1. Our heavenly Father does not speak to His children in a hateful scolding tone? What about when He was going to wipe everyone off the earth except Noah? What about when Moses had to talk Him out of killing all of the Israelites who would not stop complaining and murmuring? What about when God rebuked David through the Prophet Nathan? We have to stop dressing God up in these false sloppy agape clothes. Love includes rebuke and instruction beloved.
2. Never give harsh prophetic words? Really? Has everyone forgot the entire Old Testament? Were there any glowingly positive prophecies? It sure seemed like everyone was a call to return to the Lord, stop sinning, and get right. Before people start insisting the Old Testament means nothing to them, this pattern did not abate in the New Testament. What was the message of John the Baptist? Was it "relax because God loves you" or "repent for the kingdom of God is at hand?" The first word Jesus ever uttered in ministry was not love but repent. Here are two more New Testament prophecies:
Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." -- Luke 2: 34-35 (NIV)
Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2: 38-41 NIV)
The first was a prophecy about the unborn Jesus. Was it, "This child is destined to make everyone love each other?" No beloved. He will cause many to rise and fall. He will be spoken against. He will reveal the hearts of many. And a sword will pierce your own soul as well. I can only assume J. Lee Grady must think this prophecy was not from God? Of course not. What about Peter's prophetic word to the people of Israel? Repent for the forgiveness of your sins! Save yourself from this corrupt generation! Hardly puppies and pancakes yet 3000 were saved! This is a huge point that Grady and the false prophet patrol always forget. What they have deemed as negative or harsh might be exactly what someone needs to hear in order to come to Christ! Not convinced? Read the two key verses today. These are two different prophecies offered by Agabus, a man identified clearly as a prophet in the New Testament church. One tells of a coming famine that would indeed cover the entire land. The second is telling Paul what fate awaits him, which would lead eventually to his death. Both of these words would not be allowed in most Charismatic churches today and that simply means that they do not to actually want to hear what God might be trying to say.
3. Separating the agape from the sloppy. Yes it is true that in 1Corinthians 13, Paul exhorts believers to understand that love binds the gifts, including prophecy. The problem is that Grady and company seem to think that love means being dishonest. That love must always be deemed positively in the eyes of the recipient. That is not agape love. Telling someone they need to repent and seek the forgiveness of God is not harsh. It is in fact more loving than turning a blind eye to it. If you see someone driving off a cliff it is not loving to hold their hand on the way to their death while telling them everything is going to be OK when quite obviously it will not.
4. Correctly understanding 1Corinthians 14. I have seen verse three offered multiple times as the basis for saying that prophecy in the New Testament has now somehow changed to be this puppies and rainbows slop. When one views the entire context of this portion of Scripture however is that the purpose Paul was seeking? Was he trying to redefine prophecy as it has existed for thousands of years or was he trying to outline the basis for an orderly church service while guiding people towards the gifts of the spirit that would be most beneficial to the people? Within these parameters, let us reason together for two vitally important points:
