Why Are Pastors So Hard On Prophetic People?

"WHY ARE PASTORS SO HARD ON PROPHETS AND PROPHETIC PEOPLE?" Actually, this is one of the most common complaints I get, but it's not actually the truth. The hardest people on prophets and prophetic people are other prophets and prophetic people.

There is a single and clear reason for this. The problem is that most people who hear or see prophetically expect others to see just the same way they do. That will never happen because the ways people see prophetically are just as numerous as the number of people on earth.

We have no problem saying everyone's looks and personality, talents, and giftings are expected to be varied. Why then do we not expect prophetic people to be different in the way THEY see and hear?

God is no less creative with prophetic types of people than He is with all people. He will cause one, at the age of seven years, to see and have experiences, being caught up into Heaven and seeing awesome things. He'll create another to operate by faith alone.

I asked a very high-level prophet once, how often--when he publicly prophesies--he sees everything he prophetically states, and how often he prophesies by faith. He said, "I see about 50% exactly what I prophesy. The other 50% is by faith."

But then, that's what the Scripture confirms when it states in Romans 12:6:

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith."

Don't be discouraged if your prophesying is by your faith alone.

You will be in good company.

Back to pastors: Most who are even slightly interested in knowing what God is saying, LONG for prophets who will not "act weird" and just give them a clear word from the Lord. The main problem with pastors is not them, but that they often see prophetic people who have too much ambition.

Prophetic people first need to balance ambition, and then Pastors will most likely be very open to hearing a clearly-stated word.

Work towards that!

How do I know if I'm hearing God or it's my own thoughts?

God was clear when He said, "My ways are not your ways." But He never said "My thoughts won't get into your thoughts." Of course, many times you will be hearing the Lord and not even know it. Many prophetic people think what they "hear" are just their own thoughts.

Follow your gut instincts. The world has come to know this as "your sixth sense."

But that's not what God calls it. In the Bible it's said like this:

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." --Isaiah 30:21

Sometimes when you least think you're hearing God's Voice, you are hearing Him the most, because you're following your "gut" instinct--your sixth sense or your faith, in other words.

I asked a man once, "What if I make the wrong decision when I THINK I've heard from God?"

He said, "Son, God can do more with your mistakes than you can do with your best obedience or your best intentions."

I like to say to people, "Don't just stand there. Do SOMETHING!"

God will make your path straight. But just like a rocket blasting off, you have to be moving in order to be guided. You can't guide a rocket sitting on its launch pad.

Just move--or in this case, SPEAK. God will do the rest.

How will I get people or my pastor to actually listen to my prophetic gift?

This is easy. Just keep prophesying and do it with grace and mercy and encouragement.

We are told in 1 Corinthians 14:3, "But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort."

People spend way too much time "correcting" people's sins, rather than figuring out a way to encourage them.

Let me state this another way. We all sin. All of us. But it's the few that spend time asking God for an encouraging word for another person that will find their prophetic voice--and they'll not only find it--but they'll discover that people will listen.

Jesus, as you may remember, except for the unrepentant Pharisees, spent most of His time encouraging, building up and teaching those who needed the same from Him. He spent precious little time correcting sin.

Blessings,

Steve Shultz