To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 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 12:7-11 (ESV)
One of the hallmarks of the NAR false signs and lying wonders heresies is the belief that the gifts of the Holy Spirit can be taught. Lets' clarify this right up front. The key verses today speak specifically about the gifts. The first thing we must notice is that not every person can even have every gift. For one gift is given one and then another gift to another person. More importantly we learn that the gifts are empowered by the spirit alone and He alone decides how, when and to whom they are bestowed. Individually as He wills. Nevertheless, the heretics roll on, establishing "supernatural" schools as outgrowths of their heretical churches. Not only to spread their heresy but to set up a lucrative cash cow operation, charging upwards of $5000 per year in tuition at their unaccredited institutions. One of the more popular such schools is located at Bethel Church in California, where Bill Johnson holds court. The number two person there is Kris Vallotton, who helped to establish their supernatural school. Within this paradigm, one of the gifts that receives the most abuse is the gift of prophecy. Bethel believes everyone can be prophetic. They have open mic nights that they pass off as prophecy or prayer meetings where random people take the microphone and "prophesy." I saw a Bethel training video for their worship leaders where they told them that they all were prophets merely because they chose to be a worship leader. They taught them to empty their mind during worship and "listen" for God. What this means is the first thing that pops into their wickedly deceitful hearts is assumed to have come from the Lord and then added as free praise during a given worship set. I saw this manifest once at an old church with an itinerant worship leader visiting. For fifteen straight minutes she just chanted "jump in the river if you want a hug from Jesus." I kid you not.
Prophecy does not work this way. Prophecy is claiming to have heard directly from God. The Old Testament guidelines do not change in the New Testament. If someone claims a prophecy that does not come true then they are branded a false prophet, period. Vallotton and the new breed of false prophets all claim that a 65% accuracy rate make a good prophet. What? So 35% of the time you misrepresent God and you think that is accurate? This isn't baseball and it isn't a joke. To be so presumptuous as to pretend to speak for the creator of the universe? Wow. Either way, I came across a resource Vallotton created entitled "Prophetic Protocol Guidebook - How to Properly Deliver the Right Prophetic Word in the Right Season." Gee, nothing can go wrong here, right? Let us reason again as I review this demonic guidebook.
In the introduction, Kris says his purpose here is to develop and facilitate healthy prophetic communities. Huh? What does that even mean? You know you are in trouble right away merely from the concept and title of the guidebook. So now prophecy has protocols beyond scripture? Let me summarize the "protocol" that God has outlined in His word. Repeat what God has said. The end. According to this title there must a proper way to deliver the prophecy, right and wrong prophetic words, as well as right and wrong "seasons." So apparently, Elijah must have had it wrong. Isaiah should have checked if it was spring or summer before delivering what God had told him. What absolute nonsense. Here is the opening section of the guidebook:
"King Saul disobeyed the Lord and the Spirit of God departed from his life (thank God we live in the New Testament where God never leaves or forsakes us). Saul was so desperate to hear from God that He asked the witch of Endor to conjure up the prophet Samuel from the dead. The practice of divination and necromancy is forbidden in the Scriptures (see Leviticus 19:31). The witch of Endor caused something to happen in the spirit realm that God did not will or decree. (See 1 Samuel 28:7-20) This story is a great example of a powerful truth: just because we can make something happen in the spirit world, it does not validate that God actually wants it to transpire. Once God gives us authority to operate in the spirit realm, it is possible for us to cause things to happen that God does not necessarily sanction." - Kris Vallotton
I have reviewed many of Vallotton's writings and what always amazes me is how poorly he handles scripture. Reviewing most heretics can be difficult if they grasp scripture because they have a desire to sound biblical. Vallotton appears to have no such qualms. He correctly states that God withdrew from King Saul for disobedience and then claims to thank God that we live under the New Testament where God never leaves us nor forsakes us. Really. Here is the New Testament referent for his claim
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." - Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)
