The New Covenant Paradigm of the Prophetic: Unveiling God’s Heart of Abundance:

The New Covenant Paradigm of the Prophetic: Unveiling God’s Heart of Abundance: We often hear about God’s judgment and correction, but what about His overflowing goodness? Job, in his suffering, observed a human tendency to question God’s intentions, especially when life gets tough. “Why do the wicked prosper?” they ask, echoing a doubt that whispers, “Is God truly for me?” (Job 21:7, 14-15). This doubt, fueled by the enemy’s age-old tactic of twisting God’s words (“Has God really said?”), leads to destruction (Job 21:17-18).

But here’s the truth: God isn’t holding back. Jesus declared, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). So, why does the perception of a withholding God persist?

The Flawed Foundation of Religious Culture:

A significant challenge lies in a religious culture that, historically, has often elevated poverty and suffering as signs of piety. This mindset, rooted in medieval monasticism and a misinterpretation of figures like John the Baptist, contradicts Jesus’ own prayer in John 17:15: “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one.”

Jesus didn’t call us to escape the world but to thrive within it, protected from the “depredations and sufferings” the enemy inflicts. When we charge God with intentions contrary to His promises, we give the enemy leverage.

Our Dominion and the Power of the Heart:

God granted humanity dominion (Genesis 1:26), and the enemy exploits this by manipulating our thought patterns. “As a man thinks in his heart, so he is” (Proverbs 23:7). Our hearts are the wellspring of life’s circumstances (Proverbs 4:23). God protects us from external attacks, but we’re responsible for the inner landscape of our hearts (Luke 6:45).

God Himself affirms, “If you say it, I will do it; if you don’t say it, I won’t do it” (Isaiah 57:19). Our words, born from our hearts, activate God’s creative power. Aligning our hearts with His promises allows His sovereignty to work for us.

Changing Our Hearts, Changing Our Lives:

If you’re dissatisfied with your life, start by changing your heart. It’s the “drawing board” of your future, the blueprint for God’s creative dominion. This is precisely what Satan targeted in Job’s life: to provoke a curse from his lips (Job 1:11). Job, however, held firm (Job 1:22).

His ultimate revelation? “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2). This led to repentance (Job 42:6) and double restoration (Job 42:10, 12).

God’s Heart: “You’ve Got Me All Wrong!”

Imagine God having one moment to speak to humanity. What would He say? “You’ve got me all wrong!” He would declare. “Jesus paid it all!” (1 Peter 2:24, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Romans 8:32).

The Prophetic Paradigm in the New Testament: Aligning Us with God’s Goodness:

The prophetic office is a vital tool for correcting our misperceptions of God. Its purpose, under the New Covenant, is to:

•  Profit: Bring wholeness and blessing (1 Corinthians 12:7, 14:6).
•  Edify, Exhort, and Comfort: Build up, encourage, and console (1 Corinthians 14:3).
•  Reveal God’s Goodness: Lead to repentance through understanding His loving nature (Romans 2:4).

Even in the Old Testament, prosperity was linked to believing God’s prophets (2 Chronicles 20:20, 22). True prophets don’t lay burdens or misrepresent God’s character (Jeremiah 23).

Jesus’ New Covenant Prophetic Paradigm:

Jesus redefined the prophetic. When His disciples sought to call down fire, He rebuked them, saying, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of, for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them” (Luke 9:54-56).

The New Covenant prophetic is about salvation, not destruction. It’s about washing feet, not stepping on toes.

Conclusion: Choosing New Covenant Blessing:

We must choose between the old paradigm of condemnation and the New Covenant of blessing. This means:

•  Embracing God’s love and promises, even in suffering.
•  Correcting our thinking and speech.
•  Withdrawing support from those who denounce and criticize God’s people.
•  Praying for those who misunderstand God’s heart.

“What do you want?” the Father asks. “Old Covenant paradigm or New Covenant blessing?”

Like Job, let’s allow God’s goodness to restore us and pray for those who criticize us, activating His love and blessing in our own lives.