Matthew 7:15-6 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
The false prophets come disguised as sheep or members of the congregation. This is not to say there are no bad pastors but the majority of them are within the ranks of the lay believers. They work outside the authority of the church and without permission of the pastors of that church. They are self appointed “prophets” who have their own dreams and visions through their imaginations.
Jeremiah 23:16 AMP “Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Do not listen to the words of the [false] prophets who prophesy to you. They are teaching you worthless things and are leading you into futility; They speak a vision of their own mind and imagination And not [truth] from the mouth of the Lord.”
False prophets are themselves deceived because they do not even realize they are false prophets. They actually believe they hear from God. They can be mixed. But in most part, they are operating on their emotions chasing after weak spiritual baby Christians. Anyone can end up a false prophet and there are more false ones than there are true ones.
Prophesying falsely even one time is enough to make you be defined as a false prophet if you do not realize and repent properly. False prophets are saying God said when actually the demons have said.
How can we tell a false prophet? The Bible says to look for their fruit. You must know them personally and know their history to see if they are consistent people who obey and walk in the word. Do not just let any strangers pray for you as you have no idea who they are. We need to know if they possess the fruit of the Spirit. We need to know if they possess authority. We need to know if they are the same person in church as the same person at home. How is their relationship with their spouses? Their kids? Their work? The Bible says we can know by the way they act. Most clearly are the false prophets who work outside the authority of the church or pastors. They are aggressive and physically seek out weak ones. They are the ones who sneak around undermining their authority/pastors who operate without permission.
Would you allow a homeless man to pray for the restoration of your finances? Would you go to a homeless person for financial advice? Would you go to a person whose marriage is falling apart for marriage advice or prayer? You need to know who is the one that wants to pray over you? In fact, there are homeless Christians who go around trying to prophesied to people to bless them when in fact they themselves are cursed. We can pray for each other but praying over someone is another matter.
This is not to say God can’t use such people but the question remains. Even though some may have problems, have they been given authority to give counsel and pray over others? The High priest Eli was corrupted but God still used Eli to prophesy over Hannah and still operate as the high priest. But fearfully in the end, Eli and his boys were judged and killed by God.
What is the harvest of false prophet? What are the signs of their judgement? Many of them will have serious digestive problems.
Jeremiah 23:15 AMP “Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts in regard to the prophets, ‘Behold, I am going to feed them [the bitterness of] wormwood And make them drink the poisonous water [of gall], For from the [counterfeit] prophets of Jerusalem Profaneness and ungodliness have spread into all the land.’”
As Elijah said, the true Word comes with Fire.
Jeremiah 23:29 “Does not my word burn like fire?” says the Lord. “Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces?”
Jeremiah 23:30-32 “Therefore,” says the Lord, “I am against these prophets who steal messages from each other and claim they are from me. I am against these smooth-tongued prophets who say, ‘This prophecy is from the Lord!’ I am against these false prophets. Their imaginary dreams are flagrant lies that lead my people into sin. I did not send or appoint them, and they have no message at all for my people. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
In any moment or instant, anyone can become a false prophet. The devil only needs to deceive you once to sin against God. Please be more mindful and serious before desiring authority when your heart still needs to be purified.
The Bible says do not be so hasty to lay hands on just anyone. Therefore, look at your own fruit before you counsel or pray over others. It is fine to pray for people but praying and propheizing over them is another serious matter. Are you one with authority for God’s Kingdom is established as a monarchy. We need to understand spiritual authority or we will get into serious trouble.
The false prophets come disguised as sheep or members of the congregation. This is not to say there are no bad pastors but the majority of them are within the ranks of the lay believers. They work outside the authority of the church and without permission of the pastors of that church. They are self appointed “prophets” who have their own dreams and visions through their imaginations.
Jeremiah 23:16 AMP “Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Do not listen to the words of the [false] prophets who prophesy to you. They are teaching you worthless things and are leading you into futility; They speak a vision of their own mind and imagination And not [truth] from the mouth of the Lord.”
False prophets are themselves deceived because they do not even realize they are false prophets. They actually believe they hear from God. They can be mixed. But in most part, they are operating on their emotions chasing after weak spiritual baby Christians. Anyone can end up a false prophet and there are more false ones than there are true ones.
Prophesying falsely even one time is enough to make you be defined as a false prophet if you do not realize and repent properly. False prophets are saying God said when actually the demons have said.
How can we tell a false prophet? The Bible says to look for their fruit. You must know them personally and know their history to see if they are consistent people who obey and walk in the word. Do not just let any strangers pray for you as you have no idea who they are. We need to know if they possess the fruit of the Spirit. We need to know if they possess authority. We need to know if they are the same person in church as the same person at home. How is their relationship with their spouses? Their kids? Their work? The Bible says we can know by the way they act. Most clearly are the false prophets who work outside the authority of the church or pastors. They are aggressive and physically seek out weak ones. They are the ones who sneak around undermining their authority/pastors who operate without permission.
Would you allow a homeless man to pray for the restoration of your finances? Would you go to a homeless person for financial advice? Would you go to a person whose marriage is falling apart for marriage advice or prayer? You need to know who is the one that wants to pray over you? In fact, there are homeless Christians who go around trying to prophesied to people to bless them when in fact they themselves are cursed. We can pray for each other but praying over someone is another matter.
This is not to say God can’t use such people but the question remains. Even though some may have problems, have they been given authority to give counsel and pray over others? The High priest Eli was corrupted but God still used Eli to prophesy over Hannah and still operate as the high priest. But fearfully in the end, Eli and his boys were judged and killed by God.
What is the harvest of false prophet? What are the signs of their judgement? Many of them will have serious digestive problems.
Jeremiah 23:15 AMP “Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts in regard to the prophets, ‘Behold, I am going to feed them [the bitterness of] wormwood And make them drink the poisonous water [of gall], For from the [counterfeit] prophets of Jerusalem Profaneness and ungodliness have spread into all the land.’”
As Elijah said, the true Word comes with Fire.
Jeremiah 23:29 “Does not my word burn like fire?” says the Lord. “Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces?”
Jeremiah 23:30-32 “Therefore,” says the Lord, “I am against these prophets who steal messages from each other and claim they are from me. I am against these smooth-tongued prophets who say, ‘This prophecy is from the Lord!’ I am against these false prophets. Their imaginary dreams are flagrant lies that lead my people into sin. I did not send or appoint them, and they have no message at all for my people. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
In any moment or instant, anyone can become a false prophet. The devil only needs to deceive you once to sin against God. Please be more mindful and serious before desiring authority when your heart still needs to be purified.
The Bible says do not be so hasty to lay hands on just anyone. Therefore, look at your own fruit before you counsel or pray over others. It is fine to pray for people but praying and propheizing over them is another serious matter. Are you one with authority for God’s Kingdom is established as a monarchy. We need to understand spiritual authority or we will get into serious trouble.
Pastor Steve
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