FROM THE PROPHETIC TO WITCHCRAFT (PART 1)

FROM THE PROPHETIC TO WITCHCRAFT! 

(Part 1)

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions." 

Joel 2:28 KJV

One of the core signs of the outpouring in the last days will be the birth of a rise in the prophetic. This means that the litmus test to benchmark a true Outpouring of God in any assembly of God's people is the spirit of prophecy. 

This move will be critical to God's end time agenda coming to pass and as we know, the devil whose ultimate intention is to derail kingdom purposes will exploit this ministry to his advantage. It becomes imperative that we place the scriptural fine linings on this subject so as to be equipped and rightly so against this evil onlaught, hence, in this subject, we shall have an in-depth perspective to what the prophetic implies and it's manifestation and possible subtle deviations as witnessed in our time and even beyond. 

"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices"  

2 Corinthians 2:11

WHAT IS THE PROPHETIC?

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" 

2 Peter 1:20-21 KJV

Please note the following Key facts about prophecy....

1. Not of private interpretation

2. Not by the will of man

3. Speakings Inspired by the Holy ghost

First of all, we must note that there's a difference between PROPHETIC UTTERANCE and PROPHETIC ACTION.

Prophetic Utterance

The prophetic is that which is from God. It deals with bringing a perspective from the heart of God through spirit inspired promptings and is revealed by utterance or actions. It can also be reffered to as spirit granted utterance through a known language. This is reffered to as a Prophetic Utterance. A prophecy can be certified as true if it's message comes to pass. 

Prophetic utterances are manifested through Speakings. They are usually vocalised. There are several examples of prophetic utterance both in the old and the new testament.

Elisha and Jehoshaphat 2kings3:16-17 

When Paul and Barnabas were divinely called and separated to God's special assignment. Acts13:1-2

Prophetic Action

A prophetic act is more than - or differs from - a spoken word of prophecy, or word of knowledge. It’s an action, something we DO under the anointing and unction of the Holy Spirit as a step of faith, as an act of obedience to release the power, the presence and the victory of God into a situation. Yes, it can include prophecy and words of knowledge, or it can be an act that stands alone without any ‘extras’.  The Bible records many prophetic acts, but there is no set pattern to go by.

We can see some examples of this in both the old and new testament too. 

Prophet Elisha and Joash  2kings13:14-20

Jesus and the healing of the lepers Luke17:12-14

Jesus and turning water into wine John2:5-10 (The instruction was a prophetic action)

Jesus healing of the blind man's eyes with a spittle on the sand. John9:1-7

THE ABUSE OF THE PROPHETIC

Witchcraft simply means counterfeit authority. It is the opposite of all that true Prophetic is. If the basis of the prophetic is an inspiration from God, what happens when the man or woman is not operating under an inspiration from God? Inspiration can be both ways. Either from God or from the devil. Either from the Spirit of God or from self. In this part of the world especially Africa, the Prophetic has been used in very manipulative ways. Under guise of trickery, craftiness and satanic sources, so called prophets has harrassed and ravaged lots of gullible christains. Some are asked to do strange tasks (sometimes humiliating) and also part away with sums of monies for these wolves in sheep clothing. These excesses have soiled the move of a precious gift of God and quenched it's true manifestation in many lives for the greater good. We must note importantly that It is possible a minister can start off well and corect but because of unchecked excesses and wrong influence, he can enter into error. When he dwells in his error (because of the gains it brings), he is ensnared to a wrong spirit. At that point, a demon can then control the process and assist him. Hence he is no long different from an "Ezemuo" (ie Evil priest). 

It is in our time that a prophet can give you a chain to wear for protection and defend it with the fact that the early Apostles used handkerchiefs to do miracles. Then later he gives you a special soap to bathe. When that is achieved, he can even go ahead and decide to do the bathing for you and now becomes a washer man for so many married women. ....All in the name of thus says the Lord! Such an abomination! This is how evil thrives. 

DISCERNING THE DEVIATIONS!

1. Seed faith

When the emphasis for receiving a spiritual ministration must be connected with sowing a seed for a solution to be received, witchcraft has set in. 

When members are admitted for counselling and prayer by first dropping a gift or envelope of money before seeing the minister 

When prophecies received for members are been monetised before they are transmitted to recipients

When members are craftily instructed to part with properties and possessions to reciprocate a Spiritual gesture or high personality 

When members are threatened with a withdrawal of spiritual cover by church leaders or ministers because they withdraw support or an intention to leave the local assembly.

2. Manipulating the word of knowledge!

Word of knowledge is a gift of the Holyspirit a supernatural revelation of facts past, present, or future which were not learned through the efforts of the natural mind.

When the minister reads out information researched on members and speaks such as a Divine revelation. Examples of such is calling names of members, phone numbers, colour of car etc. If such information are not God-given, witchcraft has set in. 

3. Rituals!

When activities not verifiable by scriptures or skewed in the light of the word are carried out on members. Generating amulets and spiritual objects as a means of faith or defence system are rituals and are witchcraft manipulation. Special creams and soaps for bathing etc. Doing sacrifices, bathing people and not a clear a of water baptism is evil.  

4. Dream and vision instructions!

One common ways God can guide a christain is by dreams. But when information is now feelings about dreams and such dreams tend to instruct and control. Witchcraft has set in. If members are governed and controlled by dreams and not by the word a deviation has set in. Ministers who only build their ministry on revelation and dreams. 

5. Hyper spirituality and Human worship!

When Ministers appear to be more important than Jesus and tend to arrogate authority to themselves in order to weild control on members. Witchcraft in progress. Hyper knowledge and position strategies of control. In some churches, some ministers are unapproachable and very highly revered and adored. A set up where the overseers leaders are always correct and can't be Humble to learn. Human worship is a strategy to refocus the members concentration on man more than God. This is a deviation away from the God of the Bible. Flee before it's too late. 

All manner of deceptions and illegitimate ways of exercising authority and control over others whether by song, message, givings, actions etc, The deviations are witchcraft or tending towards it. 

In the concluding part of this subject we take some key frequently asked questions about these Manifestations and the way out for the members or ministers already trapped in this evil net. 

We must seek Spiritual maturity and spiritual discernment in this season to be able to navigate freely in the realms of the prophetic and be a gift to the Body of Christ to represent Jesus

God bless you richly 

Shalom!