The Spirit of Prophecy

“Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, ‘Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who hold firmly to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’” — Revelation 19:10 (CSB)

Prophecy has always been a sacred and powerful expression of God's heart to His people. Yet today, we are witnessing a shift in how prophecy is perceived within the Church. More and more believers are becoming skeptical, hesitant, or even resistant to the prophetic.

It’s easy to quote the Scripture, “Do not despise prophecies” (1 Thessalonians 5:20), but for many, the caution isn't without reason. What we often see masquerading as prophecy in this generation has been tainted by error, performance, and presumption.

There are countless voices rising, loudly declaring, “Thus saith the Lord.” Yet many of these words lack spiritual weight. They do not bear the marks of divine origin. They sound lofty, emotional, or even convincing, but something about them is off.

There is a residue, an unsettling tone that clashes with the Spirit of truth. And while the packaging may appear prophetic, the substance is often hollow. If we are honest, many of the messages being released today do not reflect the heart of God. Instead, they reflect personal ambition, soulish desires, or in some cases, outright deception.

Scripture warns us to “test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). This isn't just about cult leaders or fringe movements. Deception has crept into the mainstream, and it thrives where biblical literacy is low and discernment is absent.

Those who are untaught in the Word, unstable in their walk, or overly impressed with charisma can be easily misled. The dangerous part is that when false prophecy goes unchecked for long enough, it begins to feel normal within the Church.

Over time, theatrics take the place of sound doctrine, and people become more drawn to emotional delivery than to biblical truth. What should bring conviction instead flatters the flesh. What once revealed the heart of God becomes clouded by human ambition and emotional hype.

Here is the biblical plumb line: any prophetic word that does not align with Scripture is not from God. Whether it comes from emotion, personal assumption, imagination, or even demonic influence, it must be rejected.

God does not speak in contradiction to His written Word, and if He has not spoken, we have no authority to speak on His behalf.

Still, my goal here is not just to warn but to refocus.

Revelation 19:10 gives us a profound truth: “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” This one line realigns the entire purpose of the prophetic.

The true spirit behind prophecy is not centered on personal destiny, vague predictions, or displays of spiritual superiority. At its core, prophecy is about the revelation of Jesus Christ. Its purpose is to draw us back to Him, to make Him known, and to keep Him at the center of our message and ministry.

Prophecy is not about the prophet delivering it, the audience receiving it, or even the word itself. It is ultimately about Christ being revealed, honored, and obeyed in all things.

I fully believe in the gifts of the Spirit and affirm that prophecy is still active and necessary in the Church today. However, much of what we see being presented as prophetic in this generation bears little resemblance to what God originally intended.

Spiritual gifts were never designed to build personal platforms or generate popularity on social media. According to Ephesians 4:12, they were given “for the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, and for the building up of the body of Christ.” Every gift, including prophecy, should serve the Church by strengthening believers and helping to fulfill the Great Commission.

The goal of prophecy is not performance or showmanship; it is rooted in purpose. True prophetic ministry is meant to prepare and mature the Church, call the lost to repentance, correct those who have strayed, and boldly bear witness to the truth of the gospel.

When prophecy functions as God intended, it does more than inspire; it refines the body, stirs spiritual awakening, and brings clear testimony of Jesus Christ. Its power is not found in lofty language alone but in the holy fire that accompanies a word truly sent by God.

The spirit of prophecy was never meant to be about predicting the future for entertainment or personal acclaim. Its true purpose is to reveal Christ in a way that leads to repentance, clarity, and obedience.

Any voice that shifts attention away from Jesus or waters down the message of the cross is not operating under the true spirit of prophecy. What the Church needs now is not more spiritual theatrics, but voices who tremble at the Word of God; messengers who fear Him enough to speak only what He has said and remain silent when He has not spoken.

This is the kind of prophetic voice the Church needs: one that exalts Christ above all else, speaks truth with humility, and faithfully carries the Spirit of prophecy, the testimony of Jesus.