Many of you have likely seen the young prophet who interrupted Pastor John MacArthur's service to deliver a corrective word. The man who had somehow made it into the pulpit was promptly forced out of the service, yet continued his proclamation until he could no longer be heard. He declared:
"You have grieved the Holy Spirit of God! Your doctrine of cessation is in error. He has been grieved, John MacArthur. I have been sent here to tell you, you are sharpening the sword and they are cutting each other. You do not believe in prophets, you are looking at one! God have mercy on you and teach you the truth. Your doctrine of cessation is in error, John MacArthur! It's in error! I have been sent to tell you it's in error! For the unbeliever: repent of your sin! [Unintelligible...] You don't have time! Jesus Christ is coming back soon! God bless you, people of God! God bless you people!"
Did It Bear Witness?
I don't know about you, but the young man's message immediately bore witness with me. I felt the fear of the Lord! For years now, Pastor MacArthur, a Reformed minister, has preached cessationism: the belief that the gifts of the Spirit ceased when the last apostle died in the First Century. This is based on a misinterpretation of 1 Cor. 13:8-10. Yet according to Rom. 11:29 and Scripture in general, we know that this teaching is not Scripturally sound. In fact, it's heresy.
While MacArthur appears to be a scripturally sound teacher in all other respects, his "Strange Fire" message is in error. He has identified some abuses and used that as a basis to throw out the baby with the bathwater as far as the Charismatic and Pentecostal movements are concerned.
Was He in Order?
In discussing this situation, a friend of mine declared "you do not get out of order to put someone in order." I'd heard this saying before, yet I also believe there is an exception to almost every rule.
I admit that I too, initially wondered if the young man in order. But the thought was quickly followed by feeling that had he been in order, he most likely would not have received an audience with Pastor MacArthur for the sake of correction. Another seasoned prophet and nationally recognized minister shared my thoughts saying, "I don't know the circumstances, but chances are there was no other way to speak to John MacArthur, who has attacked the Spirit filled life viciously."
What was done certainly does not adhere to the order Paul laid out in 1 Cor. 14. But again, had the young prophet adhered to that order, he would have never delivered his message. Thus, circumstantially, I believe he was in order.
Correction = Grace
To be completely honest, I probably would have delivered a harsher word to John MacArthur, had God chosen me. (Which is probably why He didn't!) There was a kindness embodied in the message and I was struck by the loving grace of God Who, in His omniscience and grace, sent the young prophet to warn the man of God against blaspheming the Holy Spirit which he is dangerously close to doing. God would that none perish (II Peter 3:9) and He demonstrated that in His message to John MacArthur.
Will We See More of This?
Whether you agree with the young prophet's message, his orderliness, or if he was even a prophet or not, it took courage and boldness to do what he did. And even Paul said that even if an angel from heaven preaches another gospel, let him be accursed. because "Do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ," (Gal. 1:6-10).
Now, we don't know anything about this young man's prophetic calling, spiritual covering, or anything of the sort. We don't know if he will ever give another word again. Yet I believe his message will ring out in the minds and hearts of all in his hearing, physically and technologically.
His message, unlike many proven prophets I subscribe to, was not to go to those who welcome and indulge in prophetic ministry, but to go to a man who openly reviles it. The two settings are in no way similar and thus, I believe, a prophet would be forced to adjust his method to the specific situation.
Is this type of prophet on the rise? As many ministers and congregations fall further from the truth and slip further into deception, does it do any good to adhere to an order that blocks out and restricts the Holy Spirit? How can one be expected to submit to spiritual authority that is not backed by God? Many a prophet has declared there will be a return to the days of Ananias and Sapphira, to the days of the Book of Acts. Will we also see a return of the prophets of old such as Elijah (Mal. 4:5-6, Matt. 11:13-15)? Such as Jeremiah, Samuel, Nathan, and Gad who called kings out to their faces after they've grieved the Holy Spirit of God for so long in secret?
While we are in the Dispensation of Grace, I believe there is always a time for correction, chastisement, and judgment for the sake of saving souls. I also believe that public sin requires public correction. "Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear," (I Tim. 5:20). And Solomon taught us that "Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed," (Prov. 27:5). I believe as the time gets shorter, and the devil gets busier, and the demonstration of the supernatural on both sides heightens, the prophetic ministry will also rise and adjust to address the need and it might just be in a way that the traditional church not appreciate.
What are your thoughts? What do you think of the young man and his message?
