Every year it seems that we see a prophetic Word for the upcoming year that is sent forth by some.

And as always there are either very promising and wonderful things that are foretold to come for a few, or entire cities will be destroyed, and a comet will fall from the earth. It truly makes me wonder.

I understand and know quite well, that there are two different camps of prophets and prophetic messages that are given and published. God is a God of different facets of His nature to be seen. It is true that he is a God of mercy, and he is a God judgment and warning, and he dispenses His gifts accordingly to his people in various ways.

But even so, one would think that if a “supposed” prophecy that speaks of great things to be coming forth to this people this coming year, and then other “supposedly true” prophecies speak something diametrically opposed to these, something is eschew. They should substantiate and confirm the overall messages from others. God is not a God of confusion.

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints,” 1 Corinthians 14:33.

Some have said that that this coming year will be a year of plenty, and that many of our bank accounts will be overflowing, and that doors will open up for many in this way. And then others say that nations will fall, and many will be deceived, and various leaders in the church will need to take a stand or else they will fall and be deceived.

Some have said that it will be a year of surprises, and to that I would say yes. And yet, every year and every day with God, is a day of surprises.

Some have also said that the banking industry will be shaken and that there will be more stringent measures on the people. I also believe that to be true.

We are told that judgment must first begin with the household of God.

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17.

I truly believe that the above-mentioned scripture will come to pass in the household of God this coming year. But this has been coming and has been seen over the last several years, as some ministries fall because of scandal and sin and then others come forth.

We hear sometimes of a “wind of change” that is coming to the church. I have to say that it is long overdue, and yet the winds of change have been coming each and every year, and I wonder if we are even aware of them.

We almost always hear about new revivals that are coming to the church, and that this will be predicted to happen each and every year. And yet, does it come, and do we see it? I know that many come to know the Lord perhaps every day and yet with those that come, many fall away and are deceived.

I hear often from some that it will be the year of the “open door.”

And indeed, God does want to open doors for his people, and yet many things are also closing. God will continue to hold true to the things that he has promised us, and yet we have terrorism and crime, and shootings and racial bigotry.

“I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name,” Revelation 3:8.

I believe that the caveat here is that we must stay strong and faithful, in order to receive those promises.

I tell you and I say this with all my heart, that those who speak a Word from the Lord saying that the following year that God will bless this land, are speaking in presumption. He is not pleased with this nation, and it is high time that many would heed the warnings that have been spoken in “truth” from him.

These are those that “presume” to speak in the name of the Lord. God did not send them, and believe me, He is not pleased with them!

“I sent not these prophets, yet they ran: I spake not unto them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, then had they caused my people to hear my words, and had turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings,” Jeremiah 23:21-22.

But I need to be crystal clear about the content of a true message. And that is whenever God is truly speaking a Word, particularly one for an upcoming year, there is a BALANCE to be seen in it.

What I mean here is that not everything will be seen as pleasant and filled full of sunshine. We will witness God’s dealing in it of judgment and warning

And yet God will never destroy a city without first giving a warning.

So, what is to be said about the words that say: “It’s The GREAT Year for whatever you need it to be.”

What do we need the year to be then?

I am reminded of the scripture in 1 Corinthians:

“For if the trumpets give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” 1 Corinthians 14:8.

There must be clarity in what God would say to this people. It must not be vague and unintelligible, but understandable to those who would hear it.

So in closing, let us acquire a discerning heart that we may judge what to be true in the words that are sent forth; particularly those that speak of what God would say for the following year.

I’m not saying to throw it out, but let it marinate in your mouth, and then see what the taste may be.

Amen.

 

~ Stephen Hanson

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Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to the Lord is a special way in 1975 and has been prophesying regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are to be reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?