God's Perfect Providence

Note the progression: first he suffered for his own thoughtlessness with his brothers, and then he suffered betrayal and prison when he had done everything righteously! When God gave him those dreams, did He expect Joseph to act wisely, or did He know just what Joseph would do and what would be the result? Okay, so he suffered for his foolishness. But did God not know that Joseph would also suffer when he chose to act righteously under temptation? Did He know that these things would humble, chastise, and purify Joseph so that the fullness of His prophecies could be accomplished? God’s providence and timing are perfect. In due season, the prophecies happened exactly as foretold. But Joseph had to be humbled and crushed so that God’s will could be done.

2) Flesh is sweaty and tense. If you’ve been gripped, you may feel mightily stirred to act, and become possessive and defensive about your "ministry." Whereas a true call received maturely will be accompanied by a restful sense of peace - and a willingness to lay it all on the altar. Deep peace will undergird. Even if the task is so big as to seem impossible, there will abide a sense of restful dependency. If it’s that big, you will know - if anything happens - it has to be the Lord. But watch out for the ways your flesh (and the devil) will prompt you to "help Him do it." It’s easy to do too much and tough to wait on the Lord - whose timetable is certainly different from ours.

A good example of one who received elevation and anointing from God, but did not try to get ahead of the Lord’s timetable, can be found in the life of King David. An eighth child, a mere shepherd boy, he was found and anointed by the great prophet Samuel to become king over all of Israel. But he didn’t rush out to try to make it happen. He didn’t ride triumphantly into Jerusalem declaring God had found Saul unfit and he was now the "fair-haired child of God." Instead, he came under the existing authority, soothing the torments of Saul with his harp and voice, then serving as the royal armor bearer, then captain of thousands. You’d think God had found a worthy servant and could just move him smoothly past all the trials into fulfillment. But God knew his immature heart had to be prepared for high office through suffering. Now the very king he loved and served so faithfully sought to destroy him in jealous rages. The king was obviously mentally unbalanced, but David refused even to dishonor him, much less to kill and displace him.

Coming Under Authority First

What both Joseph and David had not only to understand but to embrace in every level of their hearts is that in order to be given authority, one must come under authority, even when the authority is palpably wrong, and violently destructive. So many immature prophets and servants today think that because they’ve gotten the "fresh word of God, right off the holy griddle" and their leaders are obviously bumbling, they’ve inherited the right, even the duty, to oppose and maybe depose. Paula and I have ministered to literally hundreds of frustrated would-be prophets and wannabe leaders who have not understood this. They grumble and complain against authority, and wonder why their mighty prophecies aren’t coming true. See it. Know it. Expect it. God will not allow your mighty prophecies of elevation to be fulfilled until you have been crushed enough to learn to respect and obey authority. Remember, Hebrews 5:8 says of Jesus, "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered."

Look closely at who is giving you that wonderful prophecy, and who is confirming it. God can give a true prophecy through a rascal, but the chances are slim. If the prophet’s character doesn’t manifest Jesus’ nature, be very skeptical; that won’t be a sign of lack of faith, but only prudence which the Lord will approve.

If a true servant, or even a weak one, presents a word, remember that if the word they bring is truly from God, even if it is strange and new to your mind, the Lord will have been preparing your heart to receive it. There most likely will be an accompanying sense of recognition. Your heart says, "Yes, I knew this." But don’t leap. Wait for confirmations, and make certain that signs, fleeces and words are unequivocal, in no way ambivalent or unsure. Our foolish ambitious minds and hearts can see "sure" signs that aren’t there at all.

Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend

True friends will often give you hard words, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy" (Proverbs 27:6). Job’s comforters may applaud and encourage you to plunge ahead full steam (they want to bask in your glory, proud of and idolizing you - and will also be among the first to turn against you when things go wrong). Set yourself to hear the reproaches and warnings of friends. "He who hates reproof will die" (Proverbs 15:10b). On the other hand, don’t be a people-pleaser who turns from a true calling just because trusted friends don’t approve. Paul didn’t give up going to Jerusalem when Agabus prophesied captivity if he went and friends pled with him not to go (Acts 21). If a command has been clear and confirmed, obey it no matter what, always remembering to remain attentive to the Holy Spirit for the "hows" and "whens" in order to keep from stumbling.

God Himself may allow a false or misguided prophet to give you a false word to test and humble you! For example, in 2 Chronicles 18, King Jehoshaphat was about to ally himself with King Ahab to go up against Ramoth Gilead. All the prophets were telling them to go - God would give them victory (vs.11). These were false words. Were these false prophets or were they true prophets who had gone astray? We don’t know because the Bible doesn’t say so. It does say God bid a lying spirit to "go and do it" (vs. 21). It should be noted that God Himself did not give a false word but He allowed a demon to give one that would test Jehoshaphat’s humility.

Would God Send a Misleading Word?

God might send a true prophet with a purposefully misleading word. Next, they called for Micaiah, who immediately said, "Go up and succeed, for they will be given into your hand" (vs14). But Jehoshaphat was a truly humble and wise king and reminded Micaiah he had told him always to speak the truth to him (vs.15). Micaiah then gave the true word that they would be scattered without a shepherd (vs. 16). Hear this: God appears perverse to the perverse and true to the righteous, "With the pure Thou dost show Thyself pure; And with the crooked Thou dost show Thyself astute" (Psalm 18:26) [the footnote says ’Literally, twisted’, and other versions say ’perverse’]. Why? God Himself is of course always true and righteous and never gives false words. But He may let us have the word or circumstance our perverse hearts desire, to bring us to the end of our rope and make us aware of something of eternal consequence, or to test us.

If we think a moment, this isn’t too hard to understand. How many times have our children pestered us to let them do something we know is not good for them, until finally we have said, "Okay. Go do it." We were actually hoping they wouldn’t. Our reluctant permission was a test of their common sense and their obedience to what they knew in their hearts we didn’t want them to do. We are pleased beyond measure when they decide not to do that foolish thing. But if they choose to go ahead and do it, we know they’ll learn the hard way what listening to our advice would have taught the easy way. God is a far better Father than we, and acts in the same way, only infinitely more wisely. Be careful of your hearts. That word you’ve been hearing may be only a reluctant permission. Check with friends who know your heart. Humble yourself. Wait. I remember one time when I seemed to be hearing a word from the Lord giving me permission to do a certain thing - but I had checks in my spirit about it. I waited, and prayed for the Lord to purify my heart. I’ll never forget how in a little while I could actually sense a smile of relief and approval from the Lord as He said, "Okay then, don’t do it." I had passed the test. It was all over and done with.

Prophecy to Test Your Heart

The Bible is clear that God Himself may send a true prophet with a word that is only meant to test us, a word that isn’t really His first will! That glorious prophecy you received may be one way the Lord, Who loves you, may be testing your heart. It may be a word that promises much - with no real intention from the Lord behind it - to test and humble you!

Or, it may truly be God’s will, and an elevation to you who have served well over a little and are now being set over much. What are we to do? Subject all prophecies to immediate relinquishment on the Lord’s altar. Lay them down instantly. If they are true and meant to be, after you have sufficiently humbled yourself, the Lord will pick them up and give them back to you, refined and adjusted to who you are in Him.

This week, as we were meditating on these things, the Holy Spirit said to us, "I test My children to see whether they will stand in humility, obedience and loyalty. Often, first invitations or words are but mere tests. The arrogant leap to grab onto what pleases their flesh and exalts their self-importance. The wise and humble wait for confirmations, and for God to speak again, words that clarify and make more sure and certain. I have sent many words like Micaiah’s and, as in the case of the lying prophets (in that same chapter), allowed some false words in order to test My children to see how they will react (see Deuteronomy 13:1-5, especially vs. 3). Did they leap with joy and pride at the first word, or did they wait and take lower places, only to be elevated later? "Do I lead into presumption? Remember what Jesus told you to pray: ’Lead us not into temptation.’ I test My children. It was not that My prophets were false nor that I did not speak through them. But to test the hearts of My beloved."

The Lord continued, "Few have understood this. I am teaching you today a valuable lesson. Wait always for a second word. I often offer something to My children, hoping they will not receive it, that I may bring a better. Arrogance causes men to leap at a first opportunity. Ambition causes men to leap at that which gratifies the flesh. Learn to recognize the true, the second offer that comes when the heart has been truly humbled. [that "second word" may be merely a refining of the first - or add glorious and needed details] It will always be the best. Rest in Me. More tests come. I am preparing your hearts."

So. You’ve been given a glorious prophecy. What do you do?

Lay it on the altar. If it’s a true word, when the time is right, God will give it back to you. It won’t be easy, and if you find yourself crying out, "What are you trying to do, Lord, kill me?"

...just remember, the answer is "Yes."