"A Contingency Clause?"
Mary Koons
Oct. 28, 2001
con·tin·gent-contingency - (k.n-t¹n"j.nt)
DEFINED AS: adj. 1. Liable to occur but not with certainty; possible. 2. Dependent on conditions or occurrences not yet established; conditional: arms sales contingent on the approval of Congress. See Synonyms at dependent. 3. Happening by chance or accident; fortuitous. See Synonyms at accidental. 4. Logic. True only under certain conditions; not necessarily or universally true: a contingent proposition.
con·tin·gent noun. 1. An event or condition that is likely but not inevitable. 2. A share or quota, as of troops, contributed to a general effort. 3. A representative group forming part of an assemblage. [Middle English, from Latin contingns, contingent-, present participle of contingere, to touch. See CONTACT.] --con·tin"gent·ly adv.
A lot has been said and written recently in regards to prophecy, ergo that "all prophecy is contingent upon the actions/conditions/occurrences of the individual(s) that said prophecy was given to." Having been on the "prophetic receiving end" of prophecies that did not take place and having personal experience with the disillusionment, hurt and pain that such prophecies can cause, has led me to make a "WORD" study of this subject.
In the Old Testament we are told that any prophet who delivered a prophecy that did not come to pass had spoken presumptuously and should be put to death. (Deuteronomy 18: 20-22) New Testament believers are under the blood of Christ and therefore we are not held to this standard; BUT we ARE held to the standard of fruit(s):
Therefore you will fully know them (false prophets) by their fruits. (Matthew 7:20)
The Lord tells us in this passage of scripture that a good healthy tree will bear good fruit - worthy of admiration, but that a sickly decaying and worthless tree will bear bad and worthless fruit. So, we need to be aware that while anyone can prophesy and all should desire to prophesy, not all prophecy in the church age can be taken to be from God. Paul tells us to "weigh and discern" the prophetic word.
So, let two or three prophets speak - those inspired to preach or teach - while the rest pay attention and weigh and discern what is said. (1 Corinthians 14:29)
Paul also makes it clear that we should examine ourselves: Examine and test and evaluate your own selves, to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves, [not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know (thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience) that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected! (2 Corinthians 13:5)
In Psalm 26:2, David cries out to the Lord to be "examined." Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; test my heart and my mind.
David's cry should be echoed by all believers, but ESPECIALLY by those who prophesy to an individual or the Body. The statement that "ALL" prophecy is contingent upon the person that was prophesied too can clearly lead to a lack of responsibility by the person who uttered the prophecy. But we are to examine ourselves AND our fruits.. If we have uttered a "Thus Sayeth the Lord" prophecy that did not come to pass but excuse ourselves by telling the individual to whom that prophecy was given that it was "contingent" upon
THEIR ACTIONS - HOW have we examined OURSELVES? Have we not in reality -
merely effectively shifted the blame to an already confused brother or sister? The standard of accountability in prophecy is essential in this day and hour in which we live. To NOT do so - to NOT examine ourselves, and the prophecies of others and our/their fruit(s) - is non-scriptural and leads to the spirit of error.
Beloved, do not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world. (1 John 4:1)
We are [children] of God. Whoever is learning to know God - progressively to perceive, recognize and understand God [by observation and experience] and to get an ever clearer knowledge of Him - listens to us; and he who is not of God does not listen or pay attention to us. By this we know (recognize) the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:6)
It is important to note that 1 John, Chapter 4 is distinctly discussing "false prophets" and the spirit of anti-christ. A "false prophet" as in the context of this statement by John will not therefore "be progressively perceiving and understanding God," NOR will he be maturing - receiving an ever clearer knowledge of God - in his faith.
Throughout the Old and New Testament we find numerous teachings and warnings in regards to a "false prophet." From these passages we learn a "false prophet" will:
1) teach doctrine contrary to the word of God (Isaiah 8:20, Jeremiah 23:17)
2) be persuaded to be disobedient to the word of the Lord (1 Kings, Chapter 13)
3) have people trust in a lie (Jeremiah 28:15)
4) prophesy in the name of the Lord, but be unwilling himself to submit to the will
of the Father (Matthew 7:21-23)
5) subtly and stealthily introduce heretical doctrines (2 Peter, Chapter 2)
6) arise by deception and lead many into error (Matthew 24:11)
7) come as a sheep [i.e., a Christian], but is instead a devouring [consuming] wolf
(Matthew 7:15)
8) whitewash God's truth - seeing false visions and divine lies (Ezekiel 22:28)
The Word is FULL of information about "false prophecy" and "false prophets." With the increasing tensions of the current world situation, more and more individuals are seeking and searching for a TRUE WORD from God, and seeking to gain knowledge of the "end times." The Bible Peshitta (Aramaic) translation of Daniel 12:4 tells us would be the case.
But you, O Daniel, seal these words and be silent, and seal this book even to the time of the end; many shall want to know the end, and knowledge shall be increased.
There is nothing wrong in seeking knowledge certainly, nor in seeking a "prophetic word." However, even well established prophets have been known to "miss it" on occasion. Does this make such an individual a "false prophet?" CERTAINLY NOT! If - on the other hand - the fruit(s) of such an individual is consistently IN error - than a "spirit of error" HAS replaced the "Spirit of Truth." Should such an individual continue to prophesy under these circumstances OR begin to "examine themselves" as to the reason? If a prophet uses the excuse that the prophecy given to any individual was "contingent" upon THAT persons actions, certain condition(s), or an event/occurrence, WHERE is the accountability of the "prophesied word?" FAR too often, an inaccurate or incorrect prophecy brings further burdens and confusion to the person prophesied to!
1 Corinthians 14:33 tells us: For He [Who is the source of their prophesying] is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order.
A true word from the Lord should ALWAYS bring an inner witness, peace and rest to the person prophesied too, and if these fruits are not in evidence, than a self-examination by the person who has given the prophetic word should not only be "called for" but required! It is true that on occasion a prophet will be given a "corrective or word of exhortation;" however, even in those cases there should be an inner witness that it IS the Lord speaking, and that TRUTH HAS SPOKEN. For a prophet to "NEVER" admit to an error means that this "prophet" has achieved perfection in THIS lifetime, something no one other than Christ has ever achieved in the history of mankind.
Therefore, what SHOULD we look for when examining our own prophetic words or
in evaluating prophetic words from others? First of all we need to examine what fruit(s) are in evidence over a period of time. Remember Jesus told us that only a "good healthy tree" will bear "good fruit." A tree does not mature overnight, and neither does a prophet. Just as in the growth of a tree, our "growing in faith" will be determined by the growing conditions that surround us. MATURITY IS REQUIRED FOR A TREE TO BRING FORTH GOOD FRUIT and maturity is required in the prophetic to bring forth the same!
There are many reasons why someone might have a genuine prophetic word from the
Lord and choose not to give it, but as a rule, the maturity of the prophet will act as a barometer in determining whether or not the situation is "right" for the delivery and receptivity of the word. Immature trees can not bear fruit worth eating - and neither will an immature prophet. It is essential that we recognize this basic truth and are willing to admit to those occasions when our own immaturity has led us to speak out of turn or
incorrectly. Learn from those times! Be prepared both in season and out but also be willing to admit when you spoke OUT of season.
Next, we need to examine if what we feel we are hearing is coming from the Holy Spirit, OR from the "soulish realm." This area, unfortunately, is much more difficult to discern and even the most accurate of prophets will occasionally wander into this "pitfall," generally because they are wanting to offer hope to an individual who is in pain and needing comfort. However, when these "feel good prophecies" fail to materialize over a period of time, that individual will end up experiencing disillusionment, discouragement,
and hopelessness to an even greater degree. Another origination point of "soulish prophecies," is that the person prophesying attempts to give a "word from the Lord," but instead has reached into their past and speaks from their own experiences, past emotional hurts and/or relationships.
Or, the prophetic individual will attempt to "psychoanalyze" a situation using the body language or verbal clues exhibited by the person they are prophesying too. "Soulish realm" prophecies are probably the MOST prevalent reason today for "false or inaccurate" prophetic words. It is a "shadowy" area that can reek havoc not only in "personal prophecy" but also in "corporate prophecies." It is by far the most difficult to correctly distinguish because the sincerity of the prophet speaking is clearly evident, but the Peshitta (Aramaic) translation tells us in James 1:17:
Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness nor shadow of change.
and again, in Hebrews 13:8 we read:
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.
Therefore, we must realize and clearly acknowledge that "soulish realm" prophecies can not have their origination point from God. To claim otherwise is non-scriptural. It is only by the "inner witness" from the Holy Spirit, God given discernment and alot of prayer that "soulish realm" prophecies can clearly be shown for what they are.
Finally, was the prophecy GIVEN as being one with a "contingency clause" attached? For example, did the prophetic word state CLEARLY, "IF you harken to the voice of the Lord your God?" Such a prophecy has clearly stated an "action, condition or occurrence" to transpire BEFORE the prophetic word can come to fruitation. Obviously, if an individual is responsible for an action, condition or occurrence to be met and they fail to comply with meeting it, they have no reason nor basis to call the prophet or prophetic word itself into question.
It is my sincere prayer that this brief study has helped to clarify and address the issue of "contingency clause" prophecies. May we all genuinely seek to sit and listen at HIS FEET and not be so moved by the circumstances around us to utter a "word" that we might later come to regret.
Love in Christ,
Mary (Koons) Wattenford
