From time to time my husband, N., has said to me, "Stormy, anytime you feel like it you can write an article for THAH." Well, I feel like it. I feel like writing about something that N. mentioned last week - abusive Christian-buying preachers, et al. That is a real problem for me - not the fact that N. mentioned it but the fact that it is a fact!

The abuse of buying Christians is most obvious to me in the area of present day prophecy. Try as I might, I cannot reconcile it to the true prophecy of God's word.

Have you ever been prophesied over? Never have been myself; however, have witnessed others who supposedly were and have heard and read of still others. All of which have been woven with two common threads: (1) they involve individuals only and (2) the individuals involved are promised what he/she (or in the case of children, dad/mom) wants to hear, i.e., "you will be rich", "you will be famous", "you will bear a child", "you will be healed", "you will go into the ministry", "you will be a great athlete", even "you will have a winning team." Immature Christians, already bought by the blood of Jesus, want so badly to believe these promises that they are vulnerable to the abuse of being "bought" again (their allegiance secured) by the giver/givers of the gift. They believe they are having something done for them when in reality they are having something done to them. Proverbs 19:6 states: " every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts." Jeremiah said, "The prophets prophecy falsely…and My people love it so". (Jer. 5:31)

According to my Bible dictionary, a recurring characteristic of false prophets is that they are careful to speak only pleasing, positive and flattering words. Sound familiar?

The same source defines prophecy: prediction about the future and the end time: special messages from God which indicate the divine will for mankind (emphasis mine) on earth and in heaven. A prophet is defined as a person who spoke for God and communicated God's message courageously to God's chosen people - the nation of Israel. (Note spoke and communicated are past tense - interesting?) The main role of the prophet was to bear God's word for the purpose of teaching, reproving, correcting and training in righteousness.

Unless I've missed something, none of the above is reflected in this present day prophecy. And neither is Rev. 19:10, "…for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." or Acts 10:43, "To Him give all the prophets witness..." or 1 Cor. 14:3-4, "nut he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification and exhortation and comfort. (4)…he that prophesieth edifieth the church." This says to me that all prophecy points to Jesus and since Jesus died for all, all prophecy is for the edification of all. My conclusion: present day prophecy is about the physical (fortunetelling) while scriptural prophecy is about the spiritual (salvation).

Have a good week!