While I was studying the book of Hebrews this morning, this dropped into my mind that we have more prophets of baal than the prophets of God these days, deceiving people and luring people into the kingdom of darkness.
So I was inspired to share these two sure ways to detect a false prophet when you come across one so you too won't be deceived and lured away.
Matthew 7:15-16
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."
You see, if Satan himself can disguise as and angel of light, it is no big deal for his ministers to do same. Meaning it is an easy thing for them and that is what is out there now because they know that if they come as they are people will not listen nor follow them nor fall into their traps.
So here are two sure ways you can always detect one when you come across him. And mind you, you can come across them anywhere. They are everywhere- in your church, office, organization, community...everywhere. So watch out for them.
- By Their Words.
The Bible says by their words or by their fruits we shall know them. (Matthew 7:15-16). How ? Do they speak a different language, talk in a special way, have a particular tune of voice ? Of course NO. Then How do we know them by their words ? Follow me !
Hebrews 1:1-2
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;"
God had spoken to our fore fathers by the prophets but now, in this our dispensation, God speaks by His Son, Jesus Christ. Does that mean that the prophets are irrelevant now ? NO ! Does that mean that God can no longer speak to the people through the prophets ? NO ! It simply means that what the Son says now is supreme. It simply means that the prophets take a queue from the Son. It simply means that the words of the prophets are subject to analysis whose analytical tool is the words of the Son, Jesus Christ.
In Matthew 17 , God heard the discrepancy in the mind of the Jew, including Peter, as to who they should listen to. So God wanting to make a clear cut, took The prophets(Elijah), the law(Moses) and the Son(Jesus Christ ?) and revealed ;
"And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; HEAR YE HIM."
Matthew 17:3-5
Therefore, any prophet or prophecy that is not in tangent with the words of Jesus Christ is a false prophet or a false prophecy. It does not matter what the prophets know about you, whether he tells you how many siblings you have, what you ate, the name of you parents, it does not matter his information of you, if his words or prophecy is not in tangent with the word of Jesus, disregard him or her. God is not an author of confusion and not a liar and never can he tell lies.
However, it does means that you as an individual must know and understand what Jesus said, says and is saying. Meaning that you have to have a fellowship with Jesus for hi to tell you things, you have to study the bible to see and know things, you have to ask questions.
Colossians 2:6-8
"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."
- By Their Strong Quest to Satisfy their Belly.
Philippians 3:17-19
"Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)"
Carefully analyse the motive of their prophecy or words in their emphasis, in most cases of which is done unconsciously. They unknowingly emphasize on their material gain to satisfy their belly. This was not so with the prophets of old. They did not make high demand of nor lay emphasis on material gains. Elijah, Elisha, Samuel, Eli, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah etc were all more concerned about God and the people with minimal or no emphasy on personal material gains.
Note however, that rewarding or appreciating a prophet is a very kind and necessary gesture but not on an imposing level to the hurt of the person or people.
Matthew 10:7-8
"Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give."
2Kings 5:15-16
"And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
But he said, As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused."
2Kings 4:8-10; 16-17
"And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.
And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.
Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither........
And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.
And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.
So now, refuse to be deceived and begin to fish out all the false prophets in your surroundings.
God bless you.