Of Cows And Cats.

In one of those "you-had-to-be-there" moments, Pastor Sam told an incredibly funny story during the Sunday services that I will not repeat here. The story was a response to a message from an official who, through a third party, spoke of his dislike of a particular message he'd heard Pastor Sam preach. Though the story was funny, the moral was quite serious. I will give the moral of the story, slightly modified:

Not everyone who you think is disrespecting you is your enemy... and not everyone who you think is loving you is your friend.

In considering the science behind the prophetic, this is an important tenet to keep in mind. Prophetic messages are not designed to disrespect us; they are given to us as a loving warning, kisses from the Son who wants us to give Him a kiss of respect and homage (Psalm 2:12) so that we will not be destroyed in our sin.

More often than not, prophetic messages are ignored not because they are false, but because the person receiving the warning 1) does not like the fact that the warning was delivered to them and 2) does not appreciate the way in which the warning was delivered. This was the experience of the official who didn't like what he heard in Pastor Sam's message. At no point did the official say the sermon was heresy. At no point did he say the sermon was false. The only thing he could say was that he did not like the pastor's message.

Whose sermon is it anyway? God's. 

If a minister is, as Scripture says, "speaking as the oracle of God" (First Peter 4:11), then it is God who orchestrates what is said during a particular message. And those of us who are long-time churchgoers have seen this occur over and over again, through many men and women preachers, across many denominations. The Spirit of God holds the right to even speak to a minister right before they are supposed to preach: I know you prepared to speak on Micah, but there are people here who need to hear from First Corinthians. And so it goes. And in such cases the wise minister will set aside his notes and submit to the Holy Spirit, who Jesus tells us will give His servants His words to say (John 16:13-15).

Will a harsh response from the hearers lead to a retraction of the prophetic warning? No.

Throughout Scripture, prophets and preachers were persecuted after delivering the word of God. Jesus Himself experienced this, even at the outset of His ministry (Luke 4:28-30). He has told us to expect no less (John 15:18 through John 16:4). In the face of persecution, God's servants faithfully proclaimed His word, and His word came to pass. Our only evidences of God withdrawing prophetic warnings occurred in instances where there was petition with contrition (for example, Jonah chapter 3; Second Kings 20:1-11)-- which, in essence, is the whole point of a warning being set forth. God desires that we hear Him and heed Him, so that He will be glorified.

What becomes of those who are offended by the prophetic warning?

John Wesley spoke of this phenomenon in a profound way, so I will quote him here.

"You see the unquestionable progression from grace to sin. Thus it goes on, from step to step:

1) The divine seed of loving, conquering faith remains in the one who is born of God. "He keeps himself" by the grace of God and "cannot commit sin."
2) A temptation arises; whether from the world, the flesh, or the devil, it matters not.
3) The Spirit of God gives him warning that sin is near and bids him more abundantly watch unto prayer.
4) He gives way, in some degree, to the temptation, which now begins to grow pleasing to him.
5) The Holy Spirit is grieved; his faith is weakened; and his love of God grows cold.
6) The Spirit reproves him more sharply, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."
7) He turns away from the painful voice of God and listens to the pleasing voice of the tempter.
8) Evil desire begins and spreads in his soul till faith and love vanish away.
He is then capable of committing outward sin, the power of the Lord being departed from him.

It is unquestionably true that the one who is born of God, keeping himself, does not, cannot commit sin. Yet if he does not keep himself, he may commit all manner of sin with greediness." (John Wesley)