Let us be wary of modern-day prophets
Modern-day prophets have one thing in common: Flamboyance. From the time they stand in front of their congregations, TV cameras zooming in on them from the word go, nothing about most of them feels right. Flamboyance, which seems to kill sober-mindedness, takes centre stage.
They stand and promise blessings, prosperity, healing… everything an average person wants more of. Usually, there is no mention of sin, repentance, confession or obedience. Just one blessing after another in the name of JESUS!
Whatever the case, before we dismiss the whole idea of modern-day prophets, let us look at the meaning. Webster’s definition is: “One who utters divinely inspired revelations; one regarded by a group of followers as the final authoritative revealer of God’s will; one gifted with more than ordinary spiritual and moral insight; one who foretells future events.”
In Deuteronomy 18:18 (New International Version), we find the first reference to a prophet: “I will raise up for them a prophet…I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.”
The great task assigned to the prophets whom God raised up among the people was ‘to correct moral and religious abuses, to proclaim the great moral and religious truths which are connected with the character of God, and which lie at the foundation of his government.
‘In Acts 2:17-18, we read, “In the last days, God said, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.’”
However, perhaps more than with any other label, we must use extreme caution when either demonstrating this gift of prophecy or receiving it from others, because we are forewarned: “Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.” 1 John 4:1
To us, the above Biblical definition of a prophet, especially the warning, is what will guide us to describe and define Prophet Shepard Bushiri who is also called Major 1 – for some unknown reasons.
Over the weekend, he flew journalists and many other guests from Malawi into his South Africa base where he preached unity and, as usual, announced to all and sundry that he, and only he, has the panacea to Malawi’s woes.
He announced the formation of a movement which he called the Malawi Forum. He also announced a multi-million kwacha loan facility, which is good news to many Malawians living in South Africa.
But what caught our attention was the claim by the “Miracle Man” that he would stop blackouts in 48 hours
His comments come when the country is experiencing its worse power crisis in history, with power outages lasting for over 20 hours in some areas.
Remember this is the same man who pulled a stunt just last year when he produced a video where he appeared to levitate on thin air.
In 2015, he released a video showing angels appearing in his church
Now he claims that he can heal our blackouts in 48 hours!
This is the man who says he bought all shares in a solar technology company, which he didn’t want to name, in South Africa.
Prophet Bushiri, the solutions to Malawi’s energy are a combination of many things; corruption at the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi, political interference, mismanagement and not luck of money as you insinuate.
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