A recent article from an IHOP member again displays how poorly they are taught, this time specifically about prophecy.

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For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." -- Genesis 3: 5 (ESV)

https://www.charismamag.com/life/women/33468-what-elijah-and-jonah-can-teach-us-about-growing-in-the-prophetic-and-prayer

The International House of Prayer was founded by the false prophet Mike Bickle several decades ago. Bickle appeals to youth all over the country with his mish-mosh of poor theology, Eastern Mysticism, and warped eschatology. Bickle, an NAR forerunner, openly supports the dominionist agenda of the seven mountains mandate that teaches kids we must take over the earth to facilitate the second coming of Christ. He teaches young Christian women the heretical Bridal Paradigm, which over sexualizes Jesus. This can easily be spotted by listening to the music of his top worship leader Misty Edwards. He teaches Joel's End Time Army, false signs and lying wonders and a bevy of mystical practices such as soaking prayer, chanting, and mantras. As with Bethel, IHOP is steeped in an exceptionally poor understanding of prophecy and the above link is to a recent article by an IHOP NightWatch participant, proving just that. So let us review the musings of Fia Curley and her new article entitled, "What Elijah and Jonah Can Teach Us About Growing in the Prophetic and Prayer."

'"Many times in life, the right words can be hard to find. In troubling situations when parents have lost children, in trying seasons when dreams have died, when questions seem to outnumber answers, disappointment, uncertainty and discouragement await their opportunity to pounce like predators stalking their prey. In times such as these, a timely word of encouragement can make a difference, especially when that word comes from our heavenly Father. "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver"' (Prov. 25:11). -- Fia Curley

Ms. Curley is 100% correct that an encouraging word, especially from God, can make a world of difference during trying times. It is a good time to remember that He will never leave you nor forsake you. That He will be with you even until the end of the age. That He has overcome this world. What do all of these encouraging words from God have in common beloved? They are all found in the Bible. The final revealed will of God. Divinely inspired. 100 percent accurate. Infallible. Never changing with the times or culture. Reliable. Trustworthy. The problem is that Fia Curley is not talking about the Bible. She is talking about "prophetic words" She is talking as all of the false prophets do today. Fresh downloads from the Lord. As if He has forgotten to tell us something in the Bible and now He is choosing to use Fia Curley to let His people know. Of course unlike the Old Testament model where God audibly spoke to His prophets those who pretend to be prophets today try to feel what the Lord is saying. They end up relying upon their hearts, which we know are wickedly deceitful, and then lay the blame for the word at the feet of God.

"There's something that happens when God speaks to His children. We see the tangible change in Elijah after he flees the wrath of Jezebel, or Moses after he's led the Israelites out of Egypt or even Jonah as he sits dejected after having successfully accomplished the task God has given him. These moments bring clarity, breakthrough, peace, hope and restoration." -- Fia Curley

After the Lord deals with the complaining of Elijah regarding Jezebel, we hardly see clarity, breakthrough, peace, hope, or restoration. In fact we see the end of the ministry of Elijah. One of the instructions Elijah receives is to anoint Elisha to replace him. Moses was constantly frustrated with the grumbling of the people after being delivered from Israel and at one point has to intercede for them so God will not annihilate them. I guess that might be considered clarity but that is not the point Curley is trying to make here. The reference to Jonah makes even less sense. He was angry when the Lord spared Nineveh. He was angrier when the plant was destroyed by the worm. So angry he wanted to die. The chapter and book closes with God explaining and essentially rebuking Jonah as to why He was compassionate. The text gives no indication of any effect of this upon Jonah. This is what happens however when you have no respect for the Word of God. You can read into it whatever accomplishes your pre-formed bias instead of truly wanting to hear what God has to say.

"We often long for God's messages to come to us during troubling times. However, we don't always expect them to come from those around us. The Lord has words He desires to speak to His followers today. In the midst of temptation, turmoil, brokenness and despondency, He has the words of life. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand (Ps. 139:17-18). God has put His thoughts in Scripture and in the mouths of His servants. As believers engage in prayer and the gift of prophecy, words of encouragement from the Father begin to flow. In His mercy and wisdom, God has equipped us with all we need to carry out His plan. He has given His body the ability to access His gifts to build each other up and help one another mature. As just one of the many spiritual gifts, prophecy is still to be utilized today to lead us into fullness." -- Fia Curley

The Lord does desire to speak to His people and those words are found in the Bible. Is the inerrant Word of God somehow incomplete? Is there some area or subject God neglected to cover? The answers to our turmoil, temptation, brokenness and despondency are in the Word! We do not need someone who thinks they might be hearing from God when we have God Himself! If the words in the mouths of His servants cannot be found in the Bible then they are not from the Lord.

"While some may think of prophecy as predicting the future, the Bible defines prophecy simply as the testimony of Jesus (Rev. 19:10). And its purpose is for the edification, strengthening and encouragement of the body." -- Fia Curley

Just two important points here. First of all, encouragement, strengthening and edification are not reflexively sugar coated. False prophets use this concept from 1Corintihians 14 to claim that prophecy is never "negative" and that is simply an example of bad hermeneutics. Rebuke and correction can be just as edifying as puppies and pancakes beloved. The only thing that matters is if the word is actually from God or not. Secondly, how sad is it when you can see God trying to speak to Fia Curley and she cannot see it? Here is the verse she references:

Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God." For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. -- Revelation 19: 10 (ESV)

What is the spirit of prophecy beloved? The testimony of Jesus. The Gospel. Period. It is not something in addition to the testimony of Jesus. It is not trying to hear some still small voice or allowing your heart to convince your mouth that God is speaking. Curley would continue:

"Amanda Frye, a full-time IHOPKC intercessory missionary, finds that simplifying the basics of prophecy has helped people she's trained distinguish between what it is and is not. She describes it as a process of "asking the Lord, hearing His answer and sharing it in a way that comforts, encourages and edifies." "The simple gift of prophecy is for everyone," Amanda says. "We know it's our inheritance--His sheep hear His voice." -- Fia Curley

Huh? The gift of prophecy, and there is no such thing as a "simple gift of prophecy", is most assuredly NOT for everyone. This is the same heresy we see taught at Bethel by Bill Johnson and throughout the NAR. The Bible cannot be clearer however. It says that the gifts are given out as the Spirit wills, not Amanda Frye or Fia Curley. What they are doing by teaching this is teaching the usurpation of God. The reference to John 10 is equally misleading. Yes His sheep hear His voice but Jesus said this to the Pharisees as a point of having faith in Him as the Son of God -- not to confirm some new realm of prophecy with the church. We should also think of this in relation to the Word. Those who are not saved will not understand the Bible spiritually because they cannot hear His voice within them; yet we can. Curley continues:

""Sometimes we think of prophecy as really big and complicated or scary or weighty when we really need to simplify it--it's for all of us, and all of us can do it." While some may feel pressure when it comes to prophesying over others, Amanda says she often tries to relieve people of the weightiness that they associate with prophecy, by shifting their focus. "I think we feel so much pressure to give the biggest and best, most amazing prophetic word that changes people's life and changes their destiny forever, and in my experience, it's often the weakest, simplest word that is the key to someone's heart," Amanda says.' -- Fia Curley

Here we come to the complete irreverence this crowd has for the Word of Almighty God. Prophecy is speaking on behalf of the Creator of the Universe and Fia Curley has been taught that it is not weighty, scary, or complicated. Really? I know it sounds so sacrificially pious to say that even the smallest word can change someone's life but the underlying premise is an affront to God. There is a reason why false prophets in the Old Testament were stoned to death! Why are you feeling any pressure at all if you truly heard from God? The answer is because they do not know if they have heard from God! Curley proves this point next:

'"Accuracy is great; it's the cherry on top of the sundae, but love is the ice cream. If someone leaves a prophecy session feeling loved, then we were successful." To help increase prophetic accuracy, Amanda stresses the relationship between prophecy and prayer.' -- Fia Curley

Arrrgghhh are you kidding me??? This is what is being taught today to our church kids beloved if you wonder why they are so off track. Accuracy is great but only the cherry on top of the love sundae? So as long as you lied with love it is ok? As long as you misrepresented God with love, it's ok? So you tell someone God said that their mom will be healed and when she dies the next week it is ok because they felt love when you lied on behalf of God? Please realize the way I am describing it is true. This is not about "accuracy" beloved. When someone claims a prophetic word they are claiming to speak on behalf of God. That should scare you. That should feel weighty in your mouth. Curley continues:

'"We have to have a deep well in the place of prayer in order to prophesy. One of the things I love about prophecy is it makes me hungry for more of the Word. Of course the Lord can always come in a wave and allow us to give something we don't have, but most of the time, we're going to give out of the well that we have."' -- Fia Curley

Spiritual gobbledygook. Prayer is important in all areas of a Christian's life but if prophecy truly made her hungry for the Word then she would realize she is a false prophetess. The Word should not be the afterthought of prophecy beloved but rather the source. What Curley and Frye are supporting here is the notion that you can listen to your wickedly deceitful heart and then speak that word as if God said it and that should then push you into the Word. Perhaps if you were hungry for the Word itself, then He would give you His words instead of relying upon your feelings.

"As Scripture is read, sparking a dialogue, we are tuned into what the Lord is saying, not just about our personal prayer lists, but those around us. He cultivates hearts to partner with Him for the lives and destinies of those He's placed around us and speak words to hearts that are weary, that they may receive life." -- Fia Curley

Yeah and blue sleeps faster than Tuesday. What does that mean? As much as what Fia just said, which is nothing. The apologetics radio program known as Fighting for the Faith came up with this neat little sentence. It is correctly constructed. It has a subject a noun and a verb. It is grammatically correct but it literally means nothing. There is zero evidence in the Bible that God is cultivating hearts to partner with Him for the lives and destinies of people He has placed around us. This is straight out of NAR and the purpose driven church model. That we all have a dream destiny thingy and grand purpose. What is worse here is the minimization of the Word of God. It is only used to "spark the dialogue"; which is a mystical way of saying they use it to then hear their feelings better regarding something God will be saying above His Word! How absurd. Mercifully, she concludes:

'"It makes [you] hungry to know the Lord more when you start seeing the Lord working and talking to you," Amanda says. "It makes you hungry for more of it. And really, prayer is talking to the Lord, listening to the Lord, and then prophecy is taking the next step to speak out what you hear to people. So they're very connected, and you can't separate them."' -- Fia Curley

No, no, 1000 times no. That is supported nowhere in the Bible. Now I am sure that our flesh would love this. Pretending to speak on behalf of the Lord. I am sure it would want to continue to do it. The notion however that prophecy is the next step of prayer is unbiblical and only created within the wicked hearts of those who prophesy falsely. It removes the Holy Spirit from the equation. He gives the gifts as He wills. The sin of Lucifer was to ascend to the throne of the Most High and he was cast out of heaven for it. Later he would tempt Eve with that very same sin we see in the key verse today. Eat this and you will be like God. What IHOP, Bethel, and the NAR are teaching is a very old sin. It is the usurpation of the power of God. Do not be deceived beloved. Claiming to speak on behalf of He who spoke everything into existence is a weighty matter. I feel that weight every time I write yet IHOP teaches it is not weighty at all. It is just the cherry on top of the love sundae to be accurate. As long as you lied to them in love. So I will tell them the truth in love. Repent before your life is required of you and you find out how weighty His words truly are.

Reverend Anthony Wade -- August 7, 2017

Authors Bio:
Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.