Standing in support of Israel, Jews, and believers in all the nations, in the name of Jesus (Yeshua). Sharing biblical truth, encouragement, news and prophecy.
There is coming a day when prophets sit behind the news desks as CNN, Fox and MSNBC to share what the Lord is saying, displacing psychics who have held positions on these media mountains. (you_littleswine)
"While we have come a long way in both the raising up of many people who prophesy, it is still difficult today to find what can be called the prophets to the nation."
So says Cindy Jacobs, and I agree with her.
Many people ask me who are the prophetic voices in nations where I travel, and few can seem to name them. It seems prophets often are without honor in their own cities and nations. I am sure there are prophetic voices in every nation, but they are being overlooked.
Some of those prophets have the opportunity to trumpet their voice to the nations at the Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders this November. Dr. Peter Wagner launched this group in 1999 and handed it off to Cindy some years ago.
The ACPE was largely Americanized until now. At last year's council, James Goll prophesied about an international gathering of prophets and we'll see that convene this November in Dallas. It's called the Global Prophetic Summit.
"This is the first of its kind. It will be a watershed moment for the prophetic movement worldwide," Cindy says. "This hinge-of-history moment will open the door for prophetic revelation on a level that has not been known in a collective way."
As one who has trumpeted purity and progress in the prophetic movement, I see this as more than strategic. I see this as pivotal for the advancement of kingdom-minded prophets who are more interested in the voice of the Lord going forth to shift nations than a personal platform. I see this as an opportunity for tactical networking among prophetic people who may otherwise never meet. I see this as a prime time for warfare intercession over the destiny of nations.
As I prepare to enter the ACPE for the first time and share the words the Lord gave me for 2018, I expect a shift in my own spirit as I am exposed to prophetic expressions from ministers in nations around the world who are contending for a similar cause. And as prophetic voices see individual shifts, the prophetic movement at large can continue shifting into deeper revelations that defy the psychic predictors and futurists often spotlighted in the evening news.
There is coming a day when prophets sit behind the news desks as CNN, Fox and MSNBC to share what the Lord is saying, displacing psychics who have held positions on these media mountains. There is coming a showdown between the true and the false in various mountains of influence. It all starts with the true prophetic voices gathering in unity to build an international platform for the truth. Amen.
The man whom many consider to be father in the prophetic in our generation is speaking out about a gathering of prophets—one I believe could help shift the prophetic as part of a second wave of the movement that's being established even now.
"This is a first of its kind," Hamon says. "As far as I know in the history of the prophetic movement, there has never been a meeting like this."
Bishop is talking about the Global Prophetic Summit, set for Nov. 16-18 in Dallas. It follows the annual meeting of the Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders, or ACPE. I'm joining the council for the first time this year and eager to collaborate with prophets from around the world in this first-ever event.
Why Go Global Now?
Here's a little background: Since 1999, the ACPE has gathered some of the most respected prophetic voices from around the nation to pray and seek the Lord for a word for the next season.
In 2015, during the regular meeting of the ACPE, James Goll delivered a prophetic word that God was calling the group to take things to the next level.
In response to that word, the ACPE is combined influence to gather together seasoned and emerging prophetic voices from over 50 nations around the earth to come together to release the word of the Lord for the upcoming year. The event marks three days of prophetic impartation from prophets around the world—two from many nations.
I'm Expecting a Shift
I'm expecting a shift. The Lord shared with me a dream recently, which I have not been released to share, about some issues in the prophetic movement that need to be corrected. I believe these issues cannot be corrected without open dialogue.
In some cases, there is error in some camps—even strange fire. Loving correction could make the difference. In other cases, it's varied perspectives on how prophets should function in the New Testament that is causing a measure of strife. Conversation can lead to understanding where disagreement exists.
Yes, I'm expecting a shift. Never before in the history of the prophetic movement have so many prophets—you might call it an international company of prophets—gathered in the same place at the same time to seek the Lord, to pray and worship and fellowship together, and share what's on His heart for the nations of the earth.
Will We See True Unity?
Could this type of meeting forge new relationships that could advance the gospel in the nations? I believe so.
Could it help strengthen the prophetic movement in countries where visions are rare? Again, I believe so.
Could it demonstrate a unity that causes a breaker anointing and a river of accurate prophetic words that could impact people, cities and nations? Yes, again, I believe so.
I know one meeting is not the end all—but it is a start. I'm encouraged and honored to be a part of something that is the first—but hopefully not the last—unified move to advance authentic prophetic ministry around the globe. You can join us by registering here.
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In my travels and online, I am encountering increasing numbers of people disillusioned with the prophetic movement. There have been too many prophecies unfulfilled, dates set and missed, catastrophic events that never happened, promises that didn't unfold, moral failings on the part of some prophetic leaders and a growing number biblical imbalances.
All of this is taking an increasing toll on confidence in the prophetic gift and it has led some to begin to think that the prophetic gift is not for today. Too much of the prophetic movement has gotten it wrong or wandered off base. Credibility has been eroded.
Consider, however, 1 Kings 22 when kings Jehoshaphat and Ahab convened 400 prophets to seek the will of the Lord concerning engaging in battle to retake Ramoth-Gilead from Aram. Four hundred prophets read the desire in the hearts of the kings, listened to a deceiving spirit (22:22-23) and told them what they wanted to hear, "Go up to Ramoth-Gilead and prosper, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king."
In his spirit, Micaiah alone knew the truth, but initially spoke in unison with the 400. Only when Jehoshaphat commanded him to do so did he relent and speak what he really knew. "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep which have no shepherd. And the Lord said, 'These have no master. Let each of them return to his house in peace'" (22:17). He continued, "Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left. The Lord said, 'Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-Gilead?' And one said this while another said that'" (22:19-20).
Apparently, a prophetic movement was underway in Israel such that 400 so-called prophets could hold a convention. Who in that day who truly heard God's voice would have had the courage or the confidence to disagree with the dominant stream, especially with a word that didn't sound particularly encouraging? Micaiah stood alone against two kings and 400 acclaimed prophetic voices only to suffer humiliation when Zedekiah slapped his face for not joining with the majority (22:24). He then found himself imprisoned and fed sparingly on bread and water (22:27).
Ultimately, 400 "prophets" had it wrong, Israel suffered defeat and Ahab was killed, but regardless of consequences to Ahab and the army because of their inaccurate words, Israel didn't scuttle prophecy as a ministry because 400 blew it. Because one prophet had it right, prophecy remained a valid ministry in Israel and, later, in the church. It would seem that the key lies not in how many are speaking a particular word, but in discernment to know who is actually speaking from God's heart. Do we have a dearth of real discernment in the church today? Are we too ready to hear only what excites us and what we want to hear? Have we relegated true prophetic voices, ever the minority, to the sidelines and locked them up because they don't speak with the voice of the majority?
Repeatedly throughout history, there have been occasions and seasons when the truth has rested not with the dominant word being spoken by the majority, but with the less popular minority. These are seldom respected or well known, sometimes until after their deaths. They threw Jeremiah down a well and disregarded his words. Elijah was called the troubler of Israel. And so it went!
Maybe we need to stop listening so intently to the popular voices who speak with the mainstream and whose words we love to hear. Could it be that a purified remnant speaks a plumb line word that doesn't win them the platform of widespread popularity? Can we discern the word of God in a hidden but emerging generation of prophetic voices who might not speak what we want to hear, but who certainly speak what we need to hear? In doing so, might we be more edified and more prepared for the glory to come in the midst of a gathering darkness?
R. Loren Sandfordis the senior pastor of New Song Church and Ministries in Denver, Colorado. He has a bachelor's degree in music and a master of divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. He has authored a number of books, includingUnderstanding Prophetic People: Blessings and Problems with the Prophetic Gift,Visions of the Coming Days: What to Look for and How to Prepare and his most recent, Yes There's More: A Return to Childlike Faith and a Deeper Experience of God.
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If you've seen the November issue of Charisma, you know it features Cindy Jacobs on the cover. It's an article about the prophetic, not so much a personality profile about Cindy.
We chose her to represent a bigger movement. That's because over the last 30 years, Cindy has come to exemplify the prophetic movement as it has grown in acceptance. We believe so much in Cindy's ministry that we included her as one of the 40 people who radically changed the world for our 40th anniversary issue of Charisma in August.
Now Cindy is celebrating her own anniversary—30 years—at a big banquet in Dallas tonight.
My wife, Joy, and I have known Cindy and her husband, Mike, for a long time. We've enjoyed many shared experiences, and we have become friends. We were invited to the banquet but were unable to attend, so this is my way to publicly say how much we love and appreciate Cindy and admire what God has done in her life.
I have also featured a telephone interview with her on my podcast today. In it Cindy talks about her recent trip to China and what she taught the house church leaders about the prophetic. She is also starting an initiative for a prayer walk across the United States in preparation for the elections in 2016.
In case you missed the short article on Cindy, I am reprinting it below because Diana Scimone, the author, captured only in a few words the essence of this godly woman's life and ministry.
Cindy Jacobs: Prophetic Intercessor
By Diana Scimone
Generals of earthly armies rarely think about raising up other generals. For Cindy Jacobs, however, the call is clear: Mobilize a supernatural army and raise up and train generals to lead it.
In 1985, she and her husband, Mike, founded an organization now known as Generals International, which works to transform nations through intercessory prayer and the prophetic. That means if it's in the news, Cindy Jacobs usually has something to say about it—not an opinion or commentary, but a prophetic word or a call to militant prayer. Thousands of believers all over the world see her "Shields up!" emails in their inbox and hit their knees in intercession.
"[Generals International] is one of the key ministries in these times, helping to set the stage and get people in their place prepared for the times," says Rick Joyner, executive director of MorningStar Ministries.
This unique call on Jacobs' life dates back to a Bible camp when she was nine years old. God told her He had something special He wanted her to do for Him—which she assumed would be a missionary or pastor's wife. Years later, when she realized He was calling her to be a prophetic intercessor and voice to the nation mobilizing a global army of prayer warriors, her response was clear. "I asked God to use my husband instead of me!" she says. "You know the prayer: 'Here I am, Lord. Send someone else.'" Not surprisingly, the one who relented was not God but Jacobs. No one will ever know how many national disasters have been averted because Jacobs said "yes" to God then and continues raising up generals and calling them to militant intercession well into the 21st century.
If you are interested in more about Cindy, here is a link to a long article about her ministry on her website.
If Cindy has blessed your life or you know of others who are interested in the prophetic, forward this and add your comments. And, join me in congratulating her and Mike on their 30th anniversary of ministry.
Steve Strangis the founder of Charisma and CEO of Charisma Media. Follow him onTwitter or Facebook.
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Prophetic ministry can empower or destroy the church. (Lightstock )
Note: This article ran in the November 1990 issue of Charisma.
Where are the prophets? In every quarter of the church today we hear that question ringing. Not only in charismatic and Pentecostal churches, but even in the old mainline denominations, Christians are experiencing prophetic ministry, acknowledging prophetic ministers and wondering where the Holy Spirit is headed in these closing years of the 20th century.
I believe that we are actually in the midst of a divinely ordained move of God—what many are calling the prophetic movement. The Holy Spirit has designed this movement to bring full recognition, restoration and activation of prophets and prophetic ministry—within church ministry and structure. The current move of God is in fact an extension of earlier restoration movements throughout the last 500 years that have brought back to the church a number of truths and spiritual experiences that had previously been neglected—in particular, the Protestant, Holiness, Pentecostal and charismatic movements.
Each of these great restoration movements has been more powerful and gained a greater potential for salvation, or self-destruction, than the one before. The process is like the progressive invention of modern warfare weapons, from gunpowder to dynamite to nitroglycerin to nuclear bombs. As the latest and most powerful force and spiritual weapon of warfare being brought forth in the church, the prophetic movement has the most potential for blessing or destruction of any restoration movement during the last five centuries.
If nuclear or laser weapons were to fall into the hands of unprincipled, self-centered terrorists, they would have no scruples about using this power to destroy many lives in furthering their own selfish ends. They would use these weapons to intimidate, manipulate and control people to build their own dictatorial kingdom. In the same way, if a prophetic minister does not have Christ's character, biblical principles of operation, and a right spirit and motivation, he or she has the potential to control and manipulate people with supernatural knowledge, visions, revelations and miracles. False prophets, wrongly motivated ministers and immature believers misusing prophetic ministry can cause great destruction.
On the other hand, with the right character and spirit, prophetic ministers have great power to influence people for God toward unity, obedience, humility and Christlikeness. Thus prophetic ministry can bring life or death, blessing or blasting. Like atomic or laser power, the prophetic can be used for good or evil.
Swings in the Pendulum
When truth is in the process of being restored to the church, it usually swings extremely to the right, then to the left. At last it finally hangs straight with a balanced message, like the pendulum of a grandfather clock, in the middle of the two extremes.
Those who are stuck out on the extreme left become cultic in their doctrines and practices. Those who don't make it back from the extreme right become an exclusive group who separate themselves from the rest of the body of Christ. In between is the group that brings itself together from both extremes to maintain a balance of wisdom and maturity in proper biblical doctrine and practice as God originally intended it to be restored to the church.
At the same time, the "balanced" group may become so protective of the truth and so reactionary toward the extremists that they keep the original form—yet lose the flow of the Holy Spirit. They may keep the purity of the doctrine yet lose the fresh anointing that restored those truths. They may maintain the proper preaching and practices yet lose God's mighty presence and power that originally accompanied the ministry.
Sad to say, church history reveals that this "balanced" group usually becomes the main persecutors of the next restorational movement of the Holy Spirit. They establish "wineskins" of doctrinal limitations with regard to what, when, where, who and how the truth can be ministered. Their wineskins become dry and set with such limitations that they cannot receive the new wine of restored truth that adds new dimensions to the church.
For that reason, we must keep our wineskins flexible so that we can go from movement to movement of the Holy Spirit, incorporating into our personal lives and our churches all that God wants to restore to His church (2 Cor. 3:18). At the same time, we must not become vulnerable to extremism and fanaticism. As the apostle Peter declared, we must continually "be established in the present truth" without forsaking any of the truths and practices that have already been restored (2 Pet. 1:12). Jesus said that a wise scribe is one who brings out of his treasure chest treasures both old and new (Matt. 13:52).
The true apostles and prophets called to pioneer the prophetic movement will do all they can to maintain balance and to keep prophetic ministers from doing foolish things that bring reproach and disgrace upon the movement as a whole. But none of the past restoration movements were able to prevent abuses and extremes totally, and neither will we be able to do so.
In the Protestant Reformation, for example, some groups reacting to Catholic control became extremely lawless. In the Holiness movement, some extremists succumbed to the bondage of legalism. Among the early Pentecostals, some went so far as to teach that speaking in tongues was necessary for salvation. And most of us are familiar with the past charismatic extremes in demonology, discipleship and prosperity teaching.
Every movement will manifest some people who are biblically uneducated and who never become birthed in the present truth. There will always be those emotionally unstable and spiritually immature people who cannot handle the truth and thus exhibit weird behavior. And there will always be charlatans, false ministers and others who are wrongly motivated, looking for an opportunity to promote themselves and to profit from the movement.
Abuses to Avoid
As with every move of God, the prophetic movement will produce its share of abuses when people carry it too far or totally misapply the truths God is restoring. God's Spirit is pure and restores unadulterated truth and ministry, but such truth and ministry are poured into earthen vessels that can be faulty (2 Cor. 4:7). So I want to raise a warning against perverting the truths being restored or using them for personal gain or for other ungodly purposes.
I believe that several specific cautions are necessary at this point as Christians seek to maintain integrity and balance in the prophetic movement:
Overemphasis on personal prophecy. Some Christians will think they need a "word from the Lord" to make every major and minor decision. They will no longer depend on their personal convictions, the Holy Spirit's leadings, or pastoral counsel and wisdom to walk daily before the Lord. In some lives, personal prophecy will replace personal prayer and hearing from God for oneself.
This is not of the Lord. Personal prophecy has a valid place in the church and in the lives of individual Christians, but it was never intended to be a "quick fix" or a replacement for seeking God.
Elevating prophecy to the level of Scripture. Another form that abuse will take is an elevation of contemporary prophecy to the same level of authority and inspiration as the written Word of God, causing cultic groups who esteem prophetic utterance as Scripture. All orthodox Christians, however, believe that the Scriptures are complete and sufficient, and will reject all extrabiblical revelation claiming authority equal to the Bible,
Ministering out from under authority. Some Christians will begin to prophesy in places other than those their church leadership has sanctioned as appropriate. I call these "parking lot prophecies," in which people draw others outside of meetings to prophesy strange things to them.
I believe it's critical that all prophecies be given only under spiritual oversight, and also that they be tape-recorded. This allows the local eldership to adjust or correct any words that are false, wrongly applied or untimely, thus saving, the person who is receiving the prophecy from confusion or misunderstanding. Sadly enough, some who are new to this movement will prophesy helter-skelter without allowing their words to be weighed and evaluated (1 Cor. 14:31; 1 Thess. 5:21). Because the prophetic ministry has the power either to bless or curse, all words must be witnessed to and judged by those who are spiritually mature and are in oversight in the local assembly.
Using prophecy to justify rebellion and sin.The charismatic movement caused many prayer groups and unstructured meetings to break themselves off from the church. Some were of God, as the Holy Spirit poured out new wine that old wineskins couldn't contain, causing inevitable splits. But many others were just rebellious groups who wanted to do their own thing without any oversight.
The prophetic movement will see a continuation of this trend, with personal prophecy used as a tool to justify rebellious factions and groups. When confronted by spiritual authority, some will say "God told me," and will produce as evidence several prophecies they gave themselves or which were given by others who endorse their group or ministry. God never intended prophecy to judge doctrinal or disciplinary matters, and He certainly has not appointed certain saints in the church to straighten out everybody else through their spiritual ministry.
Control and manipulation through prophecy. Some ministers or leaders who already have a problem with being controlling will use the gift of prophecy to dictate "orders from God" to those under them. The abuses of the discipleship movement may pale in comparison to this abuse of personal prophecy. Ministers will prophesy to people about whom to marry, which job to get, and when and where to move, all in the name of "spiritual revelation."
Scores of ignorant and immature believers will follow such leaders because they seem to prophesy the word of the Lord and have signs following their ministry. Moses told the Israelites the reason God allows such things to take place: "The Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deut 13:3; NKJV). So Christians must understand the difference between obeying the word of the Lord and getting confirmation of major moves and life's decisions.
Using the prophetic gift for personal gain.This abuse of deceit will take two forms as people flock to prophetic ministry because God's anointing is upon it. First, many will hold "prophetic conferences" that are prophetic in name only. They will be more interested in drawing people in to pay large seminar fees to bolster their churches' finances than in ministering prophetically to the people. We will hear the word "prophetic" hung like a tag on nearly everything in the church as some try to manipulate people into becoming a part of ministries that are not at all prophetic.
The second form of this abuse is as ancient as Balaam, who tried to prophesy for his own personal gain. Even now certain ones prophesy, "Thus saith the Lord, God is saying if you will support His servant with a one-time gift of $1,000, He will surely bless you." Thousands of gullible Christians will send their money, thinking the man is speaking for God. In the end, however, these false prophets will be exposed as charlatans and judged for making merchandise of the gift of God.
Trying to fulfill personal prophecy out of proper timing.Many Christians who receive true personal prophecies about some great ministry or life situation will misunderstand God's dealing over a period of time and run out to try to fulfill their prophecy in their own strength. If God tells them prophetically that they will be raised up as a great pastor, prophet or apostle, they will run out and print up business cards with titles and proclaim themselves as God's wonder-workers.
Others who are called to be financial stewards for the kingdom of God will rush into business situations based on a personal prophecy because they think one prophecy will cause them to prosper in all their endeavors. The results will be broken contracts, bankruptcy and ruined lives.
When a true prophecy is spoken to an individual, God intends to accomplish that prophecy at some point in that person's life, not necessarily in the following week or month. Christians must learn to wait on the timing of the Lord.
Presumptuous, critical and judgmental prophesying.One of the greatest dangers and abuses of the prophetic movement will be people prophesying presumptuously or critically. For some reason, folks with a critical or negative spirit seem to flock to prophetic ministry, feeling that congregational or personal prophecy is their platform to blast everyone else for living in sin, directly implying that they themselves are the true standard for righteousness. I have seen and heard many who felt they were God's lone prophet in the wilderness, proclaiming righteousness while the rest of the church was wicked and sinful (see Deut. 18:20-22).
I have found, however, that the result of such prophesying is bitter, fruitless and condemning. God has not anointed any sheriffs in the kingdom of God to judge and condemn others, and I believe He rarely, if ever, uses immature believers to give a true word of rebuke and correction. This will be left instead to the mature person whom God can trust with hard words that need to be delivered in the spirit of humility and healing.
Abuses Have Already Begun
My spirit is grieved when I see and hear how some are already abusing the truths and ministries being restored by the prophetic movement. Even now, there are those with television programs who are using the ministry of prophesying to manipulate people to give them financial support. They close their eyes and point their finger and say, "The Lord says" or "The Lord shows me" that someone is to send them a certain amount of money. If the Lord ever did anoint them to prophesy in the first place, then that anointing left when they started using the gift for personal promotion.
I was shocked and disgusted when I heard another television personality say, "Write to me, and I will send you your personal prophecy tape for personal prosperity." I sent for it just so I could hear for myself what was being said. It was a soulish sham of using prophetic ministry to manipulate and motivate people to support his ministry.
I sometimes wish I had the power to close the mouths of such ministers. But then the Lord reminds me of what Paul told the Corinthian church: "There must be also heresies among you, that they who are approved may be made manifest among you" (1 Cor. 11:19, KJV). In relation to this movement, that means there must be false prophets, the ignorant, the immature and the wrongly motivated prophetic ministers who are improperly using the office of the prophet and the ministry of prophesying, so that those who are true and proper may be made manifest as the true prophetic ministers within Christ's church. Jesus said we must let the tares grow along with the wheat until the time of the harvest (Matt. 13:24-30).
Let All Things Be Done
Paul declared, "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Cor. 14:40). But there is no need for decency and order unless something is being done. The emphasis should be placed on the first five words in this statement as much as it is on the last four. Let all things be done!
The preacher of old declared that the only way to have a totally clean stall was not to have an ox in it—thus losing the benefit of the ox's labor (Prov. 14:4). So it is with the prophetic movement. If we want the benefit of prophetic ministry in the church, we must expect a few messes in the "stall" as some believers demonstrate a lack of balance, integrity or maturity.
The ones who do not manifest the truth as God intended will not make it back to the middle from the extreme swings of the pendulum of restored truth. But those who have the heart of God and the mind of Christ for this movement will proceed with proper prophetic procedures and practices—bringing the church closer to full restoration, maturity and triumph.
My wife, Joy, and I have known Cindy and her husband, Mike, for a long time. We've enjoyed many shared experiences, and we have become friends. We were invited to the banquet but were unable to attend, so this is my way to publicly say how much we love and appreciate Cindy and admire what God has done in her life.