The road of rejection to the prophet is what I call, “Prophetic Training 101.” Rejection, which is the thoroughfare for the prophetic life, is a process that the prophet must get used to quickly or this abnegation can emotionally destroy him. The Bible says of Jesus in Matthew 13:57 (NIV) that “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town.” Usually, the ones with whom a prophet serves at church or the ones closest to him will reject him as his gift matures.
If you do not become comfortable and familiar with this training methodology, life will become grueling. God showed me many years ago that if you are too familiar with people, you will change your message based on their opinions. You will prophesy what people want to hear rather than what you have been called to speak. Rejection is a necessary and crucial element in the training of a prophet because the result is he will not be afraid of the people’s faces, and he will stand sure-footed as he declares, “Thus says the Lord!”
Abandonment is the root and rejection is the manifestation. Deeply rooted in rejection is your perception of who you are. Because Prophets never fit in, they embrace a life of solitude. If a prophet does not understand that the call is lonely, he will begin to believe that something is wrong with him. If feelings of rejection can thrive and flourish, Prophets will believe the lies of the enemy. A prophet’s sense of self, love, approval, and affection come from God—not people.
If a prophet is not careful, he can very easily become bound by a people-pleasing spirit. The author, Bob Sorge, wrote, “Praise is food for God and poison for man.” Because of the weight of the message, a prophet cannot be common or familiar. The closer a prophet’s relationship with God, the more it can become distant with people. A prophet’s message cannot contain any mixture. Scripture consistently demonstrates how lonely the prophetic call can be. Prophets generally had to be summoned, and they were often alone. 1 Kings 22 establishes that although the king had the services of 400 Prophets, Micaiah stood alone.
Unmanaged rejection can be the gateway for a myriad of spirits that can usher a prophet into a lifetime of bondage. Although rejection can be painful, it can also be a prophet’s greatest ally. Rejection will keep him from being entangled in the wrong crowd—no matter how badly he wants to belong. Noah’s rejection by his countrymen, potentially, saved his family and positioned them for God’s promise. What if everyone had liked Noah, had agreed with his assignment, and had come to help? This sociability would have probably thrown Noah off course, and his assignment could have suffered. It has been said, “Man’s rejection is God’s protection.”
If people like you too much or you are hanging on the edge of your seat waiting for someone to agree with you, the time has come to re-evaluate the power of your ministry. If everyone loves you, beware. Charles Spurgeon said, “The church that the world loves is the church that God abhors.” Luke 6:26 records,“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false Prophets.”If you are a prophet and everyone likes you, it is a sure sign that the enemy has entered your camp.
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Watch Yvonne on Youtube, "10 reasons why a Prophet has to be comfortable with rejection
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Excerpt from, What if I am a Prophet? by Yvonne Camper
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