How can we know which prophecy is from God and which is counterfeit?
Not everyone who speaks a prophetic word is actually hearing from the Lord. There are such things as false profits. How can you tell a true word from God verses a word that is not from God? How can you discern a false prophet?
This post will attempt to clarify these questions from a biblical perspective.
God says to test the Spirits. In this manner you can clarify what is coming from the Spirit of God and what is not coming from the Spirit of God.
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. 1 John 4:1″
A true prophetic word will always line up with what the Bible says is true. It will always result in edifying, comforting, encouraging, strengthening, revealing, instructing, building up, or convicting (1 Corinthian 14:1-33.) Refer to page on “What is prophecy?” It will not tear someone or a group of people down, but will allow the person or group of people to get a glimpse of who God really is, of what God wants for that person/group, or of how much God really loves and cares about him/her or each person in the group.
Ask yourself does this word edify and build up? Does it line up with the word of God?
Also, look for the person’ s character.
There will be fruit evident in the life of someone who hears from God and follows after Him.
22″ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
The acts of the sinful nature are just the opposite.
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-22
I personally feel this is a good litmus test to tell who is really following after God and hearing from the Lord and who is not.
Of course we all fall into sin, but the righteous person becomes convicted by his/her sin because of their relationship to God, repents to God, and seeks God’s help in turning away from the sin. Some sins take a bit longer to fall off than others but continual abiding in God will eventually result in total freedom!
Also, here’s two other things to look for:
And if anyone says to you, behold here is the Christ! Or, Behold, there! You shall not believe. For false Christs and false prophets will be raised, and they will give signs and wonders in order to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Mark 13:22
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, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 1 John 4:2
There are such things as false prophets, these are people who purposely misrepresent God and speak false words in order to lead people astray. This is why it is extremely important we cultivate our own relationship to God and learn to hear God for ourselves. God will never contradict himself or go against what he has already spoken through scripture.
“God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” Numbers 23:19
“I the LORD do not change.” Malachi 3:6
Even a Godly human is subject to make mistakes or to later fall into sin or error, which is why God wants us to follow only him and hear him so well that we will not be mislead by others when they go astray.
Above all, the words that the prophet, prophetic person, minister, or teacher speaks should be done so in love. What is the prophetic person’s motive?
3″As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith. 5The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. ” 1st Timothy 1: 3-7
3″If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to Godly teaching, 4he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. “1st Timothy 6:3-5
So is the person giving the prophetic message more concerned about pleasing God and getting God’s words correct or is he/she more concerned about their public image, looking good, and reaping material gain, status, or power from their gift?
God trains a righteous person who is submissive to him how to walk and grow in their prophetic gifting without it going to their head or de-railing them from serving and loving God more than anything else. It’s not about the gift; it’s about the Giver of the gift which is Christ Jesus himself. Without Him we would have nothing.
Although God will guide all his followers and help people in their giftings, we all have free will and because of this some times people choose to move in their gifting outside of God. Even an otherwise Godly person can make mistakes with their prophetic gift and speak falsely, adding on parts that God did not speak, or believing they heard something they did not, or speak something under pressure to do so because it sounds good, or even get a big head. A lack of maturity and carelessness in speaking God’s words can lead to confusion. No Christian who is using these gifts should take it lightly, let it go to their head, or use it for their own gain. God will surely hold us all accountable. If they allow God, he will allow them to grow gradually at a pace they can handle, which will safeguard against these problems. If they make mistakes in this it can not only hurt them, but the person or people they are trying to help. It is important for them to repent, be humble, and surrender to God’s timing and direction. This is usually why the growing process can take time. Better to be slow and sure than to grow too fast.
So when they give the message ask God what he thinks. Does it fit with what you think God is saying to you? Does it fit with his character? Do you feel peace in your spirit from the word, or are you uneasy? Does it feel right, or not quite right? Many people mean well, but they are just not trained well enough, or mature enough in their gifting, yet, or perhaps they confused a little bit of imagination with the word. Perhaps they got part of the message right and part of it wrong? Ask God which part is right. Always filter everything through your own relationship to God. He will speak to you about it all. If you’re really unsure about it, ask for confirmation. God has no interest in confusing you. Confusion is not from God. If he wants you to do something he’ll make it clear.
Then there’s also the question of timing. It’s more likely to be from God if the timing is also right, but don’t use this measure by itself because Satan could come at some opportune time to throw you off track. God will train the prophetic person not only in what to say, but in how to deliver the message, and when, and to whom. God will sometimes speak to someone privately about a matter and may not wish for the information to be shared, or He may want it shared later, or with only a particular person or a select group of people. Does the prophetic person seem sensitive to God’s timing? The person who receives a word or revelation from God needs to ask God if he/she should speak, to whom, when, and how. Is the prophetic person sensitive to God’s direction? Sometimes, the message you get could be a message God wants you to have now just to encourage you, but the actual prophecy could be fulfilled at a later time in your life. Ask God about the timing of the message you got.
Then there’s also the question of timing. It’s more likely to be from God if the timing is also right, but don’t use this measure by itself because Satan could come at some opportune time to throw you off track. God will train the prophetic person not only in what to say, but in how to deliver the message, and when, and to whom. God will sometimes speak to someone privately about a matter and may not wish for the information to be shared, or He may want it shared later, or with only a particular person or a select group of people. Does the prophetic person seem sensitive to God’s timing? The person who receives a word or revelation from God needs to ask God if he/she should speak, to whom, when, and how. Is the prophetic person sensitive to God’s direction? Sometimes, the message you get could be a message God wants you to have now just to encourage you, but the actual prophecy could be fulfilled at a later time in your life. Ask God about the timing of the message you got.
A person who makes mistakes in this, but who repents and is open to the Lord’s timing can probably be salvaged as a prophet and go on to become a really good, true prophet for the Lord if called to be one.
However, there are those who continually choose to disobey the Lord, move outside of his timing or will, and these people will become more and more deceived and hurt more and more people. They are false prophets. They will have to answer to God about this.
Then there are those who purposely misrepresent God and try to fool people. They are the worst kind of false prophets. Their judgement will be harsh.
When God gives a gift, the person with the gift is held to a higher standard of behavior. Leading people astray is a serious offense in God’s eyes.
Then there are those people God can use on an occasional basis through no merit of their own or despite their character to deliver a message like he did with the donkey (Numbers 22). It could come through an unsaved relative. You might not ordinarily receive such a message, but if you are following God, and a message comes from an unlikely source God will prompt you in your spirit, “Pay attention to this!” Remember, it will always line up with the word of God.
Be careful about directional words, words that tell you to do something such as sell all your possessions and become a missionary in Haiti. With important things like that God will usually tell you fist and then use the prophet or prophetic word to “confirm” his word. Just because it sounds good doesn’t mean it’s from God.
As you grow in God and spend time in his Word (Bible), you will begin to understand His character, and the more you understand His character the easier it will be able to tell when God is speaking to you. Really, spending time in his Word is integral for being able to discern correctly. I can’t stress that enough.
In these end times Satan will come to decieve many and he will actually use part of the scriptures to do it and then put little twists on it which lead people astray. He will eithther add things on to the scriptures which aren’ there or omit essential parts that are. Unless you know the scriptures well, you might not catch the departure.
Stay in God’s presence and Word all the time and God will lead you and guide you into all truth. You will know.
