Deuteronomy 18:22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.

Verses 15 and 18 have long been considered prophecies of the Messiah, which is why this passage has come up on the first Sunday of Advent, but this verse is certainly about prophets in general. At the same time, this business of testing the validity of a prophet by the fulfillment of what they say is risky, because timelines vary greatly. Many of the prophecies in the Old Testament didn’t come to pass until many years later. However, there were people on the Internet last month claiming that Christ would return, or at least that something very major would happen, before the end of the month. They have earned the right to be ignored! Ever since Pentecost, every believer is potentially a prophet, in the sense of speaking what God is saying, and Paul urged us to desire to do so. (1 Corinthians 14:1) That is seldom the same as predictive prophecy, however. Sometimes the Lord does do that through His children, but as Moses indicated, we should be very cautious about it. God does let us know in advance about some things, and we are not to hold back if He makes something very clear to us, but this is a far cry from fortune telling, which verse 14 and many other places in the Bible make very clear is not for the children of God. Speaking God’s words is an incredible privilege, but it is also a huge responsibility. We are to rejoice when God allows us to do it, but we are never to take it lightly.

I have been used in direct prophecy quite a few times, and I strive to be an open channel for God to speak through any time He gives me the opportunity, but that doesn’t mean my primary calling is Prophet. That I am a Teacher is pretty clear, but I never want to put myself, much less God, in a box. One experience of predictive prophecy stands out in my memory, because it seemed impossible to the people to whom I spoke it, but it came true in a way none of us imagined. I won’t go into the details here, but it was a lesson that if God is speaking, I’m to be obedient, and leave the details up to Him. At the same time, I must be very careful not to go spouting off on my own – of which I am quite capable! I am very aware that God does speak to and through His children, and I seek to help all of them believe and trust that fact, the better to be obedient to Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I am preaching again this morning, and I want it to be all You! I know that my personality colors what and how I speak, but I desire that Christ shine through above all. May I speak what You are saying and nothing else, so that Your Word may indeed accomplish everything for which You send it, (Isaiah 55:10-11) for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!