The general
purpose of prophecy and prediction is the same: to tell what will happen in the
future. However, their source of authority for this information is very
different. Prophecy relies on the authority of God-given information. True
prophecy is therefore never wrong because it always carries the authority of
God's truth and character. On the other hand, prediction is based on man's
ability to determine what may happen in the future. Prediction is sometimes
right but often wrong because it depends on man.
Significant men
of God, leaders, Pastor's made several claims that things is going to change
completely, some were too specific to name it, few had the audacity to prophecy
saying a complete new set of leadership is going to take over, just to find
they and all who followed them were miserably disappointed. How do we take
this? Don't we even realize that God is bringing all things to culmination? In
this whole process, God had to unmask the true identity of many people whose
life were contradicting all through.
The heights of
evil is manifested. Sadly, many Christians and Churches are in miserable stages
living to their full expectation scraping to make a pleasant survival when they
have to demonstrate holiness and exhibit God's love and judgement in this
world. It looked like we all were trying to choose between the bad and the
worse. Let's not forget one Haman catered the reverence and focus on God for
all the Jews who were likely to be destroyed. Esther had to bring all people
together to confess and pray for the nation to see things changed for real to
their favor. Now we will soon find adjustment theories sweeping in, people
trying to falsely comfort each other. It's time we all retrospect and identify
our wretchedness and ask God to help us. Let's not forget to notice that
Churches outnumbered, people were effective witnesses, only during the extreme
environment. Be prepared to stand as a true witness for God in any situation.
You will continue
to find, some who are not prophets claim the gift of prophecy. The Bible
teaches that one test of a true prophet is whether or not his prophecy always
comes to pass. Deuteronomy 18:22 states, "When a prophet speaketh
in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the
thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it
presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him." People who
falsely claim the gift of prophecy are in danger of the judgment of God. It is
a serious offense against the Lord.
As to prediction,
all men try to do a little of this. However, even in this, we should be
careful. Consider this passage from the book of James: James 4:13-16 "..
ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue
there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be
on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a
little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord
will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your
boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.".
We are not to
brag or boast of our knowledge of tomorrow. Things may turn out as we expect,
but they may not. We should always speak of the future with humility--"If
the Lord will" or "Lord willing." These actions will keep us
from the sin of false prophecy and the pride of prediction.
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