The Voice magazine: Advancing Christian life and culture.

Should New Testament prophets pronounce judgments and curses or should they edify, comfort and exhort the people of God and nations? From Isaiah to Jeremiah to Elisha, Old Testament prophets commonly pronounced judgments and curses on nations and peoples. In fact, prophesying doom and gloom on nations and pronouncing judgments on individuals was seemingly part and parcel of the prophetic ministry before Jesus Christ, the Prophet, became a curse for us.

Thousands of years later, some New Testament prophets are still operating in this flow, but are all of them speaking on behalf of the Spirit of God? Or could some of them be prophesying out of hurts and wounds, pride or some sinister spirit? The apostolic is posing some pointed questions in the spirit of order and stabili

 ty of the essential prophetic ministry. At the heart of the matter is a single, yet critical question: Is it Biblical for modern day prophets to pronounce judgments and curses on people and cities today? It’s a controversial question that many are not bold enough to ask, but it’s one that needs to be discussed among apostolic and prophetic believers who are committed to restoring the accurate prophetic ministry. No matter how controversial the question, the answers are always found in the Word of God.

The Holy Spirit has given us a powerful prayer language that we can use as a weapon against the wiles of the enemy. Are you using all the weapons in your spiritual arsenal? Many are adept at wielding the sword of the Spirit and pleading the blood of Jesus against principalities and powers. Others do spiritual warfare through walking in obedience and love. Still others dispatch ministering angels, worship or prophesy against the enemy, declaring his ultimate doom. But Scripture teaches of another weapon that Spirit-filled believers can include in our artillery as we press in to do damage to enemy forces in the hostile clash between the kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of Light: praying in tongues.

Did you know the Holy Spirit uses your imagination to prophesy your future? Jesus taught, “All things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23). Can you imagine that? Can you see yourself walking out the promises of God for your life? Can you see yourself living in victory? Making a difference with your life? God created us with a unique ability to see prophetic possibilities. We call that seeing capacity imagination. Imaginations create images of your future, of possibilities and of a better tomorrow. They can be prophetic, direct and give hope. To understand prophetic imagination is to understand God’s design for His sons and daughters. God created you a Spirit-led believer, not just a spirit-born believer. As you harness the power of prophetic imagination you can enter the realm of “all things possible” and change your life.

Something is wrong, bad wrong! Are there mystics, soothsayers and spiritists in the Church of God?

Many people are pursuing prophetic ministry and it seems there is no lack of confusion surrounding its proper function. Whether you are called to prophetic ministry or just serving Christ with all your heart, you will be faced with many odd, even strange things that will require much spiritual discernment during your walk with God. Spiritual discernment will come from the Holy Spirit and find confirmation in many Scriptures throughout the written Word of God.