BETWEEN AUTHORITY AND POWER: T.B.

JOSHUA AND HIS PROPHETIC MINISTRY

Sunday Patrick & Ezekiel Fajenyo Prophecy is the voice of God ministered through His prophets. It is not a colourful expression of spirituality but truth. In fact, it is the undisguised voice of God which cannot be contested. It is pure, and therefore, sure. Conceptually too, it is the voice of the future with a strong anchorage on the past and the present; it is the source of salvation of the human soul. It is expected to be declared by the anointed man of God. Surely, it is the anointed voice of God projected through anointed men of God. It is of course, the exploration of the unknown for edification and human understanding. And since it is pure and therefore, sure, it cannot be ministered by or go through the polluted minds. Prophecy could be delivered either physically or through dreams. But both have strong spiritual undertones. This implies that angels could be sent either through prophets or through the physical. The latter was exemplified by Micaiah who, when asked by the king of Israel in the presence of the King of Judah, Jehoshaphat, Shall we go to war in Ramoth Gilead or should I not go, (2 Chronicles 18:16) said, I saw all Israelites scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. He was ordered by the king of Israel, who became furious, to be put in prison until he returned safely from the war (2 Chronicles 18:25). Then Micaiah told him, If you ever return from the war, then the LORD has not spoken through me. The prophecy of Micaiah came to pass as the King of Israel and the King of Judah were defeated but the former died in the battle. Micaiah did not prophesy smooth things but that which he himself lived to see accomplished. As a genuine prophet, God put His Word in his mouth and it became pure and, therefore, sure. This also attested to the fact that the Word of God is more sure and lasting than Heaven and earth. Some of the peculiarities of a genuine prophet include: 1. Consistency of vision 2. Deep passion for Christ 3. Ability for Scriptural understanding and edification 4. Projection of truths through the voice of God 5. Fearlessness 6. Non-materialistic 7. Anointed representation of God among men 8. Effective use of anointed tools for deliverance and healing 9. Un-mindfulness of human threats and danger to their lives 10. Persistent misrepresentation 11. Humility 12. Sensitivity 13. Humanitarianism 14. Interpretation of human situations at any point in time 15. Deeply faithful 16. Obedience to Gods commandments Consistency Of Vision:

A genuine prophet is noted for the consistency of his visions. This implies that what he says at any given point in time always comes to pass. In other words, what he prophesies is spoken through him by God. The case of Micaiah is quite informative. The Scripture is replete with other instances attesting to the prophetic consistency given by the prophets of old. The Bible says in Acts 9 that God spoke through Ananiah, Confirming that Paul is a chosen instrument to take my message to the nations and before kings as well as the King of Israel, and I will show him how much he must suffer for Me. These were fulfilled. He was the greatest apostle and the Prophet of the LORD (Acts 9:15-16). IN fact, Pauls actions and activities were in conformity with the vision. Paul talked extensively on many things he preached and was quite consistent. He gave deep insight into issues such as Gods love, the Holy Spirit, forgiveness of sins, blessings of God, victory and good news to both the Jews and the Gentiles. He also talked about salvation broadly; and his messages were really consistent throughout. Also quite admirable were his views on Christ as the Saviour. As his visions were deeply consistent, so also were his teachings and sermons throughout his days. Deep Passion For Christ: All the biblical prophets had a deep passion for the things of God Elisha, Elijah, Peter, Paul etc. Paul said, Christ Himself is our way of peace (Ephesians 2:14) and I will always honour Christ, whether I live or die (Philippians 1:20). Ability For Scriptural Understanding And Edification: This was a great attribute of the prophets. They had on different occasions, particularly during their teachings, displayed deep mastery of the Scripture. Isaiah, the great prophet had, for instance, said, The Lord your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, says, I am the LORD your God who punishes you for your own good and leads you along the paths that you should follow. (Isaiah 48:17) HE had also said, The Lord, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, says to the one who is despised, rejected by mankind and kept beneath the heels of earthly rulers: Kings shall stand by; princes shall bow low because the LORD has chosen you; He is the faithful Lord; the Holy One of Israel chooses you. Projection Of Truths Through The Voice Of God: This is another fundamental attribute of the genuine prophet of God. Elijah provided a very good example. A prophet from Thisba in Gilead, Elijah told King Ahab: As surely as the LORD God of Israel lives the God whom I worship and serve there wont be any dew or rain for several years until I say the word. While discussing with Elijah, the widow of Zarapheth, whose son died and was raised up by him after massive prayers upstairs said, Now, I know for sure that you are a prophet and that whatever you say is from the LORD. (1 Kings 17:24) Fearlessness: A true prophet of God does not give a fig about the presence of or the terror of the night. He is courageous, bold and fearless. Elijah also provides a good example of such a prophet. He told Obadiah when Ahab wanted to kill him, I swear by the Lord God of the armies of Heaven, in whose presence I stand, that I will present myself to Ahab today. (1 Kings 18:15)

He killed 850 Baal Prophets on Mount Camel and had the effrontery to tell Ahab to go and enjoy a good meal. These are instances of display of bravery or put clearly, fearlessness. When Paul and Silas were in prison in Greece, they were singing songs instead of lamenting. An angel of the LORD appeared to them in the night, opened the gate of the prison and they went out free. Non-Materialism None of the prophets of old was materialistic. They all displayed greater commitment to Christ. They moved from one territory to the other, preaching and teaching the Gospel. Paul, for example, was said to have been fed by the church. There was even a time God commanded ravens to feed Elijah. Peter also had nothing. He even abandoned his fish net and followed Christ. They were all daring; they dared kings and soldiers. They didnt betray Gods call. A lot of people were also following them. They won many souls for Christ. They were very prayerful and kept teaching about solidarity among Christians. Paul, for example, is the greatest example of solidarity. They all had faith in Christ. Anointed Representatives Of God Among Men: All the prophets were anointed by God. For instance, God told Paul, My Grace is sufficient for you. Effective Use Of Anointed Tools For Deliverance And Healings: Most of them were noted for using anointed tools such as sticks, rods, water etc. For example, Moses used sticks; Paul used a mantle. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, the guiding Spirit. Un-mindfulness Of Human Threats And Danger To Their Lives: This attribute is strongly tied to bravery or fearlessness, discussed earlier in this piece. Persistent Misrepresentation: This is also tied to hatred and persistent threats. Most of them were attacked and severely reprimanded. Paul, Moses, Elijah etc. had on several occasions been molested and physically manhandled. Humility: This is one of the greatest virtues of a true prophet. The Bible says in Matthew 18:3 Jesus told them, Unless you turn to God from your sins and become as little as children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. In Matthew 18:10, Jesus also said, Beware that you dont look down upon a single one of these little children. For I tell you that in Heaven, their angels have constant access to my Father. Sensitivity: Sensitivity keeps one away from the temptation of perpetuating selfishness. It is a great virtue endowed in a true prophet of God. It is nourishes the soul of a prophet endowed with unlimited authority and power (Matthew 18:18). Humanitarianism: True prophets are humane and noted for helping fellow humans. They cherish acts of giving, particularly to the poor, the orphans, widows etc. The persistent engagement of the prophets in acts of healing could also be viewed as a form of humanitarian activity.

Interpretation Of Human Situations At Any Point In Time: A true prophet, often under anointing, does this without difficulty. For example, Elijah told the Baal Prophets that, If you dont understand God, you are perished. Deeply Faithful: This is one of the mostly visible attributes of a true prophet. Fulfilment Of Gods Commandments: This is also linked with being deeply faithful. For the commandments to be obeyed, faithfulness must be seen in a true prophet of God. The two attributes, therefore, go together. No doubt, genuine prophets are metaphorically seen as the soul of God. They are noted for their unique power of Scriptural delivery and depth. They are deep in knowing and seeing more than ordinary beings and most of their expressions are symbolic; they speak in parables or put simply, are parabolic in expressions. They therefore, imitate Jesus who is the master of the use of parables. They are very few in the world today. THE MODERN DAY PROPHETS AND THEIR ATTRIBUTES Most of the modern day prophets are noted for prophesying smooth things which do not really come from the domain of the Holy Spirit. They are often stated to satisfy the whims and caprices of the people, particularly the leaders. They (prophets) play the role of yesmen and yes-women because they would not want to lose their relationship with them and the opportunities derived from such relationship. They therefore cry, Peace be unto you; victory be to you; all is well; unlimited favour and prophesying nothing. Their case is like the 400 prophets who prophesied victory for the King of Israel, Ahab, but was later killed in the battle. Most modern day prophets lack authority, power and legitimacy. They are mostly prophets or pastors by profession but not by heart. They are good at teaching and preaching the Gospel; yet, they hardly put into practice what they preach and teach. They are mostly ruled by things of the world the mundane things that do not last. Allan More refers to them as the burden of the faithfuls. They are expressively materialistic and do not care a hoot about the degenerating conditions of the fellow men, particularly the mammoth crowd who troop to their churches on a regular basis to seek false prophecies and boggy deliverances. Worse still, they use clandestine means to further impoverish their members. The known means include unjust demand for several church dues and fees. That explains why they can easily order for new jets which they use to trot the globe in what Dr Akinwale calls fake evangelical missions. They lack virtually all the known attributes of a prophet and use evil powers to unleash terror on those who are critical of and antagonistic to their ungodly disposition. Most of them are blind people to Bible truths (2 Corinthians 4:4) and use wicked spirits to mislead men and women. In fact, they are almost always under the influence of the demons. Such fascinate them. So, they become involved with voodooism, hypnotism, magic, witchcraft, astrology or other things connected with evil spirits. But all these are unwise for people who truly want to serve the true God. It is really dangerous and has

been causing serious troubles for most of them. In Revelation 22:15, it is written, God will judge and cast away from him all practitioners of these unholy things. Apostle Paul said, We have a wrestling against the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places. This implies that the true man of God must take up the complete suit of armour from God, that he may be able to resist the devil. (Ephesians 6:11-13) The Bible also says, There should not be found in you anyone who employs divination, a practitioner of magic or a sorcerer, or one who binds other with a spell or anyone who consults a medium or a professional foreteller or anyone who inquires of the dead. For everybody doing these things is something detestable to God. (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). Despite this warning, they (false prophets) keep swelling in number, making mockery of Christendom, and often misrepresenting the genuine men of God, who according to Prophet T.B. Joshua, strongly hold that, the Word of Christ shall remain and be a full force, power and virtue. JOSHUA: THE FOOTPRINTS OF A TRUE PROPHET Aside from his simplicity, downright-forthrightness, openness, humility and giving-spirit, clearly visible in the way he relates with the people from all walks of life, particularly the members of The SCOAN which he founded, the Prophet possesses other Godly attributes in double combinations. His faith in Jesus Christ and His promises are so strong and expressed in the unique way he adorned the churchs exterior view with His statue and those of His disciples. Christ, he says, is the rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him! He believes strongly in His counsels and understands matters fully. More than his faith, the prophet has always demonstrated what his true feelings about Christ are, moves to make changes to bring his life course into harmony with Christs will. And today, he lives up to his dedication to Christ which proves that he is a man of his word by sticking to the decisions and the dedication. Since he keeps close to Gods visible organisations, he has continued to help fellow Christians, particularly The SCOAN members by giving them loving encouragement and support to also serve God. He does not only preach and teach the scripture but practicalises them. This differentiates him from other prophets who relish on things of the flesh and lack the power to perform wonders in the lives of men. He also believes strongly in giving, or put succinctly, helping fellow human beings, most of whom live in deplorable conditions. They include widows, widowers, physically challenged, orphans, youths, etc. He also changes the misfortune of armed robbers, prostitutes and cultists; gives scholarships to many students who cannot afford to pay their school fees. His assistance to many communities in Nigeria has always been commended and appreciated. He also extends the gesture to the needies in some countries around the world. They include the elderly in Russia, the most poverty-stricken youths who live in graveyards in Indonesia, the children in Pakistan, the elderly and physically challenged in Ghana, among others. He spends millions of naira in procuring rice and other grains which are distributed to the elderly, blind, deaf, dwarf, etc across the country. He is, today, regarded as one of the greatest philanthropists in the world. The accuracy of his prophecies marvels the world. Till date, no prophet has been able to accurately prophesy events in the world the way he has been doing. In fact, more than 1000 of his prophecies have been accurately predicted a glaring indication of his being called.

His power of deliverance and healing, through the Holy Spirit, is also worthy of note: most of the people who were possessed by demons (including the so-called prophets, evangelists, pastors, etc) have always been delivered in The SCOAN. Deadly diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, asthma, diabetes, etc are always healed by the Prophet through the power of the Holy Spirit. He has, therefore, continued to give new life to the sufferers of these diseases. The questions that loom large are why are other prophets unable to do the same? Why is it difficult for them to assist humanity, considering the fact that Christ preaches love which is also seen in the act of giving? Why do they call names what they do not understand and destroy that which they understand? Whatever their responses, the fact still remains that T.B. Joshua is a real man of God. Fajenyo & Patrick are authors, media consultants and Fellows of the Social Engineering Research Initative (SERI).