Handling Unsolicited Advice

Most of us will at one time or another, receive a message from a stranger who feel as though they have a prophetic word for us, a word of correction or some kind of spiritual advice.  In the age of social media, it’s much more common to receive this kind of communication than was just a few years ago. Dealing with strangers who want to become involved in our personal lives and in our relationship with God can be frustrating. Part of the process of maturing in Christ is learning how to wisely handle unsolicited attempts from strangers who want to minister their gifting to us.

Sometimes a stranger will have a message from God, but other times the message they bring is not from Him. It’s a personal issue being portrayed as Godly revelation. Some believers accept revelation from just about anyone. They tend to value revelation more than they value relationship. Ministry from a stranger can be difficult to act upon, because we don’t know the  heart or motives of a stranger. It’s my experience that the most effective ministry is carried out between people who know one another. Ministry from someone we know and trust is easier to receive and act upon, because we’re more likely to know their heart and their motives.

If you value relationship over revelation, being firm in your convictions about the need for relational ministry can help you avoid being manipulated by a stranger. Being sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit will allow you to discern the source of the message. Being patient can keep you from becoming offended by them. (Unity in the body of Christ is largely an issue of learning how to avoid offenses.) Being kind can keep you from unnecessarily offending them.

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