Every week I get at least a handful of digital requests from precious people all over the world desperately seeking a prophetic word. Some come begging. Others come demanding. Still others come with money in hand to buy a prophecy or dream interpretation.
Seriously, this happens just about every day and more than once on most days. It’s an unfortunate symptom of modern-day prophetic ministry—prophetic ministry that has too often taught people to depend on prophets to “go to the throne” and “get a word” for them instead of fulfilling the Ephesians 4:11 mandate to equip the saints.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not at all against personal prophecy. In fact, over the next two weeks I’ll be ministering on prophetic promises at my church. I fully expect the Holy Spirit to move. I fully expect many hungry believers to receive prophetic words. Personal prophecy—edifying, exhorting and comforting believers—is vital in this hour.
The Rise of Internet Prophets
But prophetic ministry doesn’t operate like a gumball machine. You can’t put in a quarter—or send an e-mail or Facebook message—and out comes a prophetic word. It just doesn’t work that way. Part of this misunderstanding is rooted in the proliferation of what I call the “Internet prophets.” Some actually take out Google Ads promoting how you can get a personal prophecy (even every day). Others promise a prophetic word delivered to your e-mail inbox for about the price of a tank of gas.
When I see this sort of stuff, it grieves me for two reasons. First, the gifts of the Spirit are not for sale. We saw Simon the Sorcerer try to buy the ability to lay hands on people and get them filled with the Holy Spirit. And we saw Peter sorely rebuke him for it. In fact, Peter said, ““Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity” (Acts 8:20-23).
And let’s not forget Elisha’s servant Gehazi. After Elisha helped Naaman find a cure for leprosy, the commander of the Syrian king’s army offered him a gift for his service. Elisha refused, even when Naaman urged him to take it. Gehazi ran after Naaman to collect a reward. Elisha found him out and Gehazi ended up a leper (see 2 Kings 5). I’m not saying that prophets cannot receive offerings for ministry. But we must be careful not to merchandise the gifts of the Spirit. Jesus said, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).
Here’s my bottom line: I don’t believe in asking for “love offerings” in exchange personal prophecy. I think that relegates the prophet to the domain of your local palm reader who charges $5 for a 15-minute session. And I’m not sure the results of such an exchange fare much better for the one seeking supernatural guidance.
Don’t Put Prophets in Pedestals
When people come to me seeking, demanding, or offering money for prophetic words it also bothers me because, again, this is often learned behavior. These precious believers genuinely want to hear from God and they don’t know it’s inappropriate to approach a prophet like a psychic. Again, many saints have been conditioned to run to the prophet every time they need to hear from God. That’s not healthy. It puts the prophet up on a pedestal. Every believer can and should be able to hear from God for themselves. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).
Believers may need training in order to separate the voice of their mind from the voice of the devil from the voice of the Holy Spirit. One of the functions of five-fold prophets is to help impart that discernment through practical teaching and training, as well as prayer. But too many prophets—and especially Internet prophets—have set themselves up as the answer man. In doing so, they are robbing believers of more than money. They are robbing believers of a chance to pursue a more intimate relationship with God.
Again, don’t get me wrong. I believe in personal prophecy. And I believe sometimes you need a word from a prophet or prophetic minister as confirmation. There are many voices out there and when you are under tremendous stress; when you are at a fork in the road and don’t know which way to turn; when you have pursued God with all your heart and remain confused… personal prophecy can build you up, offer you direction and warnings, and comfort you.
Prophetic Ministry Still Misunderstood
So when I get phone calls, e-mails and Facebook messages begging, demanding and offering to pay for prophetic words, it grieves me because I can see clearly that there is still a major misunderstanding about prophetic ministry in the body of Christ. And that can put these precious believers in danger of getting merchandised, deceived, and otherwise steered in the wrong direction in the name of sincerely “seeking God.” I don’t have time to respond to each and every one in detail about the role of the prophet, why it’s inappropriate for prophets to charge for prophecies, or how to hear from God.
But let me assure you of this: God wants to speak to you. In fact, He’s probably speaking to you more than you realize. I have a free prophetic teaching series on YouTube about how to discern the voice of God. It’s old and the quality isn’t the greatest, but it may help you. There are also many books on the topic.
Precious saints, God wants to speak to you directly. Don’t run to a prophet—and don’t pay a prophet—for prophetic words. Run to God and sow your time into fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit. You won’t be disappointed and you won’t walk away with a manufactured poor prophecy that leads you in the wrong direction. The Holy Spirit will lead you and guide you into all truth (John 16:13). That’s a promise from King Jesus. Amen.
Praise be to the Lord,
Dear sister in Christ
I m in desperate need for Holy spirit guidance now,I m undergoing a serious hardship in my life. Coul you please pray for my liberations from all burdens of life.
If you were relieved of all burdens of life you wouldn’t grow, Receive these hardships and grow
please pray for me for God’s direction and help.. Thanks
Sister Claire,
I am dealing with some things in my spirit, thee very serious,
these spirits will not go away. I am a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but my ministry is on hold. These spirits curse in my
spirit and they claims to be fallen angels. Please pray and talk to God for me please.
Hello Theresa,
I was attacked too over the past two years by spirits when I was sleeping they would not let me sleep and would give me nightmares. I realised it was someone close to me that kept coming to my house that was bringing the spirit attachments with them into my house. I did a cleanse of my house with this prayer. It worked so well, I don’t let that person near or into my house any more. I meet them somewhere else now. I hope this helps, you just pray this prayer out loud it takes 30 minutes. I believe that christians are getting more attacked because we may be in the last days. You can see the fallness and evil in the world more evident everyday. Make sure you truly have repented of everything and take the authority you have in Jesus by saying this prayer out loud wherever these spirits are:
http://deliveranceministry.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Keys-to-the-Kingdom2-Mass-Deliverance-Document.pdf
I was overwelmed after reading your Message. Please pray for God to deliver me from the hands of the evil one
My life I need to know my calling in life I know God has given me one and I need postive people around me and I need to know will my children and I will be safe when we move
Your article jst touched me. I think God spoke to me and my other christian friend via a dream about gettin a job at a specific company. I hav therefore stoped looking for jobs at other companies coz dat wud mean I dnt belive in my dream/his voice. There r a lot of things happening to verify my dream. I need your prayers to help me fight the enemy from trying to prevent/delay me from witnessing the realisation of the dream. Thank you.
The company I saw on the dream has been struggling to fill sone position since March 2017 (and they had my CV!). When they finally found someone around October, he resigned after about three weeks; and another worker also resigned leavin them wit two vacant positions! Around the same time, some other company offered me a job, verbally though, and then after about two weeks they suprisingly cancelled their offer to me! I was very hurt but then I said to myself, God spoke showed me the company I will work for, I then re-sent my CV to that company (as they advertised). I strongly believe dat in Jan 2018, Il b workin for the company I saw on the dream. I jst need to not lose touch with God. Your Prayers will assist.
Hallo prophet kindly prophecy for me I have been waiting for years for my breakthrough is it near or far kindly help coz am starting to loose hopeits been long since I started waiting for a fincial breakthrough.pray for me I elive that God can do the imposible for me but till wen?
I am really struggling to hear God’s voice or be patient and find rest in Him. I have never had so much emotional turmoil in my life. Please pray for me.
I struggle with thoughts of suicide on a daily basis because of my current relationship struggles and not hetting answers when seeking from God.
Awesome article. The article you have shared in this post is very informative. I like this article. Thanks for sharing this information with us.
I’m just wondering if there are any true prophets and prophetesses at all. One spoke to me about a change coming in my life,well I have yet to see it happen.
Hello. I had received email about prophecy saying sowed a seed for this amount to reveal what God has for you. God spirit spoken to me saying…no you don’t need to pay no one for me to reveal things to me. And God says to me that he’s free for us to talk to him and that I do not need to listen to the prophet that tells me to send in$$. So I pulled up on Google about prophecy who wants to charge a person to seek what the Lord wants for us. And a person says don’t go pay for prophecy. I cried because like 20 min ago when I read my email from a prophecy saying send in this amount as God spoken to me not to listen to the prophecy saying he will never tell anyone to charge us money to know what he has for us. And what ever told me, it came true. God word is free and to talk to him its free
My own father, a recent widower, has been seeing a prophet and paying her to give him prophecies and spiritual guidance. because of her prophetic advice, he is talking about selling our house and plans on moving away to marry a woman he met over the phone and has only been with in person maybe two or three times. This woman herself also claims to be a prophet. What am I to do? I can’t argue with him because he never listens, and I can’t attempt to tell him he is wrong because he can quote the Bible better than I can, and would just find some verse to justify his actions. His behavior has caused me much grief and I have been calling out to God for wisdom and guidance. Please help me in prayer.
I need to know if God will for my life as a single woman. I have a male boy friend. But I don’t want to waste time, he’s not the man God is sending. Also I’m trying to grow my childcare center. And get a home for abused boy
Please I need financial breakthrough from God.
hallajuah!!! to hear this from a prophet is an answered prayer, i have thought these things for years and wondered why the prophets werent being convicted like this. i only hope and pray this same conviction falls on thise who are coveting the dust on the foreheads of the poor so that the prophet and teacher can prosper financially and sell their merchandise. Holy God Holy Spirit give the church revelation that what they really need is your word and time with you! 1John that the Holy Spirit is our teacher! And yes, that we should make “disciples” strong healthy mature Christians who depend on God not us.
Good evening. I am looking forward to a Rhema word for my situation which appears stubborn. I am unemployed despite my education and experience, have a husband who has cheated on me and has become so unproviding and absent. Literally my life is nothing to write home about. What should I be doing now? Nothing seems to be working. I need direction and a word of knowledge.I will highly appreciate.
Dear Sister in the Lord,
While I do apprecite your indulgence, my concern is the NAMES appearing in full which I have not been able to change and frankly did not expect to appear. Is the a way I could change to abbreviate? I apologize.
Need a prophetic word ,urgently going through so much
HELLO
FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS AM RECEIVING PROPHETIC WORDS FROM A PROPHET (I WONT MENTION HIS NAME) SINCE I AM GOING THROUGH SO MANY SPIRITUAL STRONGHOLDS I BELIEVE EVERYTHING HE TELLS ME. HE KNOWS MUCH CAUSE I LET HIM KNOW MUCH ABOUT MY SPIRITUAL PROBLEMS. WHEN HE WRITES HE ALWAYS ASK FOR CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY, I DONT SEND ALWAYS, CAUSE I DONT HAVE ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH HIM. BUT FOR A LONG TIME IS REALLY BOTHERING ME THAT HE ALWAYS ASK FOR MONEY AND THIS BAFFLES ME, CAUSE I DONT BELIEVE THE PROPHET SHOULD CHARGE (SO TO SPEAK) FOR PROPHECY. AT LEAST IS NOT WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE WORD WHEN THE PROPHETS CAME TO WHOEVER THEY WERE SENT, IT NEVER SAYS THEY WERE CHARGING. SO TO ME IS CONFUSING AND AT THE SAME TIME SHAMEFUL. IT’S A SHAME FOR A SO CALLED PROPHET TO BE CHARGING FOR THE WORD OF GOD. IS NOT FOR SALE, IS TO LEAD US IN OUR DAILY WALK WITH HIM AND TO HELP US GROW SPIRITUALLY. OMG, THIS IS SICK. THAT’S WHY TODAY I DECIDED TO CHECK PROPHETS OUT AND CAME ACROSS YOUR PAGE AND AM GLAD I DID. THIS PROPHET KINDA SEND ME THE SAME WORD OFTEN. I WROTE HIM AND TOLD HIM THAT HE MENTIONED THAT TO ME FEW WEEKS AGO LOL. OMG, THIS IS RIDICULOUS. BUT GOD SEES ALL THAT AND THEY WILL RECEIVE THEIR REWARD. please reply if u find time. thanks and god bless
Servant of God may God Almighty be with you. Iam depressed and confused this day that most of the prophets will have to demand money before giving you God’s direction meanwhile the one before you most don’t have it like me.since my life time I always borrow before I can work and after working to I will be in dept .I please need God directions in my life
pls for me that God should lead me out of my adversaries.
I am at a very low place in my life. What has God reserve for me as far as family and sentimental life?
Thank you for what you do and your devotion to God.
May Almighty God bless the work of your hands in Jesus name ” amen”. I am really facing difficulties in life right now. I need a personal prophecy about my life and future. Thanks
I keep getting a sense of something happening in the Heavenly s. I keep seeing like a priceless jewel before with an awesome like grown in the spirit? I often wondered what is God doing?
greetings in JESUS MIGHTYNAME. i would like to know the heart of HOD concerning my life
Kind pray poor orphan children home need. Visit India Gospel work.
Can you pray that I may have a place to live soon homeless for almost 7 years please help God bless !!!
Greetings in Jesus name. I need God to give me direction in my life, just confused about life in general. Thanks
I am contemplating suicide I need prophetic word from you
I just need to know if I am to receive the miracle blessing that I have been praying for. I am divorced and in desperate need of financial help. It has been over a year now and I am running out of time. I have received help offering from a couple of clairvoyants who continue to offer their services daily. I am wondering what should I do. If I don’t get hold of a lot of money soon, i’ll be homeless and possibly go to jail if I can’t pay my debts. Please ask God to tell me what I should do. I need a miracle.
Please pray for my precious daughter. She has suffered bad digestive problems and some of her organs have been attacked by immune problems. I’m losing my faith in divine healing and wonder if I should ever believe in this doctrine again. God forgive me, I’ve done all I can to try to stay positive but it hurts me to see this sweet person suffer. I feel like a horse following a dangling carrot and I can never quite reach it.