Think Twice Before Listening to Prophets. This Is Why
A WEALTHY NIGERIAN businessman, Upenys Mashangwa, discovered that prophecies don’t always come to pass. In 2017, he and his wife lost their home after receiving a prophecy from Emmanuel Makandiwa. He told them their $500,000 mortgage loan would be canceled, but it never happened.
The couple sued the prophet and demanded the $1M repayment they gave the UFIC Church in tithes and offerings. The High Court judge, Owen Tagu, dismissed their lawsuit as “frivolous,” asserting their church donations were “free will offerings” and the church didn’t have to give them back the money.
Here’s my question: Was the couple justified in suing the prophet? My answer is no. Continue reading as I explain why.
In the church, people expect the word of a prophet to come to pass. There’s a level of trust or faith believers have, so they don’t question a prophecy, especially if it sounds good. So, the businessman and his wife trusted the prediction regarding the bank loan. They expected supernatural cancellation of the debt. They stopped paying the mortgage and ended up losing their home.
Believers can’t always trust everything a “man or woman of God” has to say.
R. Renee
I suspect Mr. Mashangwa is a smart man. You don’t become a multimillionaire without high intelligence, education, or common sense. But his situation shows how even the most astute Christian can fall prey to a false prophet.
Believers must balance their faith with practicality. There’s nothing wrong with receiving a prophetic word about your money. It’s okay to seek spiritual guidance regarding your finances. However, the body of Christ can’t be so heavily bound that it’s no earthly good. Believers can’t always trust everything a “man or woman of God” has to say.
Yahshua said, “Many false prophets will come in my name (Matthew 24:5).”
Matthew 24:11
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
King James Version
Prophecies Need a Confirmation
We can always stand on God’s word. However, some prophets don’t always say what God says. Even prophets make mistakes. It’s not a good idea to assume every prophetic utterance is right, correct, or accurate. With that said, I have two suggestions that may help believers avoid the pitfalls of false prophecies.
There are two types of prophecies. Some types confirm what the Holy Spirit has already revealed to you. The other prophecy type requires confirmation. Let’s deal with the former. Maybe you received a direct word from God.
If you’re unsure it’s the Most High that spoke to you, ask the Holy Spirit for confirmation. If it’s a message from Father Yah, it will be repeated to you in some form or fashion. For example, a prophet or someone else will say the same thing God told you. I know this from personal experience.
In early 2020, the Holy Spirit gave several revelations about COVID-19. I planned to publish these Divine Downloads in a book. Although I believed everything I wrote came from the Most High, I wanted to ensure these weren’t just my thoughts, opinions, or views. So I asked God’s Holy Spirit for confirmation.
A few days passed, and the confirmation came through. I watched a YouTube channel hosted by a former pastor interviewing a bishop. During the show, both men made statements identical to what the Holy Spirit told me.
I knew then Father Yah had given me the green light. I went ahead and published End Times Pandemic, knowing I was sharing the word of God. You can’t go wrong with any prophecy when you seek confirmation (1 John 4:1).
What if a prophet (or someone else) speaks a prophetic word to you? Get confirmation before acting on or accepting that word. For example, I’m sure it was exciting news for Mr. Mashangwa and his wife to hear about their $500,000 loan cancellation. As we see now, it wasn’t wise for them to stop paying the loan. They should have sought confirmation from the Holy Spirit as they continued making payments. From that point forward, they would find out if the prophecy would come to pass.
“Negative” prophecies need confirmation, too. Maybe a prophet (or someone else) has spoken sickness over your life. Don’t just agree with that report. Again, seek guidance from the Holy Spirit.
False Prophets Target Wealthy Believers
Believers must be aware of false prophets. There are men and women in the body of Christ using prophecy as a money hustle. Let’s face it. Many Christians like getting prophetic messages. There’s something in our human nature that wants to know the unknown. Knowing the future gives us a sense of security. Whatever the case, charlatans exploit that for their gain.
They don’t know these so-called prophets may be working with a fortune-telling spirit (Acts 16:16). Some time ago, some “prophets” target churchgoers who have high incomes. They always give them positive prophetic messages of financial increase, success, and breakthroughs. The more believers hear these “words from God,” the more money they give. It’s like the prophetic version of the Prosperity Gospel.
Recap
A wealthy Nigerian businessman, Upenys Mashangwa, sued prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa for $1M of tithes and offerings he gave to his church. The prophet told him the $500,000 home loan would be canceled. What happened is he lost his home. Of course, the High Court rejected his claim, described it as frivolous, and couldn’t recover their free-will offerings to the church.
The story is a cautionary tale for believers. You must be aware of false prophets and prophecies. There are a few things worth considering.
One, prophets aren’t financial experts. You can have faith in what they say about your money, but there’s a possibility you may lose money in the process. Two, seek confirmation from the Holy Spirit regarding a prophecy. Finally, be aware that there are individuals in the body of Christ using the “gift of prophecy” to fleece the flock.
Test every spirit (1 John 4:1). Don’t make life-changing decisions based on blind faith. Sometimes, even a prophet can get it wrong about hearing from God.
Find Out More
Discover the hidden truth about tithes the church doesn’t want you to know. Click here.
R. Renee is an author, teacher, and licensed minister. As the co-author of the Amazon-bestselling book, The Tithing Hoax: Exposing the Lies, Misinterpretations & False teachings About Tithing, she has appeared on major news outlets, national radio stations, and popular podcasts. She has also written other top-rated books, such as God, Why Am I Still Singe?, Satan's Sex Scandal, and The End Times Pandemic.
Financial prosperity is much more than accumulating wealth. God expects us to manage and use our resources to glorify Him (Proverbs 3:9-10). Sure, we can have enough to meet our needs. However, we’re also expected to bless others (Proverbs 19:17). The followers of Christ need to understand what God says
The ancient Israelites celebrated the Feast of First Fruits. The Lord commanded them to offer the first fruits of the harvest to the priest (Leviticus 23:10-11). Offering the first fruits acknowledged the Lord’s provision and blessings. In the New Testament, the concept of first fruits is a metaphor (1 Corinthians
The Bible talks about seed planting in the literal and metaphorical sense. When you read a seed planting Bible verse, it often refers to actual farming practices (Genesis 1:29). For example, the Hebrew Israelites gave crops as offerings to the Lord (Numbers 18:12). Planting a seed can symbolize faith, spiritual growth,
“TITHING VERSUS GIVING” IS THE 5TH lesson in a 9-part teaching series entitled “A Pastor Rebukes a Non-Tither.” This series is inspired by a pastor’s letter to his church member (one of our YouTube subscribers). In each lesson, we address a point and/or argument the pastor makes to explain why
Think Twice Before Listening to Prophets. This Is Why
A WEALTHY NIGERIAN businessman, Upenys Mashangwa, discovered that prophecies don’t always come to pass. In 2017, he and his wife lost their home after receiving a prophecy from Emmanuel Makandiwa. He told them their $500,000 mortgage loan would be canceled, but it never happened.
The couple sued the prophet and demanded the $1M repayment they gave the UFIC Church in tithes and offerings. The High Court judge, Owen Tagu, dismissed their lawsuit as “frivolous,” asserting their church donations were “free will offerings” and the church didn’t have to give them back the money.
Here’s my question: Was the couple justified in suing the prophet? My answer is no. Continue reading as I explain why.
Table of Contents
A Prophet Is Not a Financial Expert
In the church, people expect the word of a prophet to come to pass. There’s a level of trust or faith believers have, so they don’t question a prophecy, especially if it sounds good. So, the businessman and his wife trusted the prediction regarding the bank loan. They expected supernatural cancellation of the debt. They stopped paying the mortgage and ended up losing their home.
I suspect Mr. Mashangwa is a smart man. You don’t become a multimillionaire without high intelligence, education, or common sense. But his situation shows how even the most astute Christian can fall prey to a false prophet.
Believers must balance their faith with practicality. There’s nothing wrong with receiving a prophetic word about your money. It’s okay to seek spiritual guidance regarding your finances. However, the body of Christ can’t be so heavily bound that it’s no earthly good. Believers can’t always trust everything a “man or woman of God” has to say.
Yahshua said, “Many false prophets will come in my name (Matthew 24:5).”
Matthew 24:11
Prophecies Need a Confirmation
We can always stand on God’s word. However, some prophets don’t always say what God says. Even prophets make mistakes. It’s not a good idea to assume every prophetic utterance is right, correct, or accurate. With that said, I have two suggestions that may help believers avoid the pitfalls of false prophecies.
There are two types of prophecies. Some types confirm what the Holy Spirit has already revealed to you. The other prophecy type requires confirmation. Let’s deal with the former. Maybe you received a direct word from God.
If you’re unsure it’s the Most High that spoke to you, ask the Holy Spirit for confirmation. If it’s a message from Father Yah, it will be repeated to you in some form or fashion. For example, a prophet or someone else will say the same thing God told you. I know this from personal experience.
In early 2020, the Holy Spirit gave several revelations about COVID-19. I planned to publish these Divine Downloads in a book. Although I believed everything I wrote came from the Most High, I wanted to ensure these weren’t just my thoughts, opinions, or views. So I asked God’s Holy Spirit for confirmation.
A few days passed, and the confirmation came through. I watched a YouTube channel hosted by a former pastor interviewing a bishop. During the show, both men made statements identical to what the Holy Spirit told me.
I knew then Father Yah had given me the green light. I went ahead and published End Times Pandemic, knowing I was sharing the word of God. You can’t go wrong with any prophecy when you seek confirmation (1 John 4:1).
What if a prophet (or someone else) speaks a prophetic word to you? Get confirmation before acting on or accepting that word. For example, I’m sure it was exciting news for Mr. Mashangwa and his wife to hear about their $500,000 loan cancellation. As we see now, it wasn’t wise for them to stop paying the loan. They should have sought confirmation from the Holy Spirit as they continued making payments. From that point forward, they would find out if the prophecy would come to pass.
“Negative” prophecies need confirmation, too. Maybe a prophet (or someone else) has spoken sickness over your life. Don’t just agree with that report. Again, seek guidance from the Holy Spirit.
False Prophets Target Wealthy Believers
Believers must be aware of false prophets. There are men and women in the body of Christ using prophecy as a money hustle. Let’s face it. Many Christians like getting prophetic messages. There’s something in our human nature that wants to know the unknown. Knowing the future gives us a sense of security. Whatever the case, charlatans exploit that for their gain.
They don’t know these so-called prophets may be working with a fortune-telling spirit (Acts 16:16). Some time ago, some “prophets” target churchgoers who have high incomes. They always give them positive prophetic messages of financial increase, success, and breakthroughs. The more believers hear these “words from God,” the more money they give. It’s like the prophetic version of the Prosperity Gospel.
Recap
A wealthy Nigerian businessman, Upenys Mashangwa, sued prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa for $1M of tithes and offerings he gave to his church. The prophet told him the $500,000 home loan would be canceled. What happened is he lost his home. Of course, the High Court rejected his claim, described it as frivolous, and couldn’t recover their free-will offerings to the church.
The story is a cautionary tale for believers. You must be aware of false prophets and prophecies. There are a few things worth considering.
One, prophets aren’t financial experts. You can have faith in what they say about your money, but there’s a possibility you may lose money in the process. Two, seek confirmation from the Holy Spirit regarding a prophecy. Finally, be aware that there are individuals in the body of Christ using the “gift of prophecy” to fleece the flock.
Test every spirit (1 John 4:1). Don’t make life-changing decisions based on blind faith. Sometimes, even a prophet can get it wrong about hearing from God.
Find Out More
Discover the hidden truth about tithes the church doesn’t want you to know. Click here.
Source
Businessman Sued Church Prophet
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R. Renee
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The ancient Israelites celebrated the Feast of First Fruits. The Lord commanded them to offer the first fruits of the harvest to the priest (Leviticus 23:10-11). Offering the first fruits acknowledged the Lord’s provision and blessings. In the New Testament, the concept of first fruits is a metaphor (1 Corinthians
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