Thus Saith the Lord?: Discover the Secret to Receiving the Blessing of God Book

Bevere writes from experience and a Pentecostal perspective with considerable wisdom and insight. He sites numerous examples of 'prophets', preachers, etc. giving words of wisdom, prophecies, words of knowledge that have been shown in time to be erroneous. He lists practical ways to discern whether a word from another, even given in an authoritative tone, is from God or not.

Genuine words of 'guidance' will come from a position of humility, gentleness, through the Holy Spirit and be proven out in time to be accurate. They will bring forth good fruit, not divorce or division or confusion. He finds that false prophecies often appeal to people because they feed peoples' secret desires and motivations for gain and promotion. He warns about those who go about advertising their prophetic gifts and seek prestige.

Coming as I do from a non-Pentecostal but evangelical background that believes deeply in the Word and the Spirit, many of the terms were unfamiliar to me. The sting of Jezebel, etc. In our circles and with our historical background in the great men of faith we would rather frame 'prophecy' as guidance that we test by whether it is biblical, fits our gifts and abilities, demonstrates wisdom, has the stamp of other godly and wise men to affirm it. "In the multitude of godly counselors is safety."

There is much here with which all evangelicals can agree. Non-Pentecostals will learn from this book to be more appreciative of that segment of the Body of Christ. We all affirm, as he says on p158, "the love of truth sharpens our discernment and keep us error free.'