to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. - 1Corinthians 12: 10-11 (ESV)
I guess it is to be expected within the Christian subculture that chases false signs and lying wonders as if it were chasing God. It is to be expected from the crowd that teaches experience over doctrine. It is to be expected from the Bethel Church folks who follow one of the most renowned false teachers alive today in Bill Johnson. A man who encourages grave sucking, where students visit the graves of former false teachers to try and suck some of the residual "anointing" off their bones. A man who erroneously teaches that it is always God's will to heal you and thus robs Him of His sovereignty. A man who is so arrogant in his false beliefs that he thinks nothing of setting up a school to teach the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
http://www.worshipu.com/blog/spontaneous-worship-vs-prophetic-worship/
This is where the above link comes in. It is a half hour teaching from the Bethel School of the Supernatural, apparently geared towards people pursuing worship leader ministries and the like. It is chock full of human wisdom and decidedly not filled with Biblical insight or guidance. In fact, the instructor's opening gambit should have warned everyone to flee:
"I am not going to say that everything I am going to say is thus sayeth the Lord..."
Well at least he was being honest before being heretical. Beloved, the notion that we can create prophecy through song is simply not supported biblically. This is yet another attempt by the experiential Christianity crowd to take what belongs to God and usurp it. The key verses make things absolutely clear regarding all gifts, including prophecy. They are apportioned as the Spirit decides, not as man desires. These verses destroy the notion that there is anything that resembles biblical Christianity going on at Bethel Church and their supernatural school. You cannot teach what God decides to apportion. It is blinding in its arrogance to assume otherwise. No, if you listen to this teaching what you will hear is the teaching of utter carnality and emotionalism under the banner of an unbiblical term; "prophetic worship." The teacher even admits that as you practice your reactions to your own emotions that you will get it wrong, up to four out of every five times! Let me translate that for you. He is saying that four out of every five times one of his worship leaders goes into a prophetic worship that it actually will not be from God at all. Wow. Why would I trust that worship leader then? Either way, let us look at the five main points listed in the article, taken from the teaching and see what God really has to say.
1) If you are a worship leader you are prophetic (it doesn't have to be spontaneous to be prophetic).
Does anyone see the utter lunacy in such a ridiculous statement? Every worship leader is by default prophetic? Really? Then what was the point of the key verses? Why does God specifically tell us that the Holy Spirit decides how to apportion the gifts, which by the way are not permanent either. Can we see how this cheapens actual prophecy? This is the underpinning however to the theology within the false signs and lying wonders paradigm. It is closely related to the word faith heresy, which believes we are all little gods. That our words have the power of creation. In this case, that our words have the power of prophecy. But what is it based on? Little hairs on the back of our neck standing up? Butterflies in our stomach? All emotionalism. The teacher even admits that whenever he feels lyrics come to him that "he knows it is God." Really? Why? Where is the biblical basis for any of this nonsense? It simply does not exist.
2) God enjoys sharing His heart. If you have the gift of music, God is excited to see what you are able to do and how far you will go. Learn and practice your craft so that you will not be limited by physical constraints. This will allow you to better listen to what God is doing and what He is trying to say.
God most certainly does enjoy sharing His heart. In fact, He already has. It is called the Bible. The problem is this theology asks you to abandon the constraints of the Bible to pursue your own ability to listen for God outside of doctrine. Look at how this is even phrased. It is almost like a game where you have to try and "figure out" what God is trying to say. I might add here that just because you have a carnal gifting in music that does not mean God is excited to see how far you will go with it. He may have a completely different plan. He may have a completely different challenge for you. Either way, prophecy is not a game where we try and piece together what God is saying. Prophecy is a direct Word from God. That is why the standard is 100% accuracy. God is never wrong.
3) Learn how YOU hear the Lord. Do not try to hear like other people; your relationship is unique between you and God. Develop your relationship with Him.
Once again this shroud of mystery surrounding the false paradigm. Beloved, this is simply mysticism. Here is the definition:
Belief that union with or absorption into the Deity or the absolute, or the spiritual apprehension of knowledge inaccessible to the intellect, may be attained through contemplation and self-surrender.
That is what is going on here. That is what is central to the false signs and lying wonders movement. This self surrender in chasing a closeness with God. You hear the Lord differently. You have to figure it out. Now, I am all for developing your own personal relationship with God. That is primarily accomplished however through prayer and reading His Word. He has already revealed His will. There is no need to go chasing it through mysticism and emotional reactions.
4) God has NO limits! He is not bound by rules -- He will break every rule that you have made up. Look at the life of a revivalist"the way they operated was totally different than that of anyone else. (Everyone operates differently.)
This is the staple of experiential Christianity. It takes things like "rules" and casts them as evil. That anyone who dares try and reign in this nonsense must need a "deeper revelation." The actual "rules" they abhor however is the Bible. They consider it limiting because it is limiting. It limits our carnality when we follow what it says. It limits our tendency towards emotionalism when we follow what it says. It constantly guides us back to and glorifies God, not man. Sure there is plenty of lip service paid to Christ in teachings like this but who is this really about? It is about YOU! God needs YOU! He wants to speak through YOU! The way we hear God is special when it comes to YOU! Who is prophetic? YOU are! God wants to see what YOU will do with your talent. Beloved, do not look at the life of a revivalist. Look at the life of Christ. Look to the cross. Look to Calvary. You do not need a deeper emotional experience. You need a deeper scriptural experience.
5) Music feeds the spirit. We have the privilege of putting the Word of God into lyrics.
Praise music that lifts up the name of Jesus will indeed feed the Spirit. It is a humbling privilege to put the Word of God into lyrics. It should not be taken lightly. Unfortunately, it is often taken lightly by the same people who correctly profess the weight of such a privilege. Here for example are some Jesus Culture lyrics.
Won't You dance with me, Oh
Lover of my soul,
to the song of all songs?
Romance me, Oh
Lover of my soul
to the song of all songs.
Jesus Culture of course is the worship outfit from Bethel Church. While they occasionally have acceptable songs, they also dive off the theological cliff with offerings such as these. We do not look for Jesus to romance us. That is our flesh. So while I agree with the teacher on point number five, it would have been nice if there was consistency between what is being taught and what is actually practiced.
The larger points however remain that there is simply no such thing as prophetic worship as outlined by the heretical Bethel School for the supernatural. It is merely another channel to teach utter carnality and pretend it has something to do with God. Now, can God give a prophetic Word to a worship leader? Sure. He is God. He can do anything. That does not mean however that every worship leaders is prophetic. We do not need to figure out what God is saying. We just need to read our Bibles to hear what He has already said. While God indeed has no limits that does not mean we are God. He has set up parameters for us. He has spelled out what is acceptable in His sight and what is not. Those are not "constraints." Music does indeed feed the spirit and it is an awesome responsibility to put the Word of God into lyrics. It is not awesome because of us however. We are nothing. It is only awesome because of who He is. We should take that awesome responsibility more seriously than to follow teachings such as this, which lead us away from Christ and deeper into ourselves.
Rev. Anthony.
