From personal experience as a youth pastor and now evangelist, Vlad Savchuk knows that the prophetic can be an often misused—and abused—”gift” in the church. He says he has seen it used to manipulate others, and it comes with consequences.
The leader of the HungryGen movement and pastor of a multicultural church, Savchuk recalls a time as a youth pastor where the above scenario played out.
“The first time that I’ve seen this happen was when I was a youth pastor,” he says. “A young man who was about 16 years of age felt like he was a prophet. So, he comes up to a girl and tells her that he is her husband. They’re 16! The poor girl freaks out, and she starts crying. So I’m dropping this kid off home, and he tells me he knows who his wife is going to be.
“At the time, I was about 22 years or 23 years of age,” Savchuk continues. “So, I’m like, ‘Wow, 16 years of age and you’re already hearing God who your wife is going to be? You’re not even ready for marriage.” And then he says, ‘Well, my other prophets, my friends, confirmed that.’ And I said, ‘Wow, that’s interesting.'”
A few days later, Savchuk noticed at a church service that the girl was crying. After apologizing for intruding, Savchuk asked the girl what the issue was.
“She said, ‘This guy is a stalker, and he’s giving me words that I am his wife,'” Savchuk says. “I asked her, ‘Do you like him?’ and she said, ‘No, this guy is a creep.’ So, of course I talked to him and I said, ‘Listen, if you ever do that again, you’re gonna suffer very, very bad consequences. Bad stuff’s going to happen to you.'”
“I was very angry, extremely upset, because that was my first time seeing how people claim to have prophetic words and actually were abusing other people,” Savchuk explains. “This is nothing new; it’s happening today, especially with the rise of prophetic ministries online and everywhere.
“I can’t tell you how many people I know fell for scammers who promised them prophetic words and then gave thousands of dollars away,” he says. “I can’t tell you how many people I know who prophesy under mushrooms who actually go and take some other stuff and then they give prophetic words.”
Savchuk received the gift of discernment at an early age, and it has helped him to weed out the false prophecies from his own life and for others. In his own experience, Savchuk says personal prophecy should always be welcome, but there must be discernment, or you can get hurt by it.
Here are six ways Savchuk says you can discern a prophetic word:
1. The word is not new to the receiver; it confirms what God has been saying. (Paul felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem; he knew what faced him there and went ahead with the mission).
2. The character of the person bringing the word must be considered.
3. Prophecies should not dictate the decisions or manipulate the will of a godly person.
4. Prophecy can be in part; you have to get a complete picture from God.
5. We should not have a hasty response but prayerfully consider the prophetic word.
6. Some prophetic words are conditional; they require your participation.
And, of course, a prophecy must be confirmed by Scripture.
“Remember, according to 2 Peter 1:16-19, the Bible is the surest prophetic word,” Savchuk says. “Remember to study the Word of God, stay in the local church, test prophecies. Don’t just receive every single thing, surrender to it and maybe get manipulated by it. Have discernment and wisdom in your life.” {eoa}
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Shawn A. Akers is the online editor at Charisma Media.
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