I can't emphasize this enough! It is so important to open ourselves to the right spirit, i.e. the Holy Spirit, instead of the wrong spirit (or the spirits) that is in this world.
Acts 2:4 (NKJV) says, 'And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance'.
Acts 4:31 (NKJV) says, 'And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness'.
Notice the expression 'filled with the Holy Spirit' here? As the people were filled with the Holy Spirit, they began to speak with other tongues (Acts 2:4), and on another occasion, they spoke the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31).
Now, what does the above verses have to do with our topic today about 'Core values in prophetic ministering'?
And why do I begin by writing about the importance of being filled with the right spirit, i.e. the Holy Spirit?
The answer is simply because one core value in God's prophetic ministry is being filled with the right spirit, i.e. the Holy Spirit, instead of being influenced by any other spirit or spirits in this world! Some examples of 'any other spirit in this world' are spirit of Jezebel (i.e. controlling and manipulating spirit), spirit of greed (i.e. greed for more money, fame, name, power, attention, or popularity), spirit of lust, and spirit of pride.
In 2 Chronicles chapter 18, you can see the contrast between a prophet who was filled with the Spirit of God and the other prophets who were influenced by the spirits of this world.
2 Chronicles chapter 18 begins with two kings, namely Ahab (king of Israel) and Jehoshaphat (king of Judah) making an agreement to join forces and attack Ramoth in Gilead (which at that time was in the hands of king of Syria). Ahab, the wicked king, managed to persuade and induce Jehoshaphat to do so (2 Chronicles 18:1-3), but Jehoshaphat was godly enough to ask if this plan (to attack Ramoth in Gilead) is the Lord's will.
2 Chronicles 18:4-6 (Expanded Bible) says, 'Jehoshaphat also said to Ahab, "But first we should ask if this is the Lord’s will [seek/inquire about the word/counsel of the Lord]." So king Ahab [the king of Israel] called [assembled; summoned] four hundred prophets together and asked them, "Should we go to war against Ramoth in Gilead or not [hold back]?" They answered, "Go, because God will hand them over to you." But Jehoshaphat asked, "Isn’t there still a prophet of the Lord here? Let’s ask [inquire of] him."'
Apparently, Jehoshaphat wasn't convinced by the 'prophetic' words of these four hundred prophets, and he asked if there's still a prophet of the Lord whom they could inquire of. And that's when prophet Micaiah, a true prophet of the Lord came into picture.
2 Chronicles 18:7-8 (Expanded) says, 'Then King Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "There is one other prophet. We could ask [inquire of] the Lord through him, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything good about me, but always something bad [evil; disaster]. He is Micaiah son of Imlah." Jehoshaphat said, "King Ahab, you shouldn’t say that [such things]!" So Ahab king of Israel told one of his officers [officials] to bring Micaiah to him at once'.
Very interestingly, the name 'Micaiah' (or 'Miyka-Yah' in Hebrew) means 'Who is like Yah?' or 'Who is like the Lord?'. And you know what this name implies? There is no insignificant detail in the Bible. Who is like the Lord? Why? Because the Lord is different from any other spirit in this world! And just as the Spirit of the Lord is different from any other spirit in this world, prophet Micaiah was also different from any of those four hundred 'prophets' at that time!
How about the word 'Imlah' here? This is just as interesting! It is 'Yimlah' in Hebrew, and it simply means 'full, fullness', which speaks of 'being filled with the fullness of the Lord'! You see? That made the difference! Micaiah was a man full of the Spirit of the Lord, and he did not allow himself to be influenced by any other spirit in this world! Now, this is the mark of a true prophetic ministry. A true prophetic ministry of the Lord cannot allow itself to be influenced by any other spirit in this world, or be 'bought over' by man (or by the world).
Of course, there's a price to pay when a prophetic ministry stays true to the Lord. Such ministry may be 'persecuted', 'shelved' or 'frozen' by men who would 'only want to hear what they want to hear'. But the truth is it is better to be in obedience to the Lord than to compromise. The Lord will know how to honor such ministry.
What happened later in 2 Chronicles chapter 18 was that king Ahab refused to heed prophet Micaiah's words. After putting Micaiah into prison, king Ahab went ahead to attack Ramoth in Gilead, despite prophet Micaiah warning against it. In other words, king Ahab only wanted to hear what he wanted to hear. That eventually led to the tragic end for king Ahab, and he died in the battle (2 Chronicles 18:34).
As for king Jehoshaphat, he survived the battle when he cried out to the Lord. The Lord heard his cries and helped him. The Lord did see some good in him, in that he (as king of Judah) had sought the Lord and looked to the Lord all those years as a king. However, the Lord did rebuke him later for going to war together with king Ahab (2 Chronicles 19:1-3).
What can we learn from the passages above?
As prophetic ministries, it is important not to allow ourselves to be influenced or 'enticed' by whatever man or this world offers. Close the 'doors' on all those influences or 'enticements' of this world. Stay true to the calling that the Lord has given us.
As prophetic ministries, when the Lord says so, we say so. When the Lord says no, we say no. When the Lord says ABC, we say ABC; not ABCD or AB. Nothing more, nothing less. We are to say as He says. That is what a 'mouthpiece' is supposed to be. And when the Lord stays silent, we stay silent.
