The wisest of all, King Solomon, wrote in Ecclesiastes 1:9 “there is nothing new under the
sun.” That also applies to those of us with a prophetic bent. The enemy often uses the
same tactics to cause us to get into pride and error. Do any of these sound familiar?
I’m the only one who truly serves God. This was Elijah’s argument as he fled from Jezebel.
God let him know that He still had 7,000 who had not bowed a knee to Baal. God always
has a remnant and you are never the last man standing – even though it may feel like it.
There are always more than you can see.
I’m the only one who truly hears correctly. “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He
reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7). Prophets – plural. “By the
mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” (2Cor 13:1). If you are the
only one, God is in trouble because He can’t do anything without at least two or three
people being witnesses. If you think you are the only one hearing, perhaps you need to
recalibrate your own ears.
I can’t believe they will not listen to my word. Is it your word or is it God’s? What is your
attitude when someone doesn’t accept the word. Do you get offended, pout, make a face,
get angry? If it’s truly God’s word, it is not a personal affront if they do not accept it – it is
between that person and God. You are only a messenger, a mouthpiece. “For I say, through
the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly
than he ought to think but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”
(Rom 12:3)
I’m more spiritually mature than they are. Only God sees and knows each person’s heart.
Just the fact that you are judging and comparing them with yourself places you in error.
“Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to
remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matt 5:5)
I can hear just as well as he/she (the leader) can. If you look at Moses, he had the most
trouble with rebellion – Korah, Aaron’s sons, Aaron and Miriam, etc. Why? Because a true
leader does not need to push his authority around. God will take care of His choice. God
may not show partiality and He does speak to you. However, God places certain ones in
position of leadership over projects and ministries. Never try to manipulate them or think
you have the answer and they don’t. God set some on fire, He gave Miriam leprosy, He
opened the earth and swallowed Korah and everyone who associated with him alive — God
does not take kindly to those who come against His chosen ones.
I should call down fire on them. God is the instigator of the miracles – not you. Moses said,
“Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” (Num 20:11). And because he struck the
rock instead of speaking to it, he was not allowed the ultimate promise of his life – to enter
the promise land. When His disciples asked Jesus if they should command fire to come
down from heaven and consume the people who did not receive Jesus, Jesus told them
“you do not know what manner of spirit you are of.” (Luke 9:55) And it wasn’t a good rebuke.
You are just an instrument. Let God be God.
If you notice, every argument begins with “I”. A prophet can never allow themselves to
become the center. The whole purpose of a prophet is to be the mouthpiece of God. Just
that fact says it is never about the prophet – only about God. The moment a prophet steps
out of his position and into pride is the moment that God cannot fully use him. Pride brings
shame, strife, destruction, evil and the way of a fool – all of which God hates.
Let’s examine ourselves as we start this new season. It is time to clear out any speck of “I”
in our life and yield ourselves fully to our Living God and His purposes.