Do you recognize any of these Jezebelic prophets in your midst? If so, what are you going to do about it?
By Jennifer LeClaire
Ichabod stays in attack mode, tearing down what God is building, because they have no glory revelation from which to edify, comfort and exhort the body. Beware Ichabod prophets. I posted that to Facebook and got an especially strong reaction. But when I followed up with a no-holds-barred Facebook Live video it went viral and thousands of people let out a resounding amen.
In part one of this look at Ichabod prophets, I laid some foundation and I’ll share that with you again for clarity’s sake. We find mention of Ichabod in 1 Samuel 4:19-21.
“Phinehas’s wife, was pregnant and about to give birth; and when she heard the news that the ark of God was taken and that her father-in-law and her husband had died, she kneeled down and gave birth, for her pains came upon her. And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son.’ But she did not answer or pay attention. And she called the boy Ichabod, saying, ‘The glory has departed from Israel,” because the ark of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband.’
The translation of Ichabod is somewhat debated. Some theologians say it simply means “no glory.” Others say the name actually poses a question: “Where is the glory?” The question, of course, suggests the glory is nowhere to be found. Yet another translator offers the meaning, “Alas! The glory,” an expression of bitter sorrow that God’s glory is absent.
If you missed the first article with five characteristics of Ichabod prophets you need to avoid, you can read it here. Here are four more characteristics of Ichabod prophets and how we should deal with this plague in the prophetic.
1. Ichabod prophets do not stand in the Lord’s counsel.
Jeremiah 23:22, “But if they had stood in My council, then they would have announced My words to My people, and would have turned them back from their evil way and from the evil of their deeds.”
Ichabod prophets don’t bask in the glory God. They don’t hide themselves away in that secret place. They do not stand in the Lord’s counsel. Therefore, they do not announce what is on the Father’s heart.
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2. Ichabod prophets steal prophetic words from other people.
Jeremiah 23:30, “Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who steal My words from each other.”I wrote about this extensively in a recent article: Beware Presumptuous Prophets Who Parrot and Plagiarize Words.
3. Ichabod prophets boast about how accurate their words and visions are, even though the Lord had no part in it.
Jeremiah 23:32, “Behold, I am against those who have prophesied false dreams,” declares the Lord, “and related them and led My people astray by their falsehoods and reckless boasting; yet I did not send them or command them, nor do they furnish this people the slightest benefit,” declares the Lord.”
Braggart prophets are actually in danger of stealing God’s glory. If they did receive a true dream or vision from the Lord and use it to exalt themselves, it’s a scary proposition. More often than not, though, these Ichabod prophets are “prophelying”—lying about what they say they saw or heard.
4. Ichabod prophets prophesy their own words in the name of the Lord, perverting the word of the Lord.
Jeremiah 23:35-36, “Thus will each of you say to his neighbor and to his brother, ‘What has the Lord answered?’ or, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ For you will no longer remember the oracle of the Lord, because every man’s own word will become the oracle, and you have perverted the words of the living God, the Lord of hosts, our God.”
If you are a prophet, remember no one wants your opinion in the name of prophecy. If you are sharing your opinion, make that clear. Don’t leave people thinking you are prophesying “thus saith the Lord” when you are prophesying “thus saith your soul.” By the same token, be careful not to let your personal opinions color your prophecy.
5. Ichabod prophets prophesy the deception in their own minds.
Jeremiah 14:14, “Then the Lord said to me, ‘The prophets are prophesying falsehood in My name. I have neither sent them nor commanded them nor spoken to them; they are prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility and the deception of their own minds.”
What else would you expect from an Ichabod prophet?
The church is putting up with Ichabod prophets!
You’ve now read 10 characteristics of Ichabod prophets. Do you recognize any of these in your midst? If so, what are you going to do about it?
Jeremiah 5:30-31, “An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?
It’s time to stop tolerating the no-glory, Jezebelic ministry of Ichabod prophets. Stop sowing into their strife-driven ministries. Stop receiving their flattering prophecies.
Jennifer LeClaire former editor of Charisma magazine, senior leader of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, founder of the Ignite Network and founder of the Awakening Blaze prayer movement. She is author of over 25 books. Find her online at jenniferleclaire.org or email her at [email protected].
