I believe in the gifts of the Spirit. And I believe in the gift of prophecy, in so much as “the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.” (1 Corinthians 14:3). But, because I believe in the gifts and because I value them, I am jealous to protect them and the purity of the Spirit in our midst.

I’ve been on social media since 2011, and more than ever, I see Christians giving ourselves over to another spirit on social media. We freely attack, mock, ridicule, and quarrel with others. First, these are not the marks or the fruit of the Holy Spirit Himself. Second, these are not conducive to the Holy Spirit’s gifts operating in our lives. Third, these are directly opposed to the Holy Spirit building up, encouraging and consoling the people of God.

A Christian and disciple of Jesus should not expect to attack, mock, and quarrel with people online, then use the gifts of the Spirit on Sunday morning to encourage the body. Especially the gift of prophecy.

If we cannot control or tame our tongue on social media, we should not presume that we can or should stand to encourage the congregation prophetically. Blessing and cursing cannot come from the same mouth, out of the same heart. Nor mockery and encouragement. Ridicule and building up. Quarreling and consolation. They are not of the same source. They are not from the same Spirit.

It’s my pastoral conviction that social media kills the prophetic gift in a church. It’s my personal experience that it does. I do not mean any one specific social media platform. Social media, like any technology, is a tool or an instrument. And like any tool or instrument, the tool or instrument did not make you mock or attack or tear down or quarrel. You and I did that. “Out of the heart,” said Jesus, not out of the tool or instrument, comes sin and wickedness.

But, it’s also true that social media is, well, “social.” And like all social settings and groups and networks, another ruling personality or a spirit can emerge. And we can give ourselves over to that, knowingly or unknowingly. So we must be aware, as Paul exhorts and admonishes us, to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” (Romans 13:14) And we must fight, “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” (Galatians 5:17)

To bear the Holy Spirit’s fruit and to operate in His gifts, we must guard the purity of our heart at all times. We must walk in the fear of the Lord, in “the Spirit of the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2), in all places.

I say this again, lovingly, to protect and encourage us all: as Christians and disciples of Jesus, we should not expect that we can attack, mock, and quarrel with people online and then be used by the Spirit to encourage the body of Christ on Sunday. So, if this is true:

1) if you believe you have a prophetic gift, I urge you to keep pace with the Spirit; to keep your behavior in step with Him offline and online

2) if you desire the prophetic gift, I urge you to guard your feet and your tongue on social media.

Dear Elim Grace, the Holy Spirit will honor those who honor Him.

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice… but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 4:29-31; 5:15-21)

Pastor Jonathan