How can we discern the false prophets? Whether true prophets (there are only a very few) or false prophets (most and many are), how can we tell when they all preach on the name of Jesus? Today, there is an apostle or prophet on every internet corner. Just like the days of Paul, he even said there were self proclaimed apostles calling themselves super apostles. Today is not different. We have many false apostles and prophets and they like to call each other mighty, super, master, and the likes.
Matthew 7:15-20 “Beware of the false prophets, [teachers] who come to you dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent], but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them [that is, by their contrived doctrine and self-focus]. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the unhealthy tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore, by their fruit you will recognize them [as false prophets].
Anyone can become a false prophet or teacher. The bible warns of those who come dressed as sheep but are wolves. The most dangerous people to the church are the lay believers or sheep themselves. The sheep or simple lay believers are usually baby Christans or those who need to be born again but yet they think they have knowledge and authority. But in reality, they preach and teach from their own strength and flesh. In Facebook, I see so many people trying to teach one another and all they are doing is damaging one another. So many self proclaimed prophets wanting to speak some word just to get some attention. All this is from their pride. I see no revelation but empty slogans. There are two characteristics to false prophets. I will use the term false prophets but it can be the false apostle, teachers, pastors or any Christian who teach with their own authority.
The bible says you will recognize them by their fruit. Which fruit are we looking for? God desires us to bear HIS fruit which glorifies HIM. God's servants must possess HIS fruit. This is the basic level you must first discern. Any person can possess power, spiritual gifts, knowledge, anointing, and experience but this can all become corrupted and we do not want to follow any corrupted person. A person with spiritual gifts does not define them to be a spiritual person. We make the mistake of thinking one is spirtual because one possess spiritual gifts, can hear God (or at least they claim to hear God), prophecy, may have visions/dreams, and experience other supernatural things. Too many Christians chase after signs and wonders neglecting why they have been given such spiritual gifts. The spiritual gifts are given to help you draw closer to God out of grace and many receive such gifts even without repentance.
The proper fruit you need to look and discern are the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Gal 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the [l]sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.
A spiritual man/woman is one who walks as Jesus did. They will walk in LOVE. A spiritual man is one who knows how to love the sheep without getting angry, having jealousy, always gentle, kind, good, and having self control. A spiritual man is one who loves God's people even though they may be disobedient, unruly, rebellious, pride, and stubborn. A spiritual man will constantly be praying for them and he/she will lay down their life as Jesus had if necessary. They walk habitually in the Holy Spirit. A spiritual man/woman has crucified their sinful nature and its passsions on the cross. Moreover, they will not move out of the country abandoning the sheep as some are claiming judgment is coming to their countries. True prophets of God do not move away to another country. True prophets of God are usually martyred!!
A false servant will bear fruit of self focus and the carnal flesh.
Gal 5:18 But if you are guided and led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the Law. 19 Now the practices of the [i]sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), 20 idolatry, [k]sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], 21 envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Whether you are in ministry or a lay believer, we must put an end to the carnal practice. But those who are in authority, if they lack self control, have fits of anger and rage, jealousy, strife, hostility, and etc, then they are on the path of false servants or prophets. But some of you say that you are work in progress? If you are work in progress, then why would you already qualify yourself to call yourself prophets in public?
The second hint in verse 16, "Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? What are thorn bushes and thistles? The grapes and figs represent the good fruit. What type of fruit grows in thron bushes and thistles? Even among thorn bushes grows black berries, red berries, and blue berries. They can be very appealing and delicious. But they are not considered the spiritual good fruit by God. But many will come as it will taste good.
So what are thorns and thistles? What type of ministry would this be? False ministries and false prophets will use the thorns and thistles to lure many Christians. Why and how? The spriritual thorn and thistle ministry is a bait that many fall prey too. It works into people's fear, their carnal nature, hysteria, and end times.
Matthew 13:22 (EXB) And what is the seed ·that fell [sown] among the thorny weeds? That seed is like the person who hears the ·teaching [word; message] but lets worries about this ·life [world; age] and the ·temptation [deceitfulness; seduction] of wealth ·stop that teaching from growing [L choke the word/message]. So the teaching does not produce fruit in that person’s life.
We know the seed is the Word of God. In Matthew 13, Jesus describes the thorn as the worries about life, world, and age as it actually chokes the seed from growing. The seed is overwhelmed. The thorn represents the worries of life, world, and age. The thorn ministries preach the Word with the concerns of the world. They preach with hysteria of our governement, corporations, secret societies, predicting natural calamities, astroids/comets, aliens, haarp, fema camps, social agendas, war, stock market crashes, secular end time events and other secular problems. The Word or Jesus is choked from worries of this or that going to happen. Many Christians are strung along with hype and nonsense with dates predicting the rapture and such.
The Word of God is not able to sink deep into their hearts to grow deep roots but are always distracted with secular worldly events of fear and hysteria. These are your false prophets who lure you away from knowing Jesus Christ and to know more about worldly news and events making you believe Jesus is coming any second and that there is no time left. Such people end up spending more time on chasing signs and events rather than spending quality time with God. How many times must you be falsey told there is no more time left?
Cast away the false prophecy and prophets and go back to basics. Go back to reading, praying and worship and spend time to know the Lord. Yes, HE is coming. But HE is coming for a Church that is Victorious, Overcoming, and Enduring. HE is not coming for a defeated, running to the mountains, storing up food hysteria, Facebook addicted Church. Please wake up while there is still time.
God bless you all!
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Fire of God Church
An End Time Holy Fire Ministry preparing the Bride of Christ to engage for the last days in HIS Glory
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Fire of God Church
An End Time Holy Fire Ministry preparing the Bride of Christ to engage for the last days in HIS Glory
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