Cleansing the Prophetic of Political Compromise

John Belt
John Belt

2020 was an “off the charts” year of unpredictability and just about anything you thought couldn’t happen – you might possibly think it could have happen in 2020! Whoa! Didn’t see that coming!

I intended to release this article at the beginning of December, but wanted to make sure I sent it out before more political action happens in the next few days and weeks.

Unveiling of the Hearts

There has been such an unveiling of hearts that has taken place in 2020.

On a personal level, it has been challenging for many. You can see this in both “the world” and in “the church”. To be quite honest, sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference. So many things have come to the surface. Just as when a natural test can reveal things that are present – we can see how God has used the scenarios of 2020 to make clear the hearts of people, ministry leaders, and political leaders.

More superficiality was exposed in the Church because there is a sifting happening in the Body of Christ. Some people in the church would like to view this as an opportunity to put in their prophetic perspectives, even for profit. However, most of those who claim to be prophets “never saw many of the things coming this year” but are still using this as an opportunity to “prophesy into” what we all can already see now.

One thing we have seen is misdirected prophets speaking into the political realm – while becoming political themselves. Some are operating out of a compromise to the political spirit and trying to paint it as the Holy Spirit. Where sin enters in is when we lose the perspective of Jesus forgetting that He is NOT for either political party – He is the LORD OF HOSTS!

And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” Then the Commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.

Joshua 5:13

Are you kidding? The God Who created all things, set the stars in motion, formed us, where the earth is as small as a spec in God’s eyes and as we are created from dirt? He is not concerned about political parties and is not breaking a sweat over this election.

If you believe God’s greatest concern right now is the election in the United States, I highly encourage you to spend some time seeking God’s face about the issue – asking Him to reveal the motives and focus of your heart.

Jesus told us that perilous times would come. Isaiah prophesied “accurately” that darkness would cover the earth and deep darkness the people. The great thing is that it provides the opportunity to “Arise and Shine!”

Just a note – being prophetic and being in the office of a Prophet are different. God speaks! His sheep hear His voice and everyone who is a follower of Jesus can hear His voice. We are not called to follow prophets, only Jesus. All prophecy must line up with the Bible.

Going Back to 2015

In 2015 the Lord showed me in a dream “the possibility” that Trump would be President of the United States. In this dream he was cloaked with the American flag. Then I heard the words, “the state of the nation”. This was before Trump had even announced that He was running for President. He announced it around 2 weeks after I had this dream. When I heard “the state of the nation” it did not come off as a necessarily good or bad thing but rather the “reality” of where we were as a nation – which was not necessarily good.

In my view, Trump has done some good things for this nation – keeping his words on things and standing with Israel. He also has some character issues – like all of us. God loves Trump, but He loves Biden just as much too.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

God is Not Political

God is not political. It is notable that Jesus never promoted a political candidate. Just a thought. He was too busy doing the work of the Kingdom – healing the sick, raising the dead and casting out devils as well as speaking the heart of God.

Jesus was totally aware of what was going on with the escalation of Roman occupation in His time. The nation of Israel was ripe and ready for a political savior. But He came in a different spirit – the Holy Spirit. People even came to crown Jesus king and He walked away “because He knew the motives of their hearts”. Even the disciples where expecting Him to be an earthly king to take the throne in Israel.

Jesus wasn’t even concerned about the taxes, “Give to Caesar, what is Caesars and to God the things that are God’s!” (Matthew 22:21) When they came to get taxes they had to pull out of the mouth of a fish. (Matthew 17:27)  He did not entangle Himself in the politics, affairs and power of the time. He knew Who He was.

If your main focus in this hour is finding a political prophet – Jesus is not it. He saw the evil in men’s hearts coming from every side and angle of life – whether it was the Romans, the Jewish people or any other group.

How Great is That Darkness?

But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Matthew 6:23

Recently I had a dream about a “prophet” some might say is using the current issues of our country for his own financial profit. When I looked into his eyes I could barely see the pupil, because the entirety of His eyes were dark. The darkness in his eyes was caused by compromise in his heart.

But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 2:4

There is a “cloak of covetousness” referenced here where a person comes into compromise – flattering and pleasing men. What happens when all the prophet’s profit is gone? Will they prostitute their “prophetic gift” or the “anointing” to make a profit? Some just prophesy the “party line”. A party spirit is a very dangerous thing. It is the spirit of Barabbas. He was politically motivated. He was not for Jesus but he would have loved Jesus to be for him.

There are those who are walking with integrity in the office of a Prophet today – there are also those who are not.  We do need to raise a standard and speak truth when those focused too much on the “American Dream” and not enough of “God’s dream”. Sadly, so much of the compromise comes in because money is involved.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

1 Timothy 6:10

The Power of Promotion

In the last century we have discovered a new level in what is the  “power of promotion”. Promotion is good for business and can even have a place in ministry but sometimes it is a fine line when it comes to ministry.

Would you see Jesus holding up His promotional ministry flyers? Or ask the disciples to go through the city before He arrived to let them know someone famous was coming to town? How about signing a contract for a good honorarium of at least $10,000 for the meeting before showing up? None of that is the Jesus found in the Bible.

Modern American ministry has moved a long way from the example Jesus left us. Some people have just learned how to work a system or push a product. The finger pointing starts with me – I have music that I sell for a profit. My music is a joy, and it expresses my heart of worship. I must be careful that amid helping people connect with God through my worship it doesn’t become a point of compromise or self-exaltation.

Using marketing and promotion isn’t bad, really it isn’t – as long as the motive of the heart is right. We must remember the Gospel is about giving, sacrifice and following the Lord – not profitability. Promotion is not a bad thing, but we must be using it for God’s glory and not our own.

Do we value integrity above making a profit? Some people have used American politics to make a profit in the Church. You can’t mix the Holy Spirit with compromise or a political spirit – it is sin. We need to be more enamored with God’s thoughts rather that our own or those who speak the loudest.

Get Back in the Presence of God

During this season make sure you are getting your identity solidified just from being a part of His family.  You are His son, His daughter.  You don’t need to get affirmation in all the wrong places – be content with who God says you are.

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:16-17

This is the affirmation that Jesus wanted – it should be what we want more than anything else. That only comes from spending time in God’s Presence. Again, your identity ONLY comes from being in the Presence of God.

On the issue with modern day prophets – it is worth contending for. The prophet’s office is powerful and needed, but it should not be tainted with compromise and covetousness. Let’s grow up in the Lord! Let’s not use the prophetic to promote ourselves, try to become popular, or be the FIRST one to give the great prophecy of the day.

God is the one who promotes, and He wants to promote people who will last because they have the character to stand. We need to get back to the foundation of personal intimacy with God in His Presence.

Dream: A Church Falling Apart

In a recent dream, I was at someone’s church. Suddenly it began to fall apart. The church building began to tilt and the pews all began to fall forward. I was shouting, “Get out! It is not safe here!”

The Church is going through a shaking. What is your foundation? What is the foundation of the local church you attend or lead? Jesus Christ is the Cornerstone. All we do, every word and action is to glorify Him. The Body of Christ is here to reflect the image of Christ –setting our sights on things above rather than things of the earth.

Dream: Prophetic Deception

In a different dream, I saw a few people recognized as prophets trying to take on “new identities” to hide. They were trying to refashion themselves so they couldn’t be recognized – but they were crooked, not safe and deceiving people. Over time they were being pointed out and exposed. We are in a season of great exposure right now.

Before digital photography, you would have to take a picture to the exposure room. The process took time but revealed what was in the image. Any superficiality, self-promotion, and compromise in the church are being exposed in this hour.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

1 John 2:15

There is coming an opportunity for some who are perceived or hailed as prophets to come clean, to repent and rediscover the ancient paths of purity in devotion to the Lord.

Have you even heard of a “blind spot”? Everyone has them. We all know in part and we prophesy “in part”. No one sees the entire picture. It takes humility to recognize that and to walk in it. If God has put someone in the office of a Prophet, what comes with that is a greater responsibility – even to come clean regarding “prophetic words” they have spoken. If a true Prophet won’t be accountable for their words, they are abusing the office.

Greater Call, Greater Responsibility

The greater your sphere of influence, the greater your responsibility. Isaiah never missed one prophesy – everything came to pass. You don’t get to change your interpretation to save your reputation because that is people pleasing. 

We don’t want to be a disgrace to the Lord or the Body of Christ. Not everything received is meant to be shared and not every encounter is at the same level of revelation. Many times we are more sure about some things than others.

The prophetic movement has become too settled with mediocre revelation – a very low standard. In part, that is the fruit of the culture of ease we’ve created in our time. This is not to discourage anyone to walk out in prophetic gifting – just be honest with yourself about the maturity of your gift.

The prophetic is not to be performance driven. But some use their established “prophetic platform” as means to promote whatever comes on their plate without any vetting process – even with the Lord.

What About Grace?

There is grace when we miss it. I believe in it and I need it! But we still must walk in the wisdom of the Lord. God’s grace is to be primarily for empowerment not cleaning up our mess.

It is not good enough for those in established places of leadership to be casual and cavalier about what they share prophetically. Sometimes the culture you become most associated with becomes idolatrous and self-absorbed like an ingrown toenail. As well, we need to make sure we are not reacting to news we hear but following the Lord.

Discover or re-discover the secret place with God. Many wrong voices are going out saying things that are pushing people into flesh and presumption. We need to bring things into balance and make sure we are glorifying Jesus.

God’s Presence: The Method of Change

Do I believe in the Seven Mountain mandate for use to have influence over society? Yes. People are called to different facets of society to have impact – that includes the political realm.

It is the HOW and the METHOD of influence that makes the difference. No matter what sphere of society God has called you too, your main weapon of change will ALWAYS BE the Presence of God. If you don’t practice His Presence there is a question about how much influence you will have. If you don’t know how to engage with God then your influence is severely limited. If you still have not learned how to live as a “conduit of the Holy Spirit” there is not much that can be changed.

There are many who go down in history for having affected change – but change for WHAT is the question? The change we are here for is HEAVEN ON EARTH. That change is directed to the hearts of people. Not an earthly kingdom but the kingdom of God set up in the hearts of people. A heavenly shift in the heart is what we are after – not earthly change. God will take care of that later with a new heaven and new earth.

Our focus needs to be on seeing God change the hearts of people. Then whatever natural changes occur because of it are great. But that is not our primary concern. After all, we are just passing through as stranger and pilgrims. Our infatuation is with God and His glory covering the earth as the waters cover the sea.

I really wrestled with sharing this word – but feel it needs said. The love of God extends to everyone. No matter who you are. God loves all people and wants them to know Him in the most powerful way. Let’s speak the truth in love.

May the Lord keep you in His love, by the Spirit, and make you to be an extension of His blessing in your thoughts, actions and speech.

8 thoughts on “Cleansing the Prophetic of Political Compromise”

  1. Author: Chuck C
    Comment:
    hi John –
    Thank you for this. My heart is heavy. I agree w/ much of what you wrote. 2 recent blog postings that seem to agree (for the most part) with what you wrote:
    https://internetmonk.com/archive/the-coming-evangelical-collapse-eleven-years-in
    https://internetmonk.com/archive/post-1
    Please don’t take offense at my sharing these things. I have nothing to sell you and just thought you might like to read them. Thank you for keeping me on your mailing list.
    Happy 2021!
    All the best,
    Chuck Clevenger

  2. Author: Jeana B
    Comment:
    Thanks John, I am sure that was hard to release! I believe any word that directs us back to God is a good word!
    In Him,
    Jeana <><

  3. Author: Stefan
    Comment:
    I’ve been on this email list and never read anything. Not even sure how I got on the list.. but what you wrote blessed me so much.
    I’ve been struggling with so much of this. 2020 was an amazing year for me in terms of finding the Lord’s word, voice and presence once again.
    Then toward the end it hit a roadbump and I know it was because of the political climate that got so much of my attention, and the attention of many leaders and teachers I “follow”. It’s been distracting, confusing and in hindsight I see the Lord’s heart was not in it.
    It’s almost refreshing that Biden won. I worry about all the ramifications on issues that I care about … but I hope it becomes a season for the church to rethink how it engages politically.
    Our Lord is king and he is above politics.
    Thank you for making it about his presence again.
    -Stefan

  4. Author: Anna Gerlitzki
    Comment:
    This was a fantastic and sobering article. Thank you so much for sharing and may G-d bless you and your ministry.

  5. Author: Keith Webb
    Comment:
    Brother John,
    Well said. Thoughtful. Weighed in the balance. And yes depending on where someone is coming from in their lives as is configured by their influences and experiences, they could look at something as profound and as succinct as your post and find it not to their liking. As ‘Ol Abe’ was credited for saying, “ you can please some of the people all the time all the people some of the time but you cannot please all the people all the time! “
    Have a blessed 21
    Love, Keith and Mary ????????
    Grove City Ohio

  6. Author: lorraine lomonaco
    Comment:
    Words spoken in season! I am in agreement with all things here that you made plain. God Bless you, and keep the Word and music flowing.

  7. Author: Sarah
    Comment:
    I rarely comment on things, but just wanted to say thank you for sharing this. This is so refreshing. I can’t tell you how refreshing. I have been observing this political mixing in the prophetic, and it has been so hard for me to stomach. I’ve nearly stopped reading much circling lately because of it. Honestly, it’s felt like a lonely place to stand as these messages seem to make up the majority of what I am seeing and hearing come down the pike. Your words resonate with much of what my heart has been soaking in. They ring with freedom, truth, and JESUS. I appreciate them more than you know! Thanks for sharing what is SO needing to be said right now!

Comments are closed.

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