When God's people are Shunned

For those of you who prophesy, and for those of you who are prophets, sometimes there are repercussions to our ministry that make life unbearable.  Brethren avoid you, and church leaders silence your ministry.  It is a shunning, a psychological punishment.  Yet the poor treatment received at the hands of those we esteemed is not indicative of how the Lord sees us.

In Isaiah 66 we read about those who “tremble” at God’s word.  “Your brothers who hate you, and exclude you because of my name, have said ‘let the Lord be glorified’, . . .” (Is 66:5).  Those that hate prophets often think they are choosing sides with God and that separating themselves from what offends them glorifies God.

Concerning prophecy and being a prophet, I went through a period of doubting my intentions. Indeed, the light of the Holy Spirit exposes our own shortcomings, and it became hard for me to believe God would associate Himself with me.  I was ripe for the shunning of the brethren that occurred at the same time as my period of doubt, and bore the fruit of withdrawing from my gift and office. 

Then one day the Lord said to me “Where are those people now who oppressed you? Are they happy you no longer prophesy? Do they in turn invite you into their presence?” I suddenly realized that my oppressors had no plan for my life, and that I was silent for nothing.  It was not the brethren I had esteemed that worked alone in the shunning: it was an enemy greater than men . . . it was satan. He is the one who plants the seed of doubt and nurtures it with oppression and shunning.

Isaiah 66 continues with the broader perspective from the Lord about shunning.  “Hear that uproar from the city, hear that noise from the temple!  It is the sound of the Lord repaying His enemies all they deserve.” (Is 66:6) Those very same people who silence gifts and avoid people are not on His side, and they do not glorify the Lord.  He will repay all who oppress His people.

Since it benefits no one to be silent, hidden from those who do not receive prophecy nor the office of a prophet, come out, you who have been oppressed.  Your enemies do not have a plan for your lives. What is more important is that you are part of God’s plan, and your words will affect many lives.  Amen.