•A Prayer to Receive God's Favor in My Life•
By Anthony Valente
👉 “Surely, Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield"... View More•A Prayer to Receive God's Favor in My Life•
By Anthony Valente
👉 “Surely, Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield"
(Psalm 5:12)
Do you think God's mad at you? Or believe He's punishing you? What about withholding good things from you? So many people look around at what is happening to others, compare it to their lives, and then feel like God doesn't care about them. Have you ever felt that way? But the truth is, all the above is lies. The enemy lies to us about God and who He is, and we can't believe a word He whispers to us. He's a liar from the beginning. 1 John 3:8 describes how,
"The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work."
We want to remember that everything God tells us in His word is true, yet every word the devil speaks is a lie.
— 4 Lies the Devil Tells Us
1. God is withholding His favor from me. The truth is God isn't a withholder. "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless" (Psalm 84:11).
2. God loves other people more than me. Again, the devil lies to us because God's word reveals the truth of His being impartial (1 Peter 1:17), a Father who judges each person's work impartially. Likewise, we can be assured, "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere" (James 3:17).
3. God doesn't want to help me. Especially during trying times, the enemy wants us to think God has left us and we are alone. But Psalm 3:3, “But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high."
4. God has withdrawn His favor from me. Although the devil wants us to believe that we have lost God's favor because of something we did or didn't do, Proverbs 8:35 tells us, "For those who find Me find life and receive favor from the Lord." Likewise, Psalm 30:5 assures God's favor in our lives lasts a lifetime. And, as we grow in His ways, we continue to grow in His favor, too (Exodus 33:13).
— 3 Truth Concerning God's Favor
1. I have God's favor. Rather than believe the devil's lies, we want to remember because we belong to God, we have His favor. He doesn't withdraw or withhold it from us. As long as we live, for every day of our lives, we will have the favor of God.
2. His favor surrounds me. God's favor is like a shield around us, like a covering that goes where ever we go.
3. God's favor blesses my earthly endeavors. We can have confidence God is blessing our daily undertakings, establishing and blessing the work of our hands (Psalm 90:17).
Let's pray.
✝️ Dear Father,
Thank You for giving me Your favor to last my entire lifetime. I am forever grateful that I don't have to be afraid of losing it or fear you'll change Your mind about me. Teach me, Lord, to know and believe that because I belong to You, Your favor surrounds me like a shield daily. Lead me in believing the truth of Your word and not ever doubt it. Free me from the lies of the enemy who tries to keep me from walking in Your favor. Help me to discern his deception from Your truth. Daily remind me what Psalm 23:6) promises me, "Surely Your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Thank You for a lifetime of favor establishing all the work of my hands here on earth.
In Jesus' name,
AMEN 🙏
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
(Psalm 84:11)
For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
(Psalm 30:5)
Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.
(Jeremiah 33:3)
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
(Luke 2:52)
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
(Psalm 23:5–6)
My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.
(Proverbs 3:1-4)
And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
(Isaiah 58:11)
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.
(Proverbs 18:22)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
(Matthew 6:31-32)
“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
(Numbers 6:24-26)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
(Ephesians 1:3)
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
(Revelation 22:13)
“For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.
(Ezekiel 34:11-12)
For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
(Isaiah 41:13)
(pic verse)
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
(Matthew 28:19)
Artist 👨🎨
I Am With You Always - David Delfeld
THE SEA OF GLASS BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD
WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN?
By Very Agent Of Change
... View MoreTHE SEA OF GLASS BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD
WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN?
By Very Agent Of Change

REVELATION 4:6
“And before the throne there was a sea of glass, like unto crystal.”
Beloved, there is a detail in Revelation that many people read but quickly pass over.
John was taken into the heavenly realm, and when he looked before the throne of God, he saw something astonishing:
A SEA OF GLASS.
Not ordinary water.
Not a normal sea.
John described it as something like crystal.
But why would God’s throne have a sea before it?
What was John actually seeing?
Let us go deeper.
1. THE SEA WAS BEFORE THE THRONE
Revelation 4:6 says:
“And before the throne there was a sea of glass, like unto crystal.”
Notice the location.
It was BEFORE the throne.
John was not describing something happening somewhere far away in heaven. He was describing what surrounded the immediate presence of God.
The throne represents God's sovereign rule.
The sea of glass was before that throne.
This gives us a picture of the majesty, purity, and overwhelming holiness surrounding God's presence.
2. JOHN DID NOT SAY IT WAS AN ORDINARY SEA
John did not simply say, “I saw a sea.”
He said it was:
“like unto crystal.”
This is important.
Revelation frequently uses earthly things to communicate heavenly realities that are difficult for human language to describe.
John was trying to describe something beyond ordinary human experience.
It was transparent.
It was brilliant.
It was magnificent.
Imagine standing before the throne of God and seeing something that looked like an enormous expanse of crystal stretching before Him.
The sight itself would communicate the greatness and glory of the One sitting on the throne.
3. THE SEA WAS COMPLETELY CALM
There is something else worth noticing.
The sea John saw was not described as a raging ocean.
It was a SEA OF GLASS.
Think about what happens when ordinary water is disturbed.
There are waves.
There is movement.
There is instability.
But before God's throne, John sees something resembling glass.
There is a picture of extraordinary stillness.
Human beings live in a world filled with storms, confusion, fear, wars, pressure and uncertainty.
But heaven reveals something different.
God is not struggling to maintain control.
God is seated on the throne.
Everything is beneath His authority.
4. GOD'S THRONE IS ABOVE THE CHAOS
Throughout Scripture, the sea can sometimes be associated with chaos, danger, or forces beyond human control.
But in Revelation 4, John sees the sea transformed into something like glass before God's throne.
Whatever interpretation one gives to the symbolism, the central picture is powerful:
THE THRONE OF GOD IS NOT THREATENED BY THE CHAOS OF CREATION.
God is above it.
God rules over it.
God is not frightened by what frightens mankind.
What looks uncontrollable to man is still under the authority of God.
5. THE SEA OF GLASS ALSO APPEARS AGAIN
Revelation 15:2 says:
“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire.”
Now we see something even more mysterious.
In Revelation 4, John sees the sea of glass like crystal.
In Revelation 15, he sees the sea of glass mingled with fire, and standing upon it are those who had overcome the beast.
These believers had passed through persecution and remained faithful to God.
They are now standing before God.
There is a powerful lesson here:
THE STORM DID NOT HAVE THE FINAL WORD.
Their suffering did not end their story.
Their faithfulness brought them into the presence of God.
6. THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES WERE AROUND THE THRONE
Revelation 4:6 continues:
“And in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.”
Then these living creatures continually worship God.
They say:
“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty.”
This shows us that the sea of glass was not an isolated decoration.
It was part of a greater heavenly scene centered around God's throne and worship.
The throne is the center.
The worship is constant.
The glory belongs to God.
7. THE 24 ELDERS WERE ALSO THERE
Revelation 4:4 describes 24 elders sitting around the throne.
Later, they fall before God and worship Him.
So John sees:
THE THRONE.
THE SEA OF GLASS.
THE LIVING CREATURES.
THE 24 ELDERS.
THE WORSHIP OF HEAVEN.
Everything points toward one reality:
GOD IS WORTHY.
8. THE SEA OF GLASS TEACHES US SOMETHING ABOUT GOD'S HOLINESS
When you study Revelation 4, you begin to see that heaven is not presented as a place where God is ordinary.
Everything around the throne communicates majesty.
The living creatures declare His holiness.
The elders bow before Him.
The heavenly beings worship Him.
And before the throne is this magnificent sea like crystal.
It creates an atmosphere of purity, majesty and awe.
God is not merely powerful.
HE IS HOLY.
9. JOHN WAS SHOWN HEAVEN, BUT HE COULD ONLY DESCRIBE IT WITH EARTHLY WORDS
This is one of the most important things to understand when studying Revelation.
John repeatedly uses expressions such as:
“like”
“as it were”
“likened unto”
because he is describing visions that go beyond ordinary human experience.
Therefore, we should be careful about confidently declaring that every object in Revelation must correspond to a physical object exactly as we imagine it.
John was communicating what he saw using human language.
The revelation was real.
The imagery is powerful.
But some details are symbolic or represent realities that are greater than the earthly comparison being used.
10. THE GREATEST MESSAGE IS NOT THE SEA
Here is where many people miss the point.
They become fascinated with the sea of glass.
They ask:
“What exactly is it?”
“What is it made of?”
“How large is it?”
But Revelation 4 is not primarily trying to satisfy our curiosity about heavenly architecture.
The central message is the One sitting on the throne.
JOHN SAW THE THRONE.
AND HE SAW THE ONE WHO SAT UPON IT.
Everything else directs our attention toward Him.
11. EARTH HAS STORMS, BUT GOD HAS A THRONE
Beloved, remember this.
Your life may look like a storm right now.
Your family may be facing pressure.
Your finances may be difficult.
Your ministry may be going through a difficult season.
You may have questions you cannot answer.
But Revelation gives us a picture that is greater than our circumstances.
GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE.
Heaven is not in panic.
The throne has not moved.
God has not surrendered His authority.
12. THERE IS A DEEPER LESSON FOR THE CHILD OF GOD
Sometimes we look at our circumstances and conclude that everything is out of control.
But Revelation 4 reminds us to change our perspective.
John was on earth.
Then he was shown heaven.
And when he saw heaven, his understanding changed.
Sometimes what we need is not immediately a change in our circumstances.
Sometimes we need a revelation of WHO IS SITTING ON THE THRONE.
When you see the throne correctly, you begin to see your problems differently.
THE SEA MAY BE BEFORE THE THRONE.
BUT THE THRONE IS ABOVE THE SEA.
THE CHAOS DOES NOT SIT ON THE THRONE.
GOD DOES.
The sea of glass before God's throne is one of the most beautiful pictures in Revelation.
It points us toward the majesty surrounding God's presence and reminds us that heaven is centered on the sovereignty, holiness and worship of God.
John saw something that human language could barely explain.
But the greatest revelation was not the crystal-like sea.
It was THE THRONE.
And the One sitting upon it.
Child of God, when life becomes confusing, remember Revelation 4.
There is still a throne.
There is still a King.
And God is still worthy of worship.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE SEA OF GLASS REPRESENTS IN REVELATION 4:6?
•A Prayer against Complaining•
By Anthony Valente
👉 “Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!” ... View More•A Prayer against Complaining•
By Anthony Valente
👉 “Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!”
(James 5:9)
Here comes the nagging again. Have you ever been guilty of being a cloud of rain on a sunshine-filled day? In other words, have you been in a cycle of complaining? It is really easy to fall into the “glass half full” mentality. No, we are not supposed to be happy all of the time. However, as believers in Christ, we are called to be filled with the Holy Spirit, which means we live out His fruit in our lives. It just so happens that complaining is not on that list. Today, we will take time to pray against complaining in our own lives and press into gratitude by faith in Christ.
Let's pray.
🙏 Dear Lord,
We come before You today, thanking You for another day of life and another day of being Yours. You have sealed us by Your Holy Spirit; we are always Your children. However, we confess that we do not always live like Your children. We fall short every day in different ways. Please forgive us for our attitudes of the heart and words of our mouths that are full of complaints against you and against others. Instead of throwing out negativity, we pray that You would empower us to filter our frustrations through prayer and petition to You.
Thank You that You actually welcome our emotions. We recognize that You are a holy God. You are our only hope of having the right mentality and attitude throughout our days. Help us, Holy Spirit. We are crying out to You to enable us to live by Your Spirit and not by our flesh. We pray that You would help us to pick up our crosses and follow You. This means that even in our challenges, we desire that You would refine us into Your likeness.
Forgive us for times when we have chosen to use our thoughts and our words for tearing down rather than building up. You say in Philippians 2:14-16 “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that we may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then we will shine among them like stars in the sky as we hold firmly to the word of life. And then we will be able to boast on the day of Christ that we did not run or labor in vain.”
Lord, help us to work, live, and love without complaints. Help us to become pure and blameless. Help us to shine like stars in the sky. Would our gratitude, joy, and fullness of life be a bright light of intrigue where our neighbors around us would know that what we have is out of this world. Would they identify us as beautifully strange and abundantly loving. Would they not be able to say that we grumbled but that we were faithful.
Help us to live out James 5:9, that we would “not grumble against one another or we will be judged.” Forgive us for the struggles that we have to gossip or speak negatively of those around us. May our tongues be bridled for the sake of the gospel and those around us. When we are hurt or unhappy with the decisions of superiors, family members, or friends, may we have the utmost respect for them with our demeanor and our word choices.
Father, forgive us for how easy it is to speak against rather than speak for. Help us to be advocates for You, not slanderers. We cannot do this on our own. This is only by Your grace flooded in us by the power of Your Spirit. We are leaning upon You and declaring in Your name, Jesus, that we will denounce all areas of complaining. We pray that we would walk away from them. We ask that we would break up with the bad and marry the good. We pray that we would be firmly established with Your Word and that we will stand by it as our foundation to live lives worthy of the calling of Your children. Help us to represent You better. Thank You for new mercies every morning. Thank You for the spirit of thanksgiving that You provide.
In Jesus' name,
AMEN 🙏
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
(Romans 12:2)
Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
(1 Peter 4:9)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8:28)
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
(Ephesians 4:29)
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
(Psalm 100:4)
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
(Philippians 4:11-13)
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
(Proverbs 17:22)
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
(Hebrews 13:5)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(1 John 1:9)
Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
(Ephesians 5:20)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
(Romans 15:13)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
(Philippians 4:4)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
(Philippians 4:6-8)
Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the LORD your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.”
(Deuteronomy 31:6)
May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
(Psalm 104:34)
(pic verse)
But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
(John 14:26)
Artist 👨🎨
I Am With You Always - David Delfeld
•A Prayer to Delight Yourself in the Lord•
By Anthony Valente
👉 "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” ... View More•A Prayer to Delight Yourself in the Lord•
By Anthony Valente
👉 "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
(Proverbs 37:4)
I have to be honest. There are many things that bring me delight. The sound of a baby’s laugh. The gritty feeling of sand under my feet at a bright blue beach. A warm hug from one of my children. The words, “I love you Dad," as they flow from the lips of my children.
The smell of fresh brownies, the sound of my favorite worship band, and seeing long-lost friends can create moments of intense joy. The truth is, I have mastered the art of finding happiness in everyday external pleasures. Yet, when I first read the words “Delight yourself in the Lord,” I was met with unexpected questions. What does it mean to find delight or extreme excitement as it concerns the Lord?
If I can be honest, for many years, how I viewed the Lord at any given moment was based on my external circumstances. When things were going well, I was thrilled to brag about Him and tell others about His goodness. Yet, when things were more difficult and my expectations weren’t met, I wondered where the Lord was in this situation. Did He not see my peril or care about my struggles? In these moments, when I lost loved ones, when sickness struck my home, when friends were no longer friends, year after year, I made the choice to no longer delight.
After years of choosing to have joy in the Lord, only when He was following my lead the Lord brought conviction. My ways were like a child who loved a parent only when it was convenient. As a single father this broke my heart as I realized the error of being a Christian who used God for his blessings but rejected Him when corrections or even trials arose. This is not delighting in the Lord.
Today, my prayer for you is that you find your joy in the Lord. No matter what the situation looks like around you, you make the choice to run to Him. I have found over, and over that when we choose to love the Lord not for what He can do or is doing in our lives but for the essence of who He is, we can’t help but delight in Him. For, He is the one who gave us breath in our bodies. He is the one who knows our thoughts and who has a plan for our lives. He is the one who died for us that we may have eternal life. The Lord is a constant, our comfort, and though He is majestic enough to put the stars in the sky, He calls us friends. This, my friend should bring us unspeakable joy. May we delight in you all the days of our lives, in Jesus' name!
Let’s pray.
🙏 Lord, I thank You for who You are. I praise Your wonderful works. For You are the Creator of all, yet so intimately near. Forgive me for the times that I’ve made You an afterthought. Teach me to come to You with the humility and joy of a child. God, show me the times when I become more excited about worldly pleasures than following Your will. Father, I delight in You. Help me to never forget just how good You are. In Jesus' Name.
AMEN 🙏
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
(John 15:7)
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
(Psalm 51:10)
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
(1 John 5:14-15)
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
(Psalm 46:10)
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.
(1 Peter 1:8)
The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
(Proverbs 29:25)
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
(John 15:16)
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
(Psalm 73:26)
I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
(Psalm 16:18)
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.
(Isaiah 30:21)
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.
(Psalm 145:19)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8:28)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
(Psalm 119:105)
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.
(Psalm 1:1-6)
Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge.
(Psalm 16:1)
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
(Psalm 32:7)
(pic verse)
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
(James 4:8)
Artist 👨🎨
I Am With You Always - David Delfeld
ARE MODERN-DAY PROPHETS BIBLICAL?
By John Domino Sanchez Asis
Before You Say “God Told Me,” Read This—Because Not Every Voice That Sounds Spiritual Came From God... View MoreARE MODERN-DAY PROPHETS BIBLICAL?
By John Domino Sanchez Asis
Before You Say “God Told Me,” Read This—Because Not Every Voice That Sounds Spiritual Came From God
There are few sentences more powerful in Christian circles than these:
“God told me.”
Four words.
And suddenly the conversation changes.
Because how do you argue with God?
Someone says, “God told me you should marry me.”
“God told me to start this ministry.”
“God told me you need to give.”
“God showed me what is going to happen.”
“The Lord told me what you need to do.”
And sometimes the person speaking may sincerely believe it.
Sometimes they may even be right about something.
But sincerity is not Scripture.
Accuracy alone is not proof of divine authority.
Charisma is not confirmation.
A large following is not confirmation.
A title is not confirmation.
And saying “Thus says the Lord” does not automatically mean the Lord said anything.
That is precisely why this question matters.
Are modern-day prophets biblical?
The answer requires more care than a quick “yes” or “no,” because faithful Christians who affirm the full authority of Scripture have reached different conclusions about whether the New Testament gift of prophecy continues today.
But there is something Christians on every side of that debate desperately need to remember:
God never commands His people to surrender discernment.
He commands us to use it.
Paul wrote:
“Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.”
—1 Thessalonians 5:20–21
The Greek is striking.
“Prophecies” is προφητείας (prophēteias).
And “test” comes from δοκιμάζω (dokimazō)—to examine, test, prove, or determine genuineness.
In other words, biblical faith is not gullibility dressed in Christian vocabulary.
The church is not commanded to believe every supernatural claim.
We are commanded to test.
And that becomes uncomfortable when the person claiming divine revelation is someone we admire.
Someone with a microphone.
Someone with millions of views.
Someone who seems unusually spiritual.
Someone whose conference fills stadiums.
Someone whose predictions occasionally appear astonishing.
Or perhaps someone sitting across from you at church saying quietly:
“God gave me a word for you.”
The moment somebody claims to speak for God, the stakes become enormous.
Because throughout Scripture, God takes His words seriously.
Very seriously.
Jeremiah lived among people who claimed divine revelation while speaking from their own imagination.
God said:
“I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’”
—Jeremiah 23:25
Then comes a chilling description:
“Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully.”
—Jeremiah 23:28
That distinction still matters.
There is an enormous difference between:
“I think God may be leading me…”
and:
“God said.”
One leaves room for human fallibility.
The other invokes divine authority.
And we should tremble before casually putting words into the mouth of the Almighty.
The Old Testament Hebrew word commonly translated “prophet” is נָבִיא (nāḇîʾ).
Biblical prophets were not simply motivational speakers with spiritual intuition.
They were commissioned messengers.
Again and again Scripture introduces prophetic revelation with words equivalent to:
“Thus says the LORD.”
כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה
Ko amar YHWH.
“Thus says the LORD.”
That is not branding.
That is authority.
And Scripture gives severe warnings about falsely claiming that authority.
Deuteronomy 18 warns Israel about the prophet who presumptuously speaks a word God has not commanded.
Jeremiah condemns prophets who speak “visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.”
Ezekiel speaks against those who “follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing.”
That should make every Christian slow down before saying:
“God told me.”
But now we come to the New Testament.
Because something extraordinary happens.
At Pentecost, Peter explains the outpouring of the Holy Spirit by quoting the prophet Joel:
“And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh…”
Then:
“your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…”
—Acts 2:17
Later, Acts describes prophets in the early church.
Agabus is specifically named.
Acts 13 mentions “prophets and teachers” at Antioch.
Acts 21 tells us that Philip the evangelist had four unmarried daughters “who prophesied.”
Paul discusses prophecy extensively in 1 Corinthians 12–14.
So Christians cannot honestly pretend prophecy disappears the moment we turn the page from Malachi to Matthew.
It is clearly present in the New Testament church.
But neither may we simply assume that every person today calling himself or herself “Prophet” possesses the same authority as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Peter, Paul, or the foundational witnesses through whom God gave Scripture.
That is where discernment becomes essential.
Paul writes that the church was:
“built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.”
—Ephesians 2:20
Notice the imagery.
Foundation.
A foundation is laid.
Jesus Christ remains the cornerstone.
The apostles occupied a unique, foundational role in redemptive history.
And whatever position Christians take concerning contemporary prophecy, nobody today gets to write another Gospel of Matthew.
Nobody gets to add another chapter to Romans.
Nobody gets to stand beside Scripture and announce:
“My revelation carries equal authority.”
The canon is not waiting for your favorite preacher's sequel.
Scripture remains the measuring line.
This is why Isaiah's ancient words remain so relevant:
“To the teaching and to the testimony!”
—Isaiah 8:20
And why Paul could tell Timothy that the sacred writings are able to make him “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus,” before declaring:
“All Scripture is breathed out by God…”
—2 Timothy 3:16
The Greek word translated “breathed out by God” is θεόπνευστος (theopneustos).
God-breathed.
That is an extraordinary category.
Your impressions are not theopneustos.
My feelings are not theopneustos.
A preacher's dream is not automatically theopneustos.
A viral prophecy is not theopneustos.
Scripture is.
And this distinction could save someone from enormous spiritual damage.
Because perhaps you have been wounded by someone who weaponized the phrase:
“God told me.”
Maybe somebody manipulated you with prophecy.
Maybe someone predicted something that never happened, then quietly changed the explanation afterward.
Maybe someone used spiritual authority to control your relationship.
Your money.
Your decisions.
Your conscience.
Maybe you were afraid to question them because you thought questioning them meant questioning God.
Listen carefully.
Testing a claimed revelation is not rebellion against God.
God Himself tells you to test.
The apostle John writes:
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God…”
—1 John 4:1
Why?
“For many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
John did not say:
Believe everything supernatural.
He said:
Test it.
And his immediate test is profoundly Christ-centered.
What does this message say about Jesus Christ?
Because biblical prophecy never exists to make the prophet the star.
The Spirit glorifies Christ.
Jesus said concerning the Holy Spirit:
“He will glorify me.”
—John 16:14
That single truth exposes much of what passes for spirituality.
If someone's “prophetic ministry” constantly makes you obsessed with the prophet instead of Christ…
Be careful.
If you need their next livestream more desperately than you need Scripture…
Be careful.
If questioning their words is treated as questioning God…
Be careful.
If every revelation somehow ends with money flowing toward them…
Be careful.
If Jesus becomes background scenery while the personality on the stage becomes indispensable…
Something has gone terribly wrong.
The Holy Spirit does not come to build celebrity kingdoms.
He glorifies Jesus.
And here we must deal fairly with an important disagreement among Bible-believing Christians.
Some Christians are cessationists. Broadly speaking, they believe certain revelatory or sign gifts associated with the apostolic era no longer function in the church in the same way after the foundational apostolic period.
Other Christians are continuationists. They believe gifts such as prophecy continue, while insisting that contemporary prophetic impressions must be tested and cannot rival, correct, supplement, or override Scripture.
There are thoughtful, Christ-loving Christians on both sides.
So this article will not pretend a centuries-old theological discussion can be solved with a slogan.
But whichever position you hold, Scripture gives boundaries that cannot safely be ignored.
No modern revelation outranks Scripture.
No prophecy may contradict the Gospel.
No prophet becomes spiritually untouchable.
No supernatural manifestation proves by itself that God authorized the messenger.
No Christian should surrender conscience and biblical discernment to someone merely because that person claims divine revelation.
And Jesus Himself gave us an even more frightening warning.
“False christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders…”
—Matthew 24:24
Think about that.
Jesus did not say deception would always look ridiculous.
Sometimes deception looks supernatural.
That means “something incredible happened” is not enough.
Signs are not the ultimate test.
Jesus is.
Truth is.
Scripture is.
The Gospel is.
Character matters too.
Jesus said:
“You will recognize them by their fruits.”
—Matthew 7:16
Not merely by their predictions.
Not by their followers.
Not by their stage presence.
Fruit.
And what does the Spirit produce?
“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
—Galatians 5:22–23
So perhaps the question should not merely be:
“Can this prophet tell me something about my future?”
Perhaps we should also ask:
Does this ministry make much of Christ?
Does it honor Scripture?
Does it produce repentance?
Does it display humility?
Is there accountability?
Can the leader be questioned?
Are failed claims acknowledged honestly?
Is money handled transparently?
Does the teaching lead people toward Jesus—or dependence upon the prophet?
Because there is something more important than knowing what will happen next Tuesday.
Knowing Christ.
We sometimes become so desperate for a word about tomorrow that we neglect the Word God has already given us today.
We want God to tell us who we will marry.
Meanwhile Scripture tells us how to love.
We want God to reveal our next career move.
Meanwhile Scripture tells us to work faithfully and honestly.
We want a prophecy about financial breakthrough.
Meanwhile Jesus warns us about greed.
We want someone to reveal our destiny.
Meanwhile Jesus says:
“Follow me.”
Maybe the most neglected revelation in some Christian lives is the Bible sitting unopened beside the bed.
And perhaps that hurts because we would rather receive a mysterious secret than obey a clear command.
“Forgive.”
We want another word.
“Repent.”
Another prophecy.
“Love your enemies.”
Something deeper, Lord.
“Take up your cross and follow me.”
And suddenly the problem is not that God has been silent.
The problem is that what He has already said costs us something.
That is where this conversation stops being about famous prophets on the internet.
Now it becomes about us.
Because there is another danger hiding underneath our obsession with prophetic voices.
Sometimes we want certainty more than we want God.
We are terrified of making the wrong decision.
Terrified of tomorrow.
Terrified of losing someone.
Terrified of suffering.
So when someone appears and says, “God showed me your future,” something inside us desperately wants to believe.
Not necessarily because we love truth.
Because we hate uncertainty.
And that fear can make us vulnerable.
But Christianity was never an invitation to control tomorrow.
It was an invitation to trust Jesus with tomorrow.
Faith does not mean knowing everything that is coming.
Faith means knowing the One who will still be there when it comes.
Maybe nobody has a prophetic word about your next five years.
Jesus is still Lord.
Maybe you do not know whether the door will open.
Jesus is still Lord.
Maybe your prayer has not been answered the way you hoped.
Jesus is still Lord.
Maybe the diagnosis frightened you.
Jesus is still Lord.
Maybe someone you trusted failed you.
Jesus is still Lord.
Maybe a preacher disappointed you.
Jesus is still Lord.
Maybe somebody once spoke “God's will” over your life and those words became chains around your soul.
Jesus is still Lord.
And Jesus did not die so that another human being could become the mediator you cannot live without.
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
—1 Timothy 2:5
One mediator.
Jesus Christ.
This is where scandal becomes grace.
Because Scripture is filled with people whose lives looked finished.
Peter denied Jesus.
Three times.
Scandal.
Then the risen Christ restored him.
Grace.
Paul persecuted Christians.
Scandal.
Then Jesus confronted him, saved him, and transformed the persecutor into a preacher of the faith he once tried to destroy.
Grace.
The Samaritan woman's history was complicated and exposed.
Scandal.
Then she encountered Jesus and ran toward the very people she might once have avoided.
Grace.
The thief beside Jesus had no lifetime left to repair his reputation.
Scandal.
Then he turned toward the crucified King and heard words of paradise.
Grace.
That is the Gospel.
Not humanity climbing high enough to become impressive to God.
God coming down in Jesus Christ to rescue sinners who could never rescue themselves.
The greatest message Christianity has for you is not:
“A prophet knows your future.”
It is:
Jesus Christ died for sinners and rose again.
That is the announcement that shattered history.
That is the message demons hate.
That is the hope death cannot swallow.
That is the Word your shame cannot cancel.
Christ crucified.
Christ risen.
Christ reigning.
Christ returning.
And if you have spent years chasing spiritual experiences while quietly running from Jesus, come home.
If your Bible has gathered dust while prophetic videos filled your history, come home.
If you have made an idol out of a minister, come home.
If someone manipulated you in God's name and you became afraid of Christianity itself, look beyond the person who wounded you and look again at Christ.
If you have claimed “God told me” when, deep inside, you knew it was your own desire speaking…
Repent.
There is grace even here.
Because repentance is not God's invitation to humiliation without hope.
It is His call out of darkness.
The Greek New Testament uses μετάνοια (metanoia) for repentance—the language of a changed mind and turning that bears fruit in a changed direction.
Jesus does not expose sin merely to crush sinners.
He exposes darkness so we can stop hiding in it.
And maybe this article has exposed something.
Maybe you have followed voices more closely than you have followed Jesus.
Maybe you trusted personalities because reading Scripture for yourself felt harder.
Maybe someone told you what you desperately wanted to hear.
Maybe you have secretly been afraid that without a “prophetic word,” God will forget you.
He has not forgotten you.
You do not need spiritual theatrics to convince Jesus that you exist.
He knows your name.
He knows the sin you hide.
He knows the wound nobody sees.
He knows why you keep smiling when your soul feels exhausted.
He knows the questions you are afraid to say aloud.
And He still calls sinners to Himself.
Not to a personality.
Not to a platform.
Not to a prophetic celebrity.
To Himself.
Jesus said:
“Come to me…”
—Matthew 11:28
That invitation still stands.
Come to Christ.
Bring your questions.
Bring your disappointment.
Bring your skepticism.
Bring your wounds from church.
Bring your hidden sin.
Bring the parts of your story you wish could be deleted.
Bring the scandal.
Because Jesus specializes in rewriting stories that looked finished.
Not by pretending sin never mattered.
By paying for sin with His own blood.
At the cross, grace was not cheap.
It cost Christ everything.
And the resurrection announces that sin, Satan, shame, and death do not get the final sentence.
Jesus does.
So are modern-day prophets biblical?
Scripture unquestionably records prophecy as a genuine work of God and a gift present in the New Testament church. Faithful Christians disagree about whether and in what sense that gift continues today.
But Scripture leaves us no permission to be undiscerning.
Test every claim.
Hold tightly to Scripture.
Reject anything contradicting God's revealed Word and the apostolic Gospel.
Look at fruit.
Beware spiritual manipulation.
Never elevate a human messenger above Jesus.
And never let someone's claim of private revelation steal the authority belonging to God's written Word.
Perhaps the safest sentence some Christians could learn again is not:
“God told me.”
But:
“Scripture says.”
Then open the Bible.
Read it in context.
Handle it faithfully.
And point people toward Christ.
If this exposed something you have been afraid to admit, do not hide behind religious language.
Comment “no more hiding.”
If you have been spiritually exhausted and you need believers to stand with you, comment “pray for me.”
If Christ has been patiently pulling you back after disappointment, confusion, failure, or deception, comment “Christ is still healing me.”
And if you have ever been manipulated by someone claiming to speak for God, you do not have to tell strangers every detail of your wound. But you can simply say, “Jesus, lead me into truth.”
Someone reading the comments may realize they are not alone.
Save this article.
Not because every sentence here deserves unquestioned acceptance—it does not.
Save it because the Scriptures cited here deserve to be opened again, studied carefully, and tested in context.
Share this article on your Facebook profile if you believe someone in your circle needs permission to test spiritual claims without feeling guilty for doing so.
Tag the friend who loves Jesus but has been confused by competing prophetic voices.
Send it privately to the person who has quietly wondered, “Am I allowed to question this?”
Yes.
Open the Bible together.
Test everything.
Keep Christ at the center.
And if Gospel Warrior has helped you return to Scripture, follow the page and invite your family, friends, struggling believers, seekers, lukewarm Christians, and even unbelieving friends to follow too. We want this community to be a place of daily Scripture, conviction, encouragement, biblical truth, healing, discipleship, and spiritual nourishment—not personality worship.
And if you want to help this work continue, subscription is one practical way to stand behind it.
Not because subscribing earns favor with God.
It does not.
Not because giving money proves that you love Jesus.
It does not.
The Gospel cannot be purchased.
But if you desire to glorify God by helping biblical, Christ-centered teaching reach more people, you can support Gospel Warrior voluntarily by subscribing and by sharing articles like this on your Facebook profile so others can encounter the message of Jesus.
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If that is the kind of discipleship you want to help sustain—and the kind of Gospel-centered content you want to keep close—you can subscribe here:
https://www.facebook.com/iamGospelWarrior/subscribenow
But whether you ever subscribe or purchase anything, hear this clearly:
Jesus is not for sale.
Grace is not merchandise.
Salvation is not a membership benefit.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith.”
—Ephesians 2:8
Your greatest need is not access to another prophet.
Your greatest need is Christ.
So open your Bible.
Test the voices.
Refuse manipulation.
Repent when you are wrong.
Forgive where Christ calls you to forgive.
Hold fast to what is good.
And follow Jesus even when nobody can tell you exactly what tomorrow holds.
Because you do not need to know every detail of tomorrow when you belong to the One who already stands there.
And when every other voice eventually falls silent, there is still one voice your soul cannot afford to miss:
The voice of the Shepherd calling you home.
From Scandal to Grace, Because Jesus Rewrites Everything
CAN A PERSON BE FORGIVEN AFTER DENYING JESUS CHRIST?
By Very Agent Of Change
One of the most frightening questions a Christian can ask is this:... View MoreCAN A PERSON BE FORGIVEN AFTER DENYING JESUS CHRIST?
By Very Agent Of Change
One of the most frightening questions a Christian can ask is this:
“What happens if someone denies Jesus Christ?”
Does denying Christ mean there is no way back?
Can a person who once confessed Jesus later deny Him and still receive forgiveness?
The Bible gives us a powerful answer, and the story of Peter is one of the clearest places to see it.
1. PETER DENIED JESUS
Peter was not an unbeliever who had never known Jesus.
He had walked with Jesus.
He had seen miracles.
He had heard His teachings.
He had confessed that Jesus was the Christ.
Yet when Jesus was arrested, Peter became afraid.
Three times Peter denied knowing Jesus.
Matthew 26:74 says:
“Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man.”
Think about that.
Peter had personally walked with Jesus, yet under pressure, he denied Him.
2. JESUS HAD ALREADY WARNED PETER
Before Peter denied Him, Jesus had already told him what was coming.
Luke 22:31 to 32 says:
“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”
Jesus knew Peter would fall.
But Jesus also knew Peter would return.
This is powerful.
A moment of failure does not have to become the end of your story.
3. PETER WEPT BITTERLY
After Peter realized what he had done, he went out and wept bitterly.
Matthew 26:75 says:
“And he went out, and wept bitterly.”
Peter did not celebrate his denial.
He did not defend what he had done.
He was broken by it.
There is a difference between falling into sin and becoming comfortable with sin.
A repentant heart does not run away from God.
It runs back to God.
4. JESUS DID NOT ABANDON PETER
After the resurrection, Jesus did not tell the disciples to forget Peter.
In fact, the angel specifically mentioned Peter.
Mark 16:7 says:
“But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee.”
And why specifically mention Peter?
Because Peter needed to know that his failure had not erased him from the story.
The man who denied Jesus was still being called back to Jesus.
That should give hope to anyone who has genuinely repented of their failure.
5. JESUS RESTORED PETER
In John 21, Jesus asked Peter three times:
“Lovest thou me?”
Peter had denied Jesus three times.
Now Jesus gave Peter an opportunity to affirm his love three times.
Then Jesus told him:
“Feed my sheep.”
John 21:17
Jesus did not merely forgive Peter.
He restored him to purpose.
This is one of the most beautiful pictures of restoration in Scripture.
Your failure may have wounded you, but failure does not have to become your identity.
6. BUT WHAT ABOUT JESUS SAYING HE WILL DENY THOSE WHO DENY HIM?
Jesus said in Matthew 10:33:
“But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
That is a serious warning.
Jesus does not want us to be ashamed of Him.
He calls His followers to stand for Him even when it is difficult.
But Peter's story shows us something important.
There is a difference between a person who fails under pressure, realizes their sin, repents, and returns to Christ, and someone who deliberately and permanently rejects Christ without repentance.
Peter fell.
Peter wept.
Peter returned.
Peter was restored.
7. DENIAL SHOULD NEVER BECOME A LIFESTYLE
We should never use Peter's story as an excuse to deny Christ.
Peter's restoration does not mean denial is acceptable.
It shows us the mercy of God toward the person who truly repents.
The message is not:
“Deny Jesus because He will forgive you anyway.”
The message is:
“If you have fallen, do not run away from Jesus. Come back to Him.”
8. WHAT IF YOU HAVE FAILED JESUS?
Maybe you once professed Christ but later became ashamed of Him.
Maybe you compromised your faith because of pressure.
Maybe you made decisions you deeply regret.
Maybe you walked away from God for a season.
Do not allow shame to tell you that there is no way back.
If you are genuinely repentant, turn back to Christ.
Confess your sin.
Ask for forgiveness.
Return to His Word.
Return to prayer.
Return to obedience.
Do not let your worst moment become your final chapter.
9. THE GOSPEL IS ABOUT RESTORATION
Peter's story reminds us that Jesus is not only the Saviour of people who have never failed.
He is also the Saviour who restores those who sincerely return to Him.
1 John 1:9 says:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
That is the hope of the Gospel.
Peter denied Jesus.
But Peter did not remain in his denial.
He repented.
He returned.
He was restored.
And the same Peter who once denied Jesus later boldly preached Christ.
Acts 4:20 says:
“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
What a transformation.
The man who once said, “I know not the man,” became a man who could no longer remain silent about Jesus.
So if you have failed Christ, do not run from Him.
Run back to Him.
If you have denied Him, repent.
If you have fallen, rise again.
If you have wandered away, return.
Your failure does not have to be your final chapter.
Jesus is still calling people back to Himself.
Have you ever wondered whether someone who denied Jesus can truly be forgiven?
What do you learn from Peter's restoration?
Let us reason together from the Word of God.
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