Prophets, Miracles and the 'Prosperity Gospel': The Present Pentecostal-Charismatic Movement: A Blessing or Burden?

PROPHETS, MIRACLES, AND THE "PROSPERITY GOSPEL" The Christian faith is growing exponentially in the Global South. In Africa, churches are overflowing and missionary-minded leaders are planting new congregations weekly. Pentecostalism is the biggest and fastest-growing Christian movement in the whole world since the Reformation. Its fastest growth is taking place in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is home to 44 percent of all 279 million Pentecostal Christians across the globe. Nigeria alone, Africa's most densely inhabited nation, has more than twice as many Protestants, defined to include Anglicans and Independent churches, as Germany, which is the birthplace of the Protestant Reformation. More than 1 in every 4 out of the 2.18 billion Christians worldwide is Pentecostal-Charismatic. Over the last 500 years or so, there are a number of restoration movements that have brought back to the church and revived some specific truths, teachings and spiritual experiences that previously were neglected or unknown. In recent history, the prophetic ministry is one such restoration movements. The prophetic ministry as exercised today has the most potential of destroying even the other restoration truths the church has experienced in the past five centuries. The prophetic ministry also has the potential for a greater good of the body of Christ or it could self-destruct. The prophetic movement has become preoccupied and impressed with itself and a clutch for self-labeling, self-promotion, self-advertisement, and self-possession by some present Pentecostal-Charismatic ministries. As a result, outrageous false prophecies and miracles are on the increase. In the process, seeds of strife, division, confusion, and rebellion are sown into the hearts of God's people intentionally or out of ignorance of God's word. A modern-day prophetic ministry has the potential to exercise control by manipulating people with counterfeit supernatural knowledge, visions, revelations and miracles, when it lacks the Christ-like character, a right spirit or motivation, and does not operate according to Biblical principles. 22 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Mark 13:22 The prophetic ministry can, therefore, bring life or death, blessing or burden.Like every restoration move of God, the prophetic movement has produced its share of abuses when people stretch it too far or totally misapply the truths that God is restoring.Some have perverted the truths of the prophetic ministry and have used them for personal gain or ungodly purposes. Therefore, many of the rising prophetic voices need calibration and alignment of what Biblical prophecy is, it's purpose and proper use. In the exercise of the prophetic ministry, great integrity and balance are required. In the book, true characteristics that distinguish between Godly prophetic leadership and counterfeit, opportunistic, spiritually abusive and cultic leadership have been outlined.