Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!(Ezekiel 13:3)
Much of what the true prophets of the Old Testament did was to confront the false prophets of that day. In our time, this is also one of the signs of a God sent prophet, to distinguish them from the many counterfeits that are always near the real men of God. The prophet will speak against those who hear, not from God, but from their own imaginations. Men like John MacArthur or the late A.W. Tozer are persons I would consider to be a “prophet”.
We all need to be on the lookout for the false prophets of today, or any day, if we are reading material from the past. Just because you do not believe in so-called “prophecy” today does not mean that you cannot be fooled. Let’s look at this for a moment.
The false prophets of today are often not acting as fortune tellers, but fortune sellers. They have guaranteed ways of garnering God’s blessing for your life. Or so they imply, what, with their steps to success, keys to the kingdom, miracle water, anointed prayer cloth, or whatever the toy in the happy meal package is this month. These days they are not so much into telling the future, but selling the future. They may not even call themselves a prophet, but they are certainly looking to profit, if not from your money, then from your recognition. That is where even the non-charismatic person can get duped.
It is up to the believer to be able to look to the Word of God to discern truth from error. The Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, points to many warning signs of a false prophet. Often false prophets understand that others are on the lookout for them, or they don’t want to be considered a false prophet, because they are deluded by their own status of self. Because of this they will make sure to maintain a sterling character, and many will not make wild predictions.
However, this isn’t the only measure of and the only way to spot a false prophet. The false or foolish prophets are not only those who incorrectly foretell the future, or those whose moral character is lacking, but also those who are self-promoters instead of God promoters, and those who do not confront the people with their sin, but instead speak smooth words designed to flatter the people. Mark it down; a false prophet will fail on one or more of these accounts. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
Often we hear talk that the Bible is God’s “owner’s manual”. This is wrong. The Bible is not an owner’s manual; God is not a vehicle for you to drive. Others use the Bible and its promises like a witch uses her dark books. They distort the Word of God. If you would use proper context and a decent hermeneutic, you might see that they often claim promises that are not actually there. When we use the Word like a magic book, we try and find "spells" to justify our actions. They ask you to plant your seed, but what they really mean is grant their greed.
Self-deluded and self-important people often take the title of “prophet”, or assume a position of leadership within the visible church, but speak little more than empty words. There will always be, however, weak minded, backslidden, or fleshly churchgoers who will flock to these popular but poisonous teachers. Many whom haven’t been renewed in their minds or transformed in their character are simply looking for an edge. What they get is cut to pieces.
With so many examples of false prophets, so many warnings against falling under their influence, and so many signs given to distinguish the true from the false, it is easy to see that those who do fall prey to false prophets are often ignorant of the Word of God on the subject.
Sell out to God: read the Word, know the Truth, and stay with that!
17 comments:
”False prophets… do not confront the people with their sin, but instead speak smooth words designed to flatter the people.”
”These days they are not so much into telling the future, but selling the future.”
Matt 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"
But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?"
So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Jesus doesn’t require a poverty of earthly goods, or to cut all ties with past relationships for entrance into a covenant with Him, but He does often call for a dearth of desire for the shallow & physically tangible things of this world as He retrains our focus on the next.
He dwells on two diverse diversions of men’s hearts in this passage. He sees a love of wealth within the young man’s heart & accordingly, calls him to deal with the desire by selling off what has ensnared him. Then, as he addresses Peter, He changes His focus from an improper love of wealth to a (past or present) inordinate love of people & earthbound relationships, pointing instead to an eternal heavenly relationship with Himself. So, I think a true prophet would also “sell” the future- not the immediate & superficial gratifications which please the flesh, but the unending joy of eternity with Christ.
Jesus demonstrates the nature of a true prophet- He often doesn’t minister to our interim wants & desires, but to our profound need.
Steve -
With reference to your commentary...I think many of us have been deceived into thinking we can have "the best of both worlds". But as "the end of time" gets closer and closer we are not going to be able to sit on that proverbial "fence"........the menu will not be "our way" and we will have to "choose this day whom we will serve".
Many of us don't understand the concept of only have 2 choices....we don't get the point. If I had been that young man I would have wondered why I couldn't keep my wealth AND follow Jesus.......that's the generation I come from....but I think it's also what's being "prophesied" by many so-called prophets.
Chris, thanks for your thoughts.
”If I had been that young man I would have wondered why I couldn't keep my wealth AND follow Jesus.”
I believe this illustrates my main point that Jesus was the prototype for a true prophet. In my estimation, Scripture never demands worldly poverty of a believer, but it does demand spiritual poverty- “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” In other words, the only poverty essential for one to “see the kingdom of heaven” is that of the heart. Our Lord, being a True Prophet, saw the young man’s wealth was the cause of his spiritual encumbrance, resulting in His call to dump it all, therein breaking it’s hold on his heart & freeing him to completely “follow” Him. (Interestingly enough, the young man seemed to have some “prophetical” insight into his own heart, as pressed Jesus in verse 20 with the query- “What do I still lack?” He seemed to realize that, in spite of keeping written commands, he was still lacking.)
Thank you Steve - (the imaginings) of my heart really scares me sometimes.
False prophets -- bad.
People who refer to the Bible as the “Owner’s Manual” – not so bad.
I have never heard the “Owner’s Manual” analogy used as a way to control God or get what you want, but it is not a stretch to imagine that a person could do that. In my experience, this phrase has always been a way to say that no one has a better plan than our Maker, and we do well to heed his instructions.
stevehall, "Blessed are the poor in spirit..." Now, there's a future blog topic!
Clarification:
but it is not a stretch to imagine that a person could do that.
That is to say, I could see someone ERRONEOUSLY going there, but that should never be the intended meaning behind the analogy.
True, but the people I hear do this most often are the ones who are misusing it...
It is like the term fundamentalist, or evangelical, they have been misused so often they have lost their intended meaning...
There will always be, however, weak minded, backslidden, or fleshly churchgoers who will flock to these popular but poisonous teachers.
I think this is a significant part of the warnings in Hebrews. We should have grown in the word, and be able to teach. Instead we have not followed your end advice, and therefore many are easy prey for wolves.
This is a respost from 10/10/06, but I was thinking it would be good to see again right now...
Thanks for the warning - sometimes the noise of the world lulls us to sleep and things can sneak up on you.
The Bible is not an owner’s manual; God is not a vehicle for you to drive.
Amen to that.
I sometimes think that false prophets are the ones who tell us what we want to hear as opposed to what we need to hear.
"self-promoters instead of God promoters"
This is so true, and they try to hide this under a lot of loud "Praise the Lord"'s & "Hallelujah"'s.
I'd love to see Benny Hinn rip his white suit to threads when the people fall down before him.
$$$$$ is what their bellies love, and they serve their "own bellies". Romans 16:18
Good thoughts. And we need to hear this over and over.
Kim, yes, it always is so...
Don, I agree, and that is why we posted this again....
This is a respost from 10/10/06 . . .
That's good because I saw my comment and couldn't remember posting it, but I have slept since October.
Reading through it this time your description of false prophets as "those who do not confront the people with their sin, but instead speak smooth words designed to flatter the people" called to mind Proverbs 27:6
Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
Heavenly Warrior here. Unfortunitly it's not just false prophets we have to watch out for, but this self proclaimed Messiah who is gathering followers to him because he can sin in order to spread his so called word. This is whats scares me, cause the teens an young adults of this generation are just flocking to him, because he does the same they do. Instead of dieing to the flesh, their feeding it. My prayers go out to them that God will open their eyes an they can truly see him for what he his. A fraud, someone who is using the Lords name for his owne benefit an profit.
His condemnation will be swift and just, unless he repents...false Christ's will appear more and more as we near the Day...
It may be a repost, but certainly fits the day in which we are living.
David Wilkerson is another man of modern times that I consider to be a prophet of God.
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