Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing,
but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.
Matthew 7:15-16a
The following summary is exclusively my opinion on how prophecy teachers should and should not execute their ministry. These are my observations over the last three decades of study, and hopefully they will be helpful to you:
What prophecy teachers shouldn’t do:
- Be preoccupied with giving to their ministry. Every “non-profit” is concerned about their bottom line. On the flip side, Christians are also called to walk by faith. There is a fine line between making people aware of financial needs to operate, and making it the centerpiece of the ministry.
- Be flashy and over the top. I fully realize that we often look at the outer man while God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Still, I have seen a correlation between how a preacher/teacher dresses and what comes out of his or her mouth. Expensive suits and jewelry are a huge yellow flag to me (1 Timothy 6:3-5). These “teachers” are often the ones telling people what they want to hear, not what they need to hear (2 Timothy 4:3).
- Be preoccupied with the purchase of their materials. If God gives anyone a message to share, it is my opinion that they should share it freely. Otherwise, they are trying to profit from someone else’s (God’s) wisdom (2 Peter 1:20-21). This is not to say I don’t think they should sell their books, but they shouldn’t make it so purchasing something is a necessity to hear what God is saying through them.
- Their teaching is western-centric. The western world didn’t even exist when much of the Bible was written. As a result, the Bible seems abundantly clear that the End of the Age is Middle East-centric, while these teachers focus on the west.
What prophecy teachers should do:
- Exude humility. Their speech is a key indicator of their genuineness. There is a fine line between arrogance and urgency. I don’t think it’s too hard to tell when someone is grandstanding and when they are humbly yet passionately pointing people to Jesus and His Second Coming.
- Encourage non-believers to repent. No doubt there are many secular folk tuning in to a particular book, website or TV show due to curiosity, conviction, or boredom. We must share the message of the Gospel through these platforms.
- Point believers to a life of service and obedience. Being preoccupied with the next prophecy that might be fulfilled is not the point to life or ministry. Making disciples is (Matthew 28:18-20). It’s great to be aware of prophecy that might be fulfilled in our lifetime, but this should only make us strive to serve the Lord more whole-heartedly in practical ways.
- Promote more time in prayer. What the world needs is more fervent prayer from ardent followers of Jesus (James 5:16). Prayer is the powerful weapon that opens hearts, liberates souls, and prepares us to share with boldness.