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It turned out to be a nightmare—abusive, painful, and eventually ending in divorce. Sadly, she lived alone the rest of her life, disappointed in the prophetic word that seemingly caused her heartache.
You might think that story belongs solely to a bygone era, but even recently, another woman went viral for a nearly identical experience. She too married an abusive man based on her interpretation of a prophetic word, and years later, she publicly condemned the prophet who gave it.
Stories like these, combined with well-known cases of prophetic abuse and manipulation, have caused many to lose trust in the prophetic. Some have even called for a purification movement where only “approved” people are allowed to prophesy. And while accountability and maturity are vital, we need to pause and ask—is restricting prophecy really the solution God had in mind?
God’s View on Accountability
At Prophetic Company, one of our core values is accountability—the belief that every prophetic word should be tested and judged. Scripture is very clear about this.
“Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:20–21
Notice that there is a direct link between despising prophecies and the lack of accountability. Why? Because when we fail to test prophetic words properly, we often end up despising the prophetic altogether.
In both stories above, the tragedy wasn’t simply in the words spoken—it was in how those words were interpreted. Had those women tested the prophecies through the lens of God’s nature, Scripture, and within a healthy community, the outcomes could have been drastically different.
Testing prophecy is not cynicism—it’s maturity. When we test a word, we’re not questioning God’s ability to speak; we’re discerning whether we’ve heard Him clearly.
It’s interesting that in the New Testament, Scripture places a greater weight of responsibility on the receiver of the prophecy than the giver. In the New Covenant, the person receiving the prophetic word must discern, weigh, and judge what was said–even when it comes from a seasoned prophet. Immaturity blames others for misused words. Maturity tests, filters, and only holds on to and activates what is truly from the Lord.
God’s Solution: Empowerment, Not Restriction
In moments of prophetic confusion, it can feel safer to either restrict prophecy to a few trusted voices or to shut it down completely. But both “solutions” miss God’s heart.
Limiting prophecy to a select few creates a kind of spiritual elitism—a hierarchy where a few become the mediators between God and His people. But that position is already taken by Jesus.
Eliminating prophecy altogether (what theologians call cessationism) is simply a veiled form of unbelief and is contrary to what the Scriptures say is available to us in the New Covenant.
Neither approach reflects God’s dream. His idea wasn’t to narrow the prophetic funnel—it was to widen it.
“In the last days, I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and daughters will prophesy.”
— Acts 2:17
God’s plan was never about control but about empowerment. Every believer can hear His voice and is called to take personal responsibility for the words they give and receive. If the giver of a prophetic word makes a mess, they should do everything in their power to “clean it up.” This can include apologizing, counseling, and even sharing in the responsibility for outcomes. But, as I have already shared, the receiver of the prophetic word has the greater responsibility. Nothing can stick to you without your agreement.
Maturing in the Prophetic
At Prophetic Company, we believe that the answer to prophetic misuse isn't to silence the gift—it's to grow the people. You are not a victim of a bad prophetic word unless you choose not to test it. Test it with Scripture. Test it with the counsel and wisdom of loved ones and leaders.
Now is not the time to fear prophecy—it's time to mature in it. God is inviting this generation into prophetic responsibility: to test all things, hold fast to what is good, and confidently reject what is not.
We don't need a prophetic clean-up—we need a prophetic grow-up. So, let's not tighten the reins on what is possible with prophecy. Let's raise the standard of maturity. Let's become people who hear clearly, test wisely, and speak in faith, because the voice of God through His people is too precious to silence.
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