How to Measure a Prophet

Before the prophet can fully and accurately walk in this plumb line anointing, he or she must first be measured. There is such a high level of evil and false teaching in the earth that the prophet must be found right and judged in the eyes of the Lord. If a prophet has not been measured, he or she risks ministering from a place of deception.

God assures His people that He will release prophetic direction and great power to them. They will understand God’s heart and plans. The saints will prevail against deception at that time. In Revelation 10 God promised to raise up prophetic messengers. These prophets will have been tested and measured by the Lord before bringing understanding that helps people avoid deception. This passage is important for prophets and prophetic people to study.

In Revelation 10:9-11 the prophet is admonished to take the book, to eat the book, and then prophesy. Eating the book means embodying the message. The prophet and the message must be one. The message must go deep into the prophet’s spirit before he can have authority to deliver it. The prophet must get intimately acquainted and become the message that God has given him to deliver. The prophet is the message, and the message is the prophet; they become one. The word of God that has been digested becomes the plumb line. The Word of God is the final authority in life whereby everything is measured.

Matthew tells us that in the last days the very elect will be deceived (Matt. 24:24). The thing about deception is that you don’t always know how off you are. The devil starts releasing confusion in your mind, and you start saying a certain issue is complex and questioning what God says was absolutely wrong. You begin to  think that maybe it is right. The power of deception is the person thinks he is right. You cannot convince a deceived person that he’s off.

But when you’ve been measured by God and you are faced with those same issues, you can confidently say, “No, devil, that is deception.” The Word of God becomes your measuring rod or plumb line. Prophets must be careful to stay humble before God so that they can remain sensitive to the measuring of God. As a prophet what you say matters. People adjust their lives to your words. You must know that the Lord is your portion and that you have been sent from the presence of the Lord; therefore you must deliver His words the way He said them, with His expression. Prophets must understand the power of words. I have seen prophets and prophetic people make decisions and say things that create a domino effect for years, and people’s lives are destroyed.

An understanding of the burden of the prophetic call can help to maintain the prophetic measuring rod or plumb line. Revelation 10:11 states, “You must prophesy again” (nkjv). This is unique language for our generation. Many things in the earth will not happen unless the prophets speak, declare and announce.

God is watching over His words to fulfill them. Prophets and prophetic believers must prophesy to the heavens, prophesy to the destiny of families,
prophesy to the government, prophesy to the kings and people of the earth. Let the prophets speak!

Michelle McClain serves as director of prayer ministry on the staff of Crusaders Church under the leadership of Apostle John Eckhardt. She is also one of the house prophets and apostolic team leaders at Crusaders Church in Chicago. She is the author of The Prophetic Advantage, from which this article was excerpted.