The Top 15 Myths About Prophecy Part 2

This is part two of the top 15 myths about prophecy. Read part one here.

8. All words that build up, stir up and cheer up are prophecy.
Not true. Prophecy is a rhema or “now” word from the Lord. Not every word that builds up, stirs up and cheers up is a prophecy, but every prophecy should build up, stir up and cheer up.

9. Giving someone a word that is currently true is prophecy.
No. That is called a word of knowledge. Prophesy is about the future. For example – you hear the word nurse. You ask if the person is a nurse and they say, “yes.” Jesus knew about the woman at the well and her five husbands. (John1) He knew her current situation (word of knowledge), then he prophesied what she would do.

10. Prophecy is always confirming to you about what He already talked to you about. Or God won’t tell you something before He tells me first.
Not true. Ex – The story of Samuel and Saul. Samuel told Saul he would tell him what was in his heart. He told him he would be king. When Samuel went to anoint him, he was hiding in the baggage. They had to find him before they could even name him king. (1 Sam, 9,10) Samuel called out Saul’s destiny and anointed him king.

11. “Thus saith the Lord” must be said in order to let the person know it’s from the Lord.
It is not necessary to use this phrase; however, we should not mock other cultural differences in the church that use this phrase. The Bible says not to “despise prophetic utterances (1 Thess.)” Plus we don’t want to miss out what the Lord may be saying just because we don’t agree with the way the prophecy is packaged.
1. When the OT prophets said this phrase they were speaking to people that had many pagan Gods. They had to clarify which God was speaking.
2. Jesus never used this phrase
3. The only time in the OT that anyone used this phrase was Agabus (Acts 21:10, 11) and he was inaccurate.


Use words like “I believe the Lord is saying this …” or “I feel the Lord is saying this.” That way the person can judge the word without feeling pressure to accept that is from the Lord.


12. If you receive a wrong prophecy, the person who gave it is a false prophet.

1 Cor. 13 says “we know in part and we prophecy in part.” The Lord doesn’t always tell us everything about the person we are prophesying over. We also don’t always get it right either. That doesn’t mean that the person is a false prophet. The simplest definition of a false prophet is someone who listens to the wrong spirit other than Holy Spirit. We don’t judge the person giving the word, but we are to judge the word given to us. I Thessalonians 5:20,21 says we should value prophesy. Test everything. Hold onto good. Avoid evil.

13. Prophetic ministry can be used to bring judgment, consequence.
Judgment and consequence is not the purpose of prophetic ministry. 1 Cor. 14:3 says that prophesy is to edify, exhort and comfort. While the OT prophets did prophesy judgment and consequence, we are living under the new covenant. (James 4:11:12)

14. All I see for the person I’m prophesying over is darkness. I will tell them and correct this sin in their life.
Again 1 Cor. 14:3 says that prophesy is to edify, exhort and comfort. We do not prophesy negativity. We prophesy the answer to the darkness in their life. God does not dwell on our sin. He works on our righteousness and he always sees good things for our life even if we are in a mess. Never correct in prophesy, correction should be handled by pastoral leadership. The person receiving prophetic ministry should feel blessed when you are finished giving the word.


15. I must lay hands on or be in the same room with a person in order to give them a word from the Lord.
Not true. You do not need to touch anyone in order to hear the Lord on their behalf. You don’t need to see them and you don’t need to know anything about them. You can have just a name, and the person could be in another state, and you could still inquire of the Lord on that person’s behalf.