A Word for Prophets about "Pollyanna" Prophecy
by Dale M. Sides
While writing on the subject of iniquity recently, I observed a verse regarding prophets and the words they speak to people. When I saw it, the Holy Spirit bore witness to me to write about this subject and to send it as a word of admonition and warning to my Brothers, the Prophets. By using my pen as a sword, I hope to share what I believe the Lord wants me to impart to you and the body of Christ. As this cuts deeply into the body of Christ, my hope is that this surgery removes only the canker, and as a result, leaves a more healthy body. No one enjoys surgery – it always hurts. Sometimes, however, it is necessary.
A particular section of scripture that speaks to all people and prophets alike is from Ezekiel 14. It reports of a condition that frequently happened then, and is frequently happening now across the body of Christ. It deals with prophets prophesying "Pollyanna" messages to people, when these people actually need confrontation from God regarding their sins, iniquities and transgressions.
"Therefore speak to them, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols,’" Ezekiel 14:4
God will make an example of the person who goes about trying to get a confirmation of his own righteousness while having idols set up in his own heart.
"I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of My people. Then you shall know that I am the LORD" Ezekiel 14:8
God’s judgment is not just against the people that inquire of the prophets, but against the prophets themselves too.
"And if the prophet is induced to speak anything, I the LORD have induced that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel". Ezekiel 14:9
This verse says that if the prophet, in his heart, is inclined to just roll with the flow and not speak for God, that God Himself will give the word to the prophet, and that afterward He will destroy him and his ministry.
I have noticed, both in the United States and abroad, that there is nothing new under the sun with regards to this scenario. People are lining up by the droves down church aisles for "Pollyanna" prophecies that promise "peace," goodness, and absolutely no consequences. Verses in the previous chapter of Ezekiel refer to this as well.
"My hand will be against the prophets who envision futility and who divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people, nor be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord God. Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, 'Peace!' when there is no peace – and one builds a boundary wall, and they plaster it with untempered mortar." Ezekiel 13:9, 10
These prophecies, in other words, are like walls built with untempered mortar. They will not stand.
Now these are strong words, and some may say that they apply to Old Testament prophets and not to New Testament times. However, God did not change, nor did His heart toward His people when Jesus came and made the Word of God incarnate. False prophets are not reserved for the Old Testament only.
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 2 Peter 2:1-3
The destruction of the prophet is reserved in judgment.
The problem is the same in both the Old Testament and the New Testament – false prophets are more interested in covetousness than in righteousness. They exploit people for a price. They prophesy to bless the people and not God. They have one hand on the person’s head and the other one on their own wallet. Prophesying over people is a lucrative business. The documentation for this is Balaam, or the palm reader with the blinking lights on their house, or the psychic on the 1-900 line. These examples, however, are not wolves in sheep’s clothing; they are blatantly advertising that they are for hire. The dangerous part is when false prophets disguise themselves as "real ministers."
Let’s be quite frank. The Bible warns against false prophets in the Old Testament, the Gospels, the Book of Acts, the Pauline Epistles, the Leadership Epistles, in the Epistles of John, Peter and the Book of Revelation. Let’s not act as if they do not exist now.
Prophets are standing in line, waiting to be called, to come to church and prophesy over the congregation. Often they say, "We want to teach your church about personal prophecy and we will demonstrate our anointing by prophesying over the people in the church."
(Pastors and church leaders, if you bring in this type of ministry to your church, you had better make sure these individuals are operating from the Spirit of God, or else you are going to end up with a bunch of demonized people operating spirits of divination that they received from these "prophets" who are dressed in wool suits.)
To the Prophets:
I honor you for your submission to the Word of God, but brothers you cannot guarantee that a word will come from you just because you show up. Revelation prophecy comes by the will of God (1 Corinthians 12:11; 2 Peter 1:21) and you cannot guarantee you will receive it. Spirits of divination are lining up to use you too. (Remember Balaam.) You are a spiritually sensitive person and these demons would love to get their hands on you and get their words through you. The greatest way for a false prophet to arise is for a genuine one to take a wrong turn.
To safeguard against this deception, remember that you are God’s spokesperson and not for hire by a church or a person. The Bible chronicles much more prophecy concerning consequences for disobedience than it does for promises of blessings and prosperity.
Please take heed to this admonition. If these words are an offense to you, then most probably you have sinned in these matters. No genuine prophet of the Lord will balk at having his prophecies judged by other prophets. Are you above reproach?
A number of years ago I was in India hosting an Apostle’s Conference and one of them asked me if I had a word for him at the end of the meeting. I was about to tell him "no", but the Holy Spirit told me that I was supposed to speak a word to him. When I began, a line quickly formed for others to "get in on the blessing." The only problem was that the word was not a blessing; it was a word of warning.
I did not "conjure" the word but spoke it accurately as the Holy Spirit gave it to me. Here was a mighty man of God standing before me; one of great acumen, reputation and accomplishment. But he was also a son of God and not above reproach. I must admit that I was a little hesitant to speak the word, but I did in the face of representing God and not myself. The word was a judgment of premature death if he did not control his appetite and lust for food. In a defensive posture, he began to argue with me. I told him to take it up with God. As he fell to his face in repentance, the line of others wanting a blessing dispersed instantly. Maybe other lines would not form so quickly if the prophecies were not all "Pollyanna."
I have heard a wonderful minister and renowned prophet from the United States say, "I am not a gloom and doom prophet." Wouldn’t it be better to simply say, "I am just a prophet committed to speak as the Lord commands"? This illustrates the point exactly. Do you as a prophet have a predetermined mind-set before opening your mouth?
As indicated by the account in Ezekiel—if people have un-reconciled iniquities and transgressions in their life, they need to be confronted. They do not need to paste a plastic blessing over the corruption.
"Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them?" Ezekiel 14:3
Your job is to speak to them as Ezekiel, a true prophet, did.
"Therefore speak to them, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols, that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols. Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations.’ " Ezekiel 14:4-6
Anyone can speak "Pollyanna" words of blessings and swoop down on the spoils and act as if they made something wonderful happen. It takes integrity and real belief in the Spirit of God leading you to speak words of correction, reproof or even a rebuke.
As a prophet, you cannot dictate what you will speak because it comes by the will of God. You can, however, determine the mind-set you carry when you operate in this office. Do not be as the prophets in the time of Ezekiel and prophesy "peace" when the person has un-reconciled iniquities in his or her life.
Make sure that you do not carry the reputation of "bless the mess" or "doom and gloom." Be obedient to speak the words the Lord gives you. When people hear words of reproof, as you are directed by the Lord, it will be a blessing to them when they obey because they will be reconciled to God.
Do not fall into the snare of being a "people-pleaser." Read, judge and spiritually discern the next two verses from Ezekiel 14 and make your determination about "Pollyanna prophecy."
"And they shall bear their iniquity; the punishment of the prophet shall be the same as the punishment of the one who inquired, that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me, nor be profaned anymore with all their transgressions, but that they may be My people and I may be their God," says the Lord God. Ezekiel 14:10,11
