How can false prophets be distinguished from true prophets?
Matthew 7:15 (ESV)
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves
The verse above introduces us to the existence of false prophets, and with the rise in many religious cults who claim to be prophets, it is important for us to discern if they are truly a prophet of God.
False Prophets were common in the Old Testament times. They prophesied only what the king and the people wanted to hear, claiming it was God’s message. False teachers are just as prevalent today as it was in the days of Jesus.
Jesus warns us to beware of those whose words sound religious but who are motivated by money, fame, or power.
The Bible exhorts believers to “test” those who claim to be prophets using the scriptures.
Some of the tests we can carry out is as follows:
Do they ever give false prophecies? Do 100 percent of their predictions of future events come true?
Deuteronomy 18:21-22 New International Version (NIV)
21 You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?”22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.
Do they contact departed spirits and use mediums or witchcraft?
Deuteronomy 18:11 New International Version (NIV)
11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.
Do they follow false gods or idols?
Deuteronomy 13:1-3 New International Version (NIV)
1. If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, 2 and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” 3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Do they deny the deity of Jesus Christ?
Colossians 2:8-9 New International Version (NIV)
8. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ.9. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
Do they deny the humanity of Jesus Christ?
1 John 4:1-2 New International Version (NIV)
1. Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
Do their prophecies shift the focus of Jesus Christ?
Revelation 19:10 New International Version (NIV)
10. At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”
Do they advocate abstaining from certain foods and the need for marriage for spiritual reasons?
1 Timothy 4:3 New International Version (NIV)
3. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.
Do they promote immorality?
Jude 4 New International Version (NIV)
4. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
Do they encourage legalistic self-denial?
Colossians 2:16-23 New International Version (NIV)
16. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19. They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.20. Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22. These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
Do their teachings minimize Christ and glorify themselves?
John 3:30 New International Version (NIV)
30. He must become greater; I must become less.”
A positive answer to any of the above questions is an indication that the prophet is not speaking for God.
God does not speak or encourage anything that is contrary to his character and commands as recorded in Scripture.
We must listen carefully and thoroughly examine the words of those who say they have messages from the Lord. Their messages may be coming from the Holy Spirit’s leading, or they may reflect their ideas, feelings, or wishes. New messages or revelations from God must be consistent with Scripture and agree with God’s previous messages recorded in the scriptures.
1 John 4:1-3 (NIV)
4. Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3. but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
God does not speak or encourage anything that is contrary to his character and commands as recorded in Scripture.
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