My fellow Christian,

"The Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7, ESV). Note the inspired word "servants" in this text.

It is a key word, unlocking its full meaning. Most biblically literate Christians understand this verse to say God forewarns prophets of any significant event, season, or change so they may in turn pass this on to His people, to prepare them for adversity or give hope of future blessing. And so it says.

However, the descriptive term "servants" adds another thought to this message. The prophets to whom God speaks are first - and crucially! - His "servants."

They live for Him, not themselves; for His glory, not their pride; to bring Him praise, not themselves; to enhance His kingdom, not aggrandize their own influence; to draw others to Him, not to themselves; to do whatever He says to them, not whatever they want; to speak only what His still small voice speaks in their heart, not what their self-influenced imagination suggests to their minds; to give God's people eternal wealth, not covet and gain temporal wealth; to say only what is in agreement with Scripture, not what contradicts or ignores it. These are God's servant-prophets. There is no other legitimate kind.

Now I realize many young or biblically untaught Christians, grateful for salvation and zealous to minister, innocently speak "prophecies" out of their own heart. Others have done so, however, for years in the face of repeated warnings by God's servants and ministers who recognize the significance of "servants" in Amos 3:7.

So, the bottom line is this: if you are not God's servant, you are not His prophet. If you are guilty of prophesying presumptuously, what should you do?

Repent, seek God's face, and study deeply and fully what it means to be His servant. Then be one. Not for five minutes or days or weeks, but for weeks and months and years . . . and forever! That is, commit to servantship for the long haul.

Then, should God sovereignly gift and call you to the prophetic office, and begin dropping His inspired, biblically aligned thoughts and messages into your heart, yes, by all means, prophesy. Now, as you spend time in God's presence and meditate on and study His word daily, you are becoming ever more securely established in, in the words of the late Dr. Judson Cornwall, "inerrant communication with heaven." At such a time and in such a condition, it would be sin to you and a loss for the body of Christ if you did not prophesy when the true Holy Spirit truly speaks His truth in your heart.

You see, real prophecy is a rare jewel and God's people need it as a supplement to, not replacement for, His special revelation in the Bible. So, yes, prophesy. Tell His people what He has told you. Be faithful to the message He lays in your heart, changing not one word for fear or favor. This will make you a blessing to Christ's bride and a joy to His heart. And a true prophet.

If God does not give you a prophetic gift, use the gift He gives you. The Holy Spirit distributes to each of us spiritual gifts as He wills, not as we will (1 Corinthians 12:11). You will help His people in no other way, as He does not bless what He does not ordain. So, take Mary's wise advice: "Whatever he says to you, do it" (John 2:5). As a result, instead of losing rewards at the Judgment Seat for self-led pseudo-ministry, Christ will give you wonderful rewards for genuine Spirit-ordained, Spirit-led ministry.

May this piece be a loving corrective or instructive lesson to all, as they may need it. May it help purge Christ's church of self-prophets and enhance the legitimacy of servant-prophets.

Maranatha - HE comes!

Dr. Greg Hinnant

GREG HINNANT MINISTRIES