breath if you expect to hear such preaching today!
Speaking specifically about the Laodicean church, Jesus said:
"As many as I love I REBUKE AND CHASTEN: Be zealous therefore
and REPENT" (Rev 3:19). Because He loves His church, Jesus seeks
to warn and rebuke her before it is too late. It is totally obvious what
message a prophet must bring in a lukewarm age. It is right there in
black and white. "REBUKE AND CHASTEN" - a call to large-scale
REPENTANCE. Prophets have always been appointed to be God's
mouthpiece - to represent His heart. And there is simply no doubt
what they should be doing in any "Laodicean" situation. Today's
prophets are utterly failing God in this regard.
I believe that God gave one of the most key mandates to the modern
Prophetic movement in 1982 when He said: "I am going to change
the understanding and expression of Christianity IN THE EARTH
in one generation." I believe this movement was sent to essentially
proclaim this to the church - in the fullest degree:- A tidal wave of
MASSIVE CHANGE. There is no doubt that it is a very threatening
message to the Laodicean status quo. But we were supposed to
STAND on it and PROCLAIM it in the most radical sense. The fact
that the prophetic movement drew back from this radical role in the
church is a travesty. In fact, it is a disaster.
What we have now is a prophetic movement that can live quite
happily with the status quo - side by side with a thoroughly
lukewarm church. We hold our conferences and give our positive
and glowing messages of the "great days ahead" with barely a
hint of "rebuking and chastening". After all, we wouldn't want to
'offend' anyone, would we?
The Prophetic movement that God desired to be at the centre of
a great vortex of "CHANGE" affecting the whole body of Christ, is
now little less than a "sideshow". -A safe, predictable sideshow that
people can visit if they want to hear some warm prophecies about
themselves or the church. We have sidelined ourselves with our
compromise. The movement that was supposed to be a THREAT
to compromise and lukewarmness - and its leaders - has now
become compromised and lukewarm itself. It has lost its reason for
being. It is an accepted part of the 'system'. It challenges almost
nothing.
Church leaders talk about "making a place for the prophetic" in their
church like it was some tame little dog that they need to find room
for. Just another little flavour to add to the mix. But it was never
supposed to be that way. The prophetic was supposed to THREATEN
AND SHAKE EVERYTHING. That is what prophets were sent in to
do when Israel was backslidden, were they not? It is the same with
the church. Can you imagine Jesus arriving in a lukewarm church
and NOT shaking everything?
There is all this talk about "coming Elijahs" today. I tell you, if
Elijah did arrive in the church, most of these people would not know
where to hide themselves quickly enough. Do you think he would
stand for the nonsense that we call "charismatic church meetings"
today?
The time has come for TRULY RADICAL prophets of God to
arise. The hour is late and the time for measured and mild words
is at an end. Prophets, let the fire of God consume you, and come
forth bearing words that will SHAKE THE CHURCH. Nothing less
will do. A tepid and insipid Prophetic? -AWAY WITH IT FOREVER!!
God bless you all.
Kindest regards in Christ,
Andrew Strom.