In a perilous or difficuy era where prophetic utterances dominate religious conversations and many chase after voices that promise direction, hope, and sometimes doom, a strong call has emerged from Christian leaders worldwide for a return to prophetic integrity. The prophetic office, once revered as a channel of divine mercy and guidance, is increasingly stained by manipulation, fear tactics, and ego-driven utterances. But according to Scripture and the wisdom of seasoned ministers, prophecy was never intended to enslave the human will; it was designed to bring men into partnership with God’s heart.
Jonah’s message to Nineveh remains a timeless lesson for every prophetic voice today. Declaring with audacity that destruction would consume the city in forty days, Jonah was confident of his word. Yet, when the people repented in sackcloth, God overturned His judgment and showed mercy. The prophet, rather than rejoicing, burned with anger because his declaration did not come to pass. Many modern prophets unknowingly walk in Jonah’s error — wishing for the fulfillment of their negative prophecies just to defend their credibility. But heaven’s economy does not run on human ego; God’s mercy, as the Holy Bible says in James 2:13, “triumphs over judgment.” A prophetic word of destruction, when met with repentance and divine intervention, does not signify that the prophet failed; it means that God succeeded in bringing men to His mercy.
Equally important is the understanding that prophecies, especially words of wisdom, are subject to timing and obedience. In Acts 27:10, Paul, speaking by revelation, warned of loss of life in a coming shipwreck. But as events unfolded, divine mercy altered the outcome: lives were spared, though the ship and its cargo were lost. This biblical precedent reveals that God’s counsel often adjusts to human cooperation. Kenneth Copeland, in a recent prophetic conference, stated, “The Spirit of God deals with man progressively. What He says to you is perfect for the moment, but when obedience steps in, mercy can rewrite history.” Thus, when a prophetic word does not unfold as initially declared, prophets should not despair; rather, they should celebrate God’s intervention and continue in faithfulness.
Yet, many today fall into the snare of using prophecy as a tool of control. When ministers threaten, “If you disobey this word, evil will happen to you,” they misrepresent the nature of God in the New Testament. Bishop David Oyedepo has repeatedly warned against what he calls “prophetic witchcraft,” declaring, “The prophetic is for lifting, not for manipulation. Any prophecy that manipulates men into fear is rooted in the flesh, not in the Spirit.” The New Covenant, purchased by Christ’s blood, invites men to obedience by conviction, not compulsion. Even when danger is perceived in the spirit, true New Testament prophets are called to intercede, not impose fear-laden ultimatums.
The subtle danger does not end there. Some prophets, in the name of spiritual oversight, begin to monitor those they give prophecies to, secretly wishing for their disobedience to vindicate their words. Such behavior, though cloaked in spirituality, echoes Jonah’s resentment when Nineveh was spared. Apostle Johnson Suleman once remarked during a service in Auchi, “You are not God’s personal assistant. If they reject your word, love them still, pray for them still, and move on. The One who sent you does not need your anger to establish His mercy.” This humility is what differentiates true prophetic ministry from fleshly ambition.
Another alarming trend is the blatant disregard for spiritual authority in local assemblies. Prophetic words, no matter how accurate, should never undermine church leadership or detach believers from their spiritual families. Bishop Thomas Aremu of Living Faith Church warns that “any prophecy that leads men out of their spiritual covering is a tool of the devil, no matter how accurate it sounds.” God is a God of order, and true prophecy honours established leadership. If a word of direction must be given that could alter someone’s spiritual journey, it is best delivered by the leaders themselves or under their guidance.
Cindy Jacobs, a renowned prophetic teacher, emphasizes the need for restraint and faith when delivering prophecies. “Let God confirm His word. Don’t manipulate events to make yourself look right. If it is from Him, He will bring it to pass without your human interference,” she writes in her book on prophetic accuracy. Sadly, some, desperate to protect their reputation, have gone as far as engineering circumstances to make their prophecies appear true. This dishonors God and reduces prophecy to mere human theatrics.
Even when prophecies fail, especially good ones, prophets are urged not to be discouraged. Utterances in the New Testament are often conditional — dependent on human obedience, faith, and even intercession. Bishop David Abioye, speaking to young ministers, once said, “The prophetic gift, like every other gift, grows by practice. Don’t quit because you missed it once. Stay humble, pray more, and grow; only God is infallible.” Indeed, Paul encourages believers in 1 Corinthians 14:1 to “desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy,” but also to submit such utterances to judgment, implying that even genuine prophets are not beyond human error.
The weight of these counsels underscores a simple truth: prophecy is a sacred trust, not a tool for control, competition, or self-exaltation. God’s generals — from Kenneth Copeland to Bishop Oyedepo — consistently teach that the hallmark of mature prophetic ministry is love, humility, and alignment with Scripture. The purpose of prophecy is to edify, exhort, and comfort, as 1 Corinthians 14:3 reminds us, not to enslave people with fear or to inflate the ego of the one speaking.
At its core, true prophecy invites men into deeper fellowship with God. It is an extension of His mercy, a call to repentance, and a reassurance of His plans. When misused, however, it drives people into bondage, divides churches, and tarnishes the testimony of Christ. Apostle Joshua Selman recently addressed this in a global ministers’ conference, saying, “The proof that you are sent by God is not that everything you say comes to pass exactly as spoken; it is that your words bring men closer to Jesus, whether by warning or by comfort.”
The prophetic office, therefore, requires courage — not the courage to shout louder or to sound more dramatic, but the courage to stay humble when God’s mercy rewrites your predictions. It requires integrity — not the integrity of human perfection, but the integrity to admit when you miss it and to keep learning. Above all, it requires love — the kind of love that would rather see a nation spared than for your reputation to remain untarnished.
As the Church navigates these perilous times, the clarion call is clear: speak as God speaks, without manipulation, without coercion, and without fear of failure. If your words lead men to repent, rejoice; if they fail because mercy prevailed, rejoice still. For in the end, the highest goal of prophecy is not the fulfillment of your words but the fulfillment of His will.
– Inah Boniface Ocholi writes from Ayah – Igalamela/Odolu LGA, Kogi state.
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