Has Anyone Ever Been Given a "Personal Prophecy" Predicting a Future Spouse and Family?

[renewed_hope]

I want to tell you all how grateful I am for the heartfelt replies stories and replies. I have to be honest--when I wrote this thread, I thought it was going to just be me and a bunch of crickets (like, literally, since it's that time of year when some stupid cricket always manages to hide under my couch and chirp away.)

At best, I thought that maybe a bunch of people might chime in and be like, "Golly Seoul, you sure were gullible!!!"

A few years ago, I wrote a letter to a couple that had given a particularly biting "word of knowledge." I was very respectful, but I clearly told them that their words had done a lot of damage in my life. They never even bothered to reply.

Ironically, I still occasionally receive their ministry newsletter, and every time I do, I always ask God, "Why are people like this allowed to continue deceiving people under their own deceit? If they are telling lies in Your name, why don't You shut them down?"

I can relate to many of the stories told here, and I'm so sorry for the damage other people have done--in the name of the Lord. This is the part that burns me the most, that these people sincerely believe they are earning rewards in heaven--by hurting other people.

I guess, if nothing else, I hope this thread serves as a cautionary tale for other singles--don't be too eager to mold your life around something someone tells you that is exactly what you want to hear.

Thank you all again for sharing, and I hope that people will continue to write out their stories and comments.

I'm going to say this as respectful as I can and if I offend you I am sorry. I personally think writing and sending the letter to that couple was completely inappropriate. I understand the idea of writing it, but you should have burned or thrown it away afterwards. But we also must remember each person has their own walk and callings in life. Only God knows whether or not they have the prophetic calling and it's not fair to assume they are false because what they said would happen didn't.

 

[Lynx]

I'm going to say this as respectful as I can and if I offend you I am sorry. I personally think writing and sending the letter to that couple was completely inappropriate. I understand the idea of writing it, but you should have burned or thrown it away afterwards. But we also must remember each person has their own walk and callings in life. Only God knows whether or not they have the prophetic calling and it's not fair to assume they are false because what they said would happen didn't.

For some people, I would agree with you. For seoulsearch, I'm going to have to disagree.

seoulsearch has been part of this forum for many years, and has been a prolific poster. We have gotten to know her very well here in the forum. Thus I believe I can be fairly certain of this much about her: If she chose to write a letter in reply to these would-be prophets, she had good reason. She does not pop off and blast people every time she gets offended about something.

Again, if we were talking about a random person I would be inclined to agree with you. But I think this particular person you are talking to would have to have VERY good reason before she would even consider writing such a letter. And I remind you that you don't know what her reasons are.

 

[renewed_hope]

For some people, I would agree with you. For seoulsearch, I'm going to have to disagree.

seoulsearch has been part of this forum for many years, and has been a prolific poster. We have gotten to know her very well here in the forum. Thus I believe I can be fairly certain of this much about her: If she chose to write a letter in reply to these would-be prophets, she had good reason. She does not pop off and blast people every time she gets offended about something.

Again, if we were talking about a random person I would be inclined to agree with you. But I think this particular person you are talking to would have to have VERY good reason before she would even consider writing such a letter. And I remind you that you don't know what her reasons are.

I never said I did know, but there are times where it is better to stay quiet and let it go and forgive them because when you do send a letter years later, one most people don't remember what they said to whom, but it also comes across that you become bitter towards them even though it is a source of healing if that makes sense? I've been very hurt myself in a church setting and let's just say a pastor overstepped his boundaries and sexually abused my sister and tried destroying my family, but years later you didn't see us sending a letter. There are ways of getting our emotions and feelings out on the table in writing without ever mailing them and I guess I don't understand why Kim felt the need to do this and honestly it's none of my business, but I disagree with anyone sending a letter explaining why they were hurt from years before in a general sense

 

[Ugly]

If a prophecy is real..there will be confirmation in other forms...not all prophies spoken over someone are false. People CAN alter the prophecy like Sarah did being prophacied that she would have a baby..she made her own descisions..hurt a lot of people by her lack of faith but since it WAS of God..He still brought things into being and prophacy was fufilled..happened many times in the Bible...God is definately in the "restoration" business!

I never said prophecy never has happened. I do not believe in modern prophets. You can talk all you want but I spent years in that camp and it was quite bad. There was a notable improvement in my spiritual life once I decided to leave it. I'm never going back. The end.

 

[Lynx]

I never said I did know, but there are times where it is better to stay quiet and let it go and forgive them because when you do send a letter years later, one most people don't remember what they said to whom, but it also comes across that you become bitter towards them even though it is a source of healing if that makes sense? I've been very hurt myself in a church setting and let's just say a pastor overstepped his boundaries and sexually abused my sister and tried destroying my family, but years later you didn't see us sending a letter. There are ways of getting our emotions and feelings out on the table in writing without ever mailing them and I guess I don't understand why Kim felt the need to do this and honestly it's none of my business, but I disagree with anyone sending a letter explaining why they were hurt from years before in a general sense

A few years ago she wrote the letter. She never said it was a few years between when they talked to her and when she wrote the letter.

And again, with seoulsearch, I'm guessing she had a very good reason.

But yes, if somebody goes back over old hurts and starts writing letters to the people who hurt him, that would be bad.

 

[Jewel5712]

I never said prophecy never has happened. I do not believe in modern prophets. You can talk all you want but I spent years in that camp and it was quite bad. There was a notable improvement in my spiritual life once I decided to leave it. I'm never going back. The end.

Im y you had years of bad experiences but God can work in people of His choosing for whatever purpose and even perform "modern day mirickes"..again..if ANYTHING is of God..there will be decernment and confirmation but we cant put God in a box..God can heal the hurst caused by bad church experiemces too..

 

[Angela53510]

I totally agree with Ugly! The first 15 years of my Christian walk I was in Pentecostal/Charismatic churches. I saw all kinds of personal prophecies that never came to pass. One church I was in, it was an annual ritual to have people fast for 3 days, and then someone would pray a prophetic word over them. It was a total lie.

I believe that God speaks to US! Not someone else, to determine what he wants us to do. Then, if you need confirmation, God uses anything from the Bible, a sermon, a book, or sometimes another person, who probably is not giving a personal prophecy, but God is using to confirm what he has told you. God speaks to me all the time, on little matters and big matters. I just got so fed up with this airy fairy prophecy nonsense, I walked away from it all. 23 years now out of that false cult. (The personal prophecy one, not necessary the Pentecostal/charismatic one!). I am so happy I am a Baptist, and don't have to hear that stuff anymore.

Ugly also noted that he has grown more since he left the personal prophecy movement, and I will testify that I have too, in every way. I have grown in knowledge and theology and in character. Because I have depended upon God and the Bible, instead of any whacked out person who gets intrusive thoughts they need to push on anyone that will listen. Best thing I ever did, was leave those kind of churches!

 

[Jewel5712]

I totally agree with Ugly! The first 15 years of my Christian walk I was in Pentecostal/Charismatic churches. I saw all kinds of personal prophecies that never came to pass. One church I was in, it was an annual ritual to have people fast for 3 days, and then someone would pray a prophetic word over them. It was a total lie.

I believe that God speaks to US! Not someone else, to determine what he wants us to do. Then, if you need confirmation, God uses anything from the Bible, a sermon, a book, or sometimes another person, who probably is not giving a personal prophecy, but God is using to confirm what he has told you. God speaks to me all the time, on little matters and big matters. I just got so fed up with this airy fairy prophecy nonsense, I walked away from it all. 23 years now out of that false cult. (The personal prophecy one, not necessary the Pentecostal/charismatic one!). I am so happy I am a Baptist, and don't have to hear that stuff anymore.

Ugly also noted that he has grown more since he left the personal prophecy movement, and I will testify that I have too, in every way. I have grown in knowledge and theology and in character. Because I have depended upon God and the Bible, instead of any whacked out person who gets intrusive thoughts they need to push on anyone that will listen. Best thing I ever did, was leave those kind of churches!

But..sometimes WE dont listen to God and He might use other means to get our attention even f its through others..im not trying to bash denominations cause that has nithing to do with it..but if God is the same God yesterday today and tomorrow and the bible is filled with God inspired prophecy..why cant He do it in this day and age? If HES not changed..maybe people just arent willing to BELIEVE anymore?

 

[Lynx]

Angela do please try to not lump Pentecostals in with charismatics. Some Pentecostal churches are charismatic... and some Pentecostal churches are more Baptist, and I know some Baptist churches that are more like Pentecostal, but Pentecostal does not equate with charismatic.

For example I go to a Pentecostal church and they do not make a big deal about prophecies. God does still do that, but we don't make a big show of it. And until I started hanging around Christian internet forums I had never heard about Word of Knowledge stuff.

Mind you, I know some people and some churches who DO make a big show out of prophecy. And they spout a lot of prophecy that never comes true. But don't run down all of it just because some people make a sham of it. And PLEASE don't lump all us Pentecostals in with charismatics.

 

[Ugly]

Im y you had years of bad experiences but God can work in people of His choosing for whatever purpose and even perform "modern day mirickes"..again..if ANYTHING is of God..there will be decernment and confirmation but we cant put God in a box..God can heal the hurst caused by bad church experiemces too..

Lots of assumption, no facts, in your statement. I've been a Christian nearly 30 years. You're saying nothing I don't already know.
I have made my determination that group is false. The end. No healing needed. Is that so complicated that you can't understand and accept it and drop it? Do you need to continue pushing your view? Because I have already made my mind and it is a long standing and staunch viewpoint I made for very good reasons.
I've received the only healing I needed, to have those teaching replaced by right teaching. You Will Not change my mind.

 

[Jewel5712]

Lots of assumption, no facts, in your statement. I've been a Christian nearly 30 years. You're saying nothing I don't already know.
I have made my determination that group is false. The end. No healing needed. Is that so complicated that you can't understand and accept it and drop it? Do you need to continue pushing your view? Because I have already made my mind and it is a long standing and staunch viewpoint I made for very good reasons.
I've received the only healing I needed, to have those teaching replaced by right teaching. You Will Not change my mind.

Im not HERE to change your mind or sway you in any way..thats betwern you and God..bit i DO have proof..ive LIVED and seen things..ive experinced miracles my OWN life..heck..Jesus saving my from my sins..MIRACLE..how many others can you say that about...i just dont think theres an "expiration" time on a prophecy until your dead...

 

[Jewel5712]

Im y you had years of bad experiences but God can work in people of His choosing for whatever purpose and even perform "modern day mirickes"..again..if ANYTHING is of God..there will be decernment and confirmation but we cant put God in a box..God can heal the hurst caused by bad church experiemces too..

Hmmm..do you REALLY dusagree with this comment or just because im the one making it..? By your "thimbs doesn? Youre saying you dont belive in miracles..you dont believe God can heal peo people of thier past church hurts and DONT belive God can work through whomever He chooses for His purpose..REALLY??? Sad!

 

[seoulsearch]

Hey Everyone,

I must be going crazy because I've been through this thread 3 times over now and don't see the post where someone apparently questioned why I wrote a letter to the people who had given me a false "word of knowledge", so I am going to give an explanation without actually having read the post, so I'm sorry if this reply seems a little choppy.

The people who did this were very prominent elders in the church I attended at the time. Their ministry platform was healing, which they felt would lead to a revival in the church, such as in the book of Acts. They taught several healing classes in their home, and the husband went so far as to say that anyone who wasn't healing because they said they couldn't do it was calling God a liar (because he quoted the passage in which Jesus says we will do even greater things than Him while He was on the earth--John 14:12.)

At the time, I was young and trying not to be disrespectful, but thinking back, I should have mentioned the passage in which Jesus also said that John the Baptist had never performed a single miracle, but yet was the greatest of those born among women.

Because they believed their calling was healing, they also believed that their work was intertwined with the power to cast out demons, and were very strict about not having anything around that a demon could supposedly attach itself to.

Anyway, I had asked this couple, who were some of the most highly regarded members of our church, to come over and do a prayer cleansing on my house after my divorce. One of the things they saw as "having an evil spirit" behind it was a cross stitch picture of an angel holding a baby, along with a few others of angels and even part of a Nativity scene I was working on. I had spent countless hours on these projects in my youth and had many good memories of quiet evenings with my family while working on those pictures.

But they said it reminded them of the scene where Satan holds the demonic baby in "Passion of the Christ", and couldn't I see the evil behind it like they could? They implied that for me to keep it would be rebelling against God, and told me to also get rid of anything in the house with any kind of animal that has negative associations in the Bible, such as frogs (the 10 plagues), snakes (but yet, Moses put a snake on a bronze pole, and the people who looked at it LIVED), and any "creatures of the night", such as owls and bats (someone also pointed out to me, interestingly, that cats are nocturnal creatures as well.) According to this couple's beliefs, should all Christians be boycotting cats as well?

They even left the church I was at because they felt it was holding their ministry back and wanted more freedom to be able to reach more churches and more people--in their own way. Coincidentally, although they are some of the most loving people you will ever meet and came to the hospital when a relative of mine fell ill--the relative in my family whom they prayed for earnestly... passed away a few days later.

Years later, my conservative family (including one member who became a pastor himself) expressed a great sorrow that these people had insisted I throw out those needlework pictures I had worked so hard on when I was young. I was working on a collection by one particular artist, and had hoped to pass them down in my family.

Not only had these people insisted that I throw the pictures away, but they had me cut them up into tiny pieces so that "no one else could find them and take them home, along with the evil that was attached to them."

And so, the letter I wrote them was confronting them in that I thought they were wrong in making me feel as if I were rebelling against the Lord if I didn't follow their advice. I told them that I believed they were wrong to tell me to throw those pictures away, and also how much their insistence had hurt my spiritual walk. One of the side effects of their "ministry" was that it left me with years of questioning whether I could purchase or keep ANYTHING, because I might be making God angry if I happened to buy or keep anything He didn't like, such as something that had owls on it (which my mom happens to like, and so owls remind me of her.)

These people believed they were saving the world with their ministry--I felt it was important for someone to stand up and tell them that they were also doing a lot of damage to someone like me, and should perhaps reconsider some of their tactics.

They never answered, not even with a single word.

Today, I'm proud to say that I am the owner of not one, but two stuffed toy owls, one of "who" is aptly named "Hoot."

I didn't plan it that way, I just saw them in the store (at half-price!!!) and thought they were cute, and for the first time in a really long time, I didn't think about whether or not God would be mad at me if I bought them and (gulp) actually kept them in my home.

(So far, I don't think He is telling me to get rid of them.)

 

[seoulsearch]

Ah... I finally found the post originally telling me I was wrong to send these people a letter... Sorry I had missed it before.

Renewedhope--I do understand, and in other circumstances, I might agree. In fact, we might still disagree, and that's ok.

As I said, these people thoroughly believe that the ministry of healing is the ultimate way to bring people into the church. They just don't also seem to consider how much damage their insistence might be doing to others at the same time, and this is what I felt a need to confront them about.

For instance, we had another long-term, highly respected member in that church who was in a wheelchair, and someone pointed out that if everyone is to be doing healing works and was meant to be healed, what about this woman?

Their answer was that this woman was living a much longer time than what people with that particular ailment usually live (I guess they considered that as good as being healed.)

I never once heard them say anything about what a person should do or how to comfort someone who doesn't get healed in this lifetime--it was all about healing and hoping for healing and that Jesus most certainly could heal. They never talked about the fact that healing might not come until our next life.

One of the reasons I decided to write them a letter is because I was hoping that they might consider balancing out their ministry.

 

[renewed_hope]

Ah... I finally found the post originally telling me I was wrong to send these people a letter... Sorry I had missed it before.

Renewedhope--I do understand, and in other circumstances, I might agree. In fact, we might still disagree, and that's ok.

As I said, these people thoroughly believe that the ministry of healing is the ultimate way to bring people into the church. They just don't also seem to consider how much damage their insistence might be doing to others at the same time, and this is what I felt a need to confront them about.

For instance, we had another long-term, highly respected member in that church who was in a wheelchair, and someone pointed out that if everyone is to be doing healing works and was meant to be healed, what about this woman?

Their answer was that this woman was living a much longer time than what people with that particular ailment usually live (I guess they considered that as good as being healed.)

I never once heard them say anything about what a person should do or how to comfort someone who doesn't get healed in this lifetime--it was all about healing and hoping for healing and that Jesus most certainly could heal. They never talked about the fact that healing might not come until our next life.

One of the reasons I decided to write them a letter is because I was hoping that they might consider balancing out their ministry.

Kim, I still don't agree with you, but I am genuinely sorry you went through all of that. Many Christian's go through things like this and I don't think it makes one more significant than the rest. Prayer does wonderful things. When people hurt you it is generally best to pray that God blesses them and becomes a pillar in their life. The bible tells us you reap what you sow and if these people are doing things not of God it is ultimately up to God to even things out and to correct them and not our responsibility. My family is a good example. When I was young we were super close and did everything together. Then my cousins grew up and got involved with awful people and now they treat my parents and I like we have leprosy and every chance they get they bad mouth us. I used to think they would change until they tried destroying my relationship with my sister and now I pray for them. My sister still thinks they can change their ways, but the only way they will is if God gets a hold of them. Point is we can't have a mindset to change the way people do things because let's be honest, it's too exhausting and it's only God who can do that.

My sister was about 13 years old and went up for prayer at a church we were attending and the pastor told her she was demon possessed because she had a seizure disorder. The irony is the pastors wife had one too, but apparantly that was different. We left the church and prayed for them that God would take control and since that time they had a church split and threatened to sue the city in order to purchase some land to build a church. Trust me his way of making things right is much better than we could ever imagine

 

[melita916]

i've never been directly hurt by a congregation/individuals in a congregation. indirectly? yes. the best thing i could do is pray for God to examine my heart for whatever motivated me and to speak HIS truth, not my opinion, whenever i was addressed to give a comment.

something i believe we should remember. all of us are people and all of us will not get it right 100% of the time. ministers make mistakes. regular congregants make mistakes. everybody makes mistakes. some of it is genuinely unintentional. others do it on purpose. i know people view ministers/preachers with a higher standard, but we are still flesh and bones. hopefully, we will all be sensitive to the Holy Spirit when mistakes happens. hopefully, we all surrender our pride at His feet.

now an interesting story about prophetic word!

an older gentleman told us a story about a guest speaker preaching a service he was in attendance. the preacher told the man, "God said for you to give me your watch!" the man said, "no, He didn't." the preacher repeated, "God said to give me your watch!"

No. He didn't.

After the 3rd time, the man answered, "God didn't say for me to give you my watch because *rolls up his sleeve* i don't even have a watch!"

hehe.

as the Bible says, test errrthang!

 

[seoulsearch]

Well Renewed Hope, I am going to have to settle for being in disagreement with you on how I handled this particular situation in my own life.

Although there are times when one should sit back and do nothing but pray, God also doesn't say this is the only thing we are to do every time. There can be a time and a place for confronting people as well. Not long after I sent that letter, another pastor said something to me that I believe to this day was a confirmation that I was supposed to say something to them.

In some cases, I believe God wants us to confront people because it's the more difficult thing to do. The entire church was basically endorsing what these people were doing and telling them how wonderful their ministry was; I'm generally not one who will just go along with the crowd just because everyone else is afraid of stirring up trouble or being seen as the bad guy.

When people believe or try to say negative things about me, I figure... God will pull in the people I'm actually meant to be around, and hopefully they'll get to know me and decide for themselves.

I'm sorry about the situation with your sister, and I'm glad that the way your family chose to handle it worked out for you, but that doesn't mean that just praying (which is something I do whenever I receive their newsletter) is all that one is meant to do in every case.

Each situation is different, and I believe God gives us all the wisdom of how to handle our individual circumstances within our own individual personalities. I know you're a bit more submissive in some situations than I am, and it's wonderful that God made you that way and that you follow where He leads you.

But God made me the way I am for a reason as well, and I chose to not just sit back and let them think what they did was acceptable, or worse yet, somehow a blessing.

And, if for some reason I did something wrong, I'm sure God will make sure He deals with me over it. This is why, to this day, when I have a disagreement with someone, I tell them to just pray about it and ask God to correct me if they feel I did something wrong, which is what I invite you to do as well.

My conscience over the matter is clear. If God thinks otherwise, you are more than welcome to tell Him what you think I need correcting over because in the end, He will decide what's best.

One of the best prayers I have ever found to pray for (whether for myself or for others) is to have a clean conscience in all areas of life (because God won't just give us one--we have to work with him to clear out the junk in our lives in order to get there), and I will pray for that for you as well.

 

[Lynx]

renewed_hope I am reminded of an old saying an ancestor of mine had. "Everybody has his own row to hoe." Although nobody works in the field with a hoe anymore, so we might change it to "Everybody has his own road to drive."

Now while your road may look similar to somebody else's, and while you might drive a car that looks a lot like somebody else's, you don't know anything about the other person's trip. The other person may have some pot holes in the road that you don't have to drive around. Or you may have a faulty transmission, but you think it is normal because you don't know any other kind of car.

Now if you offer ADVICE to somebody else, that's all fine and well and good. We're all trying to get to the same place and advice can be useful. But if you tell somebody "You have to do it this way" you really need to bring Bible chapter and verse on the matter, because otherwise you are turning your opinions into rules when you have no clue about more than half the circumstances around somebody else's actions.

Also I recommend you be very certain that you know the chapter and verse you are using... because we know the Bible too, and if you rip a verse out of context we WILL call you on it.

 

[Lynx]

I never said prophecy never has happened. I do not believe in modern prophets. You can talk all you want but I spent years in that camp and it was quite bad. There was a notable improvement in my spiritual life once I decided to leave it. I'm never going back. The end.

Yeah I know what you mean. I grew up with a fast food place right beside where we live, so I have a lot of experience with crappy burgers. I have decided there is no such thing as a good restaurant hamburger. I've tried burgers multiple times from that fast food place and even tried a couple from other fast food places and I have always been disappointed.

Of course I've heard rumors that there are some restaurants that are not fast food joints, where they serve REAL hamburgers. I don't believe it. I've tried enough that I'm through with it. I'm convinced all restaurant hamburgers are phony junk.

 

[Jewel5712]

Yeah I know what you mean. I grew up with a fast food place right beside where we live, so I have a lot of experience with crappy burgers. I have decided there is no such thing as a good restaurant hamburger. I've tried burgers multiple times from that fast food place and even tried a couple from other fast food places and I have always been disappointed.

Of course I've heard rumors that there are some restaurants that are not fast food joints, where they serve REAL hamburgers. I don't believe it. I've tried enough that I'm through with it. I'm convinced all restaurant hamburgers are phony junk.

Lol..THANK you..✔