Chasing every prophetic word can drain your faith, finances, and peace. Learn the hidden costs and how to discern genuine prophecy from manipulation.
Have you ever felt the pressure to follow every prophetic word you hear? Maybe a prophet says, “Give this amount, and your breakthrough will come,” or “You must do this exact thing or miss God’s blessing.” It sounds spiritual, but chasing every prophetic word can come with hidden costs.
What Are These Hidden Costs?
1. Financial Drain
Many believers give beyond their means trying to “secure” promises tied to prophetic words. This can lead to debt, stress, and even poverty—all while waiting for blessings that may never come.
2. Emotional and Spiritual Exhaustion
Constantly chasing fresh prophetic messages can make your faith unstable, leaving you anxious, confused, or doubting God’s timing.
3. Distraction from God’s Simple Truths
Focusing on every new prophecy often means missing the foundational teachings of Scripture. It can trap believers in a cycle of dependency on “prophetic updates” instead of growing in the word.
4. Opening Doors to Manipulation
Some exploit prophetic words to control members, pushing them into giving more money, obeying questionable commands, or staying in toxic ministries.
The Mystery and Danger of Real Prophecy
True prophecy is a mystery and must be handled carefully. Without reliance on the Holy Spirit and biblical wisdom, prophecies can mislead and cause harm.
For example, a lady once received a prophecy that she was called to be a missionary. Because her husband was an Anglican church priest, she assumed she could never fulfill this calling. So, she divorced him, thinking this was God’s plan. It took months of counseling, prayer, and exegesis to help her understand that the prophecy was not a call to break her marriage but to begin her mission work within her husband's church community. Gradually, she grew into the calling God truly had for her.
Another tragic story is of a beautiful nurse who received a prophecy that her husband would come from the USA to marry her. For years, she did nothing but wait and give thanks, rejecting every other suitor. Sadly, just three years ago, she died after a prolonged psychological illness, weighed down by unfulfilled expectations.
Even my own sister nearly fell victim to this. Two suitors came with prophecies saying, “God told me you’re my wife.” Because she hears from God, she rejected them, saying, “God never told me that.” This shows the confusion and pain caused when prophecy is misunderstood or manipulated.
We also see how some pastors exploit prophecy for personal gain. A pastor once told my mother-in-law, a widow, “God said you will feed me this week,” and kept asking her for food and money. Eventually, she and her family left that church. When the pastor returned to collect again, they sent him away with a firm statement: “We are no longer your church members.”
My Personal Experience: When Prophecy Became a Business
As a young believer, I chased many prophecies. I remember attending revival programs where a visiting minister would declare, “God told me there are 100 people here who will sow a specific amount into my ministry, and God will change their stories.” In Nigeria, everyone wants their story changed—that’s why we come to church. We often go to the extent of borrowing just to sow into these ministries.
On one occasion, more than 100 people gave, even beyond the minister’s initial “divine” number. The amounts ranged from the minimum suggested to much higher, filling the minister’s coffers. I later learned this was a business when our pastor in Lagos quarreled with the visiting minister over how to split the “prophetic harvest” — 60% to the visitor and 40% to the host church. That moment opened my eyes: many men of God run prophecy as a business.
This system works by brainwashing members—building ministries on prophetic promises and making people hope for deliverance, wealth, or salvation through giving. This teaching is not meant to discourage sowing or supporting genuine ministries but to encourage believers to examine every prophecy through Scripture’s lens. After all, how did Jesus, Apostle Paul, Peter, and the early church leaders handle the church’s needs? Was it through prophetic gimmicks, or through faith, personal responsibility, and communal support?
How to Protect Yourself: Real Faith Over False Promises
- Test all prophecies against Scripture. God’s word is the ultimate authority.
- Seek counsel from mature, trustworthy leaders.
- Avoid financial commitments based solely on prophecy.
- Focus on deepening your relationship with God, not chasing every prophetic hype.
Faith That Builds, Not Breaks
True faith brings peace and confidence, even in waiting. It works hand in hand with wisdom and personal responsibility. Faith isn’t a rollercoaster of chasing new “prophetic words” but a steady trust in God’s timing and plan.
Reflective Questions:
- Have I ever acted on a prophetic word that left me anxious or financially drained?
- How can I discern genuine prophecy from manipulation?
- Am I grounding my faith in God’s unchanging Word or fleeting prophetic claims?
Chasing every prophetic word may seem exciting, but the hidden costs can damage your spirit, your finances, and your trust in God. Let’s grow in faith that is wise, steady, and anchored in the truth of Scripture.
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