The LORD has laid something heavy on my heart today! There is a 'new wave' of prophetic voices out there that are confusing! Not only is it confusing but it is bringing a deceptive spirit which is literally attaching itself, and changing the perspective and direction of GOD's people. Someone I know called some of these prophecies, 'psychobabble' and they are dangerous to the BODY OF CHRIST!
I often hear people ask, how can we tell who is giving the true prophecies and who is false? Hopefully this article can give a few answers.
The most obvious way to detect a false prophecy, is if it contains a date or timeframe, and it does not happen. They did not hear from the LORD. They either heard from a 'familiar spirit,' or from their own imagination, or seeking their own self-recognition.
There are two kind of prophecies in the Bible. One is from the OFFICE OF THE PROPHET. The other is the GIFT OF PROPHECY. Both are happening today, but they are very different.
The OFFICE OF THE PROPHET is a calling from the LORD, and is in Ephesians 4:11, as one of the '5-fold ministries:'
"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers"
These prophets are called by GOD to be watchmen on the wall, by warning the people of what they see or hear from the LORD through dreams, visions and words. Just like in the Old Testament, these prophets are sounding the alarm and blowing the trumpet to wake the people up, so they will not get caught unaware or sleeping during coming events. They also call attention to sins, wrong attitudes, compromises and deceptions that can come upon GOD's people. While bringing encouraging messages, as well, this not their main duty before the LORD. They are the LORD's mouthpiece in announcing possible judgments and spiritual conditions.
The other prophetic voice comes through the gift of prophecy as one of the many spiritual gifts given by the Holy SPIRIT:
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills." 1 Corinthian 12:9-11
It can be sought after and received as a helping hand of the Church. It brings encouragement, comfort and is used to build of the BODY of BELIEVERS. This usually comes through 'words' that a believer hears from the LORD and then shares. It can be a personal word or corporate.
SO here is the main question? How do we know if what is spoken or written is truly from the LORD?
It says in 1 John 4:11 that we are to test spirits because there are many false prophets in the world. We must be discerning and use the WORD OF GOD. The prophecies MUST line up with Scripture, or a pattern/type that we see in Scripture. If it doesn't, then we can know that it isn't from GOD, but from a different source, and we can toss it out.
Another way we can tell a false prophecy is if it 'tickles your flesh.' Scripture says that there will be a time (end days), were the people will not be interested in with sound doctrine and seek words that satisfies their own desires and fills them with fleshly hopes.
" For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.". 2 Timothy 4:3-4
These false prophecies are fluffy, puffy, cotton candy, make-you-feel-good words! They are filled with carnal seeking ways that include selfish gain, flesh-exalting comments, false hopes and speak of promotion in riches/comforts of this life. They are self-centered vs. GOD centered. We can see this in Jeremiah 23:16-17:
" This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.
They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The LORD says: You will have peace.’ And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’"
Another abomination that has entered the churches as 'prophecy, is nothing more than fortune-telling. There is a fine line between prophecy and fortune telling---one through the HOLY SPIRIT and the other through an unholy spirit (familiar spirit) . That is why you must test the spirit to make sure it is from the HOLY SPIRIT! Familiar spirits can also correctly predict the future.
These false prophecies can fool many people----I know because I personally have fallen victim of its deception! I have been in churches where they will tell you a 'prophecy,' but unknowingly, they are actually fortune-telling. This happened in Acts 16 where a girl shouted out prophecies that were not from the LORD:
" Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her." Acts 16:16-18
The LORD takes it very seriously who we align ourselves with and who we come into agreement with, including prophecies. It is not something to take lightly! In 2 Chronicles 10:13-14, it says that Saul died because he did not obey the LORD AND he consulted fortune-telling for his future:
"Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse."
JESUS warned us that in Matthew 24 that in the last days there would be many false prophets and we are seeing this come to pass right before our very eyes! While we are seeing a new movement of the HOLY SPIRIT pouring out among HIS people, we are also seeing a counterfeit in the BODY OF CHRIST!
The LORD promises in the Book of James that if we ask for wisdom with faith, it will be granted to us! SO let us seek the counsel of the LORD and HIS wisdom! HE does not want you to be deceived and caught in a snare that will drag you down the wrong path.
TEST THE SPIRITS......TEST THE PROPHECIES!
FALSE PROPHETS: Jeremiah 23:16-22
This is very good Elizabeth, and timely too. It is getting absolutely ridiculous and I really feel for "New" Christians as I had a very tough time in the beginning. But God did an amazing thing with me. He took the most gullible girl in the world and opened her eyes to the point that everything just jumps out at me and screams "Bull Sheet!" When I finally got to the point that I was sick of being lied to and prayed for discernment and seriously studied the "word" it all came together as it should. Another thing that happens is that you could be following someone that has taught you amazing things in the past but all of a…
Courebelle, that would be great! Go to my CONTACT tab that is located under the 'MORE' tab. Then write me a message and I will be back in contact with you! Look forward to hearing from you! Blessings!!
Elizabeth, I am in agreement with you and share your sentiment. Is it possible to email me at courebelle@hotmail.com for further private conversation.