5 Smooth Stones

Those who fall into the trap of believing that the Holy Spirit only brings smooth and “nice” words are ignoring m uch of the prophecy in the New Testament which was given to reprove and correct the people of God. By only allowing one part of the nature of God to be communicated, the people of God are in deep danger of being deceived. “Who say to the seers, "Do not see," and to the prophets, do not prophesy to us right things; speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits.” Isaiah 30:10 One of the reasons the body of Christ today has become weak and has taken on a lot of the sinful weakness found in the world is because of this belief and the way that it has taken root. This belief has limited the necessary functions of the prophetic ministry including direction (point us in the right way) and correction (point us to the way back). “Where there is no revelation, the people cast o ff restraint...” Proverbs29:18a It is the nature of God the Father to bring correction as well as encouragement. Hebrews 12:5 “And you have forgo tt en the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?” Children with a godly spirit learn to love the input from a loving father. Whether it is instruction, reproof or correction. The prophetic ministry, as part of the foundational ministries given to the church, is needed and appreciated by those wise children of God who want the discipline of the Lord which creates disciplined ones, also known as disciples. There is a process for judging prophetic ministry. In the New Testament church those with a prophetic calling must be given an opportunity to speak what the Lord is giving to them. All prophecy must be judged, but it cannot be judged before it is given. It may come in a dream, a vision, a trance, through u tt erance or other avenues of communication, but we must make room for the prophet if we want the rewards of the ministry. However, once a word is given, it must be judged, accurately discerned, and often interpreted and applied if bene fi t is to come from the ministry. One stumbling block that can occur with receiving a prophetic word is to have it judged or discerned by someone who is not in the least prophetic or who does not have prophetic insight. (See Appendix D). How would one go about judging a word such as the one Isaiah gave concerning 88