Usually when a prophet comes to preach at my church I cringe because it's such a fine line. I don't always believe everything they say (or wait until it actually happens to believe it). I don't believe in frauds like Benny Hinn whatsoever but people seem to buy into him. I remember a guy who prophesied that the U.S. Election was going to be cancelled and that Obama will continue to be president, that obviously did not happen. My parents and family member believed him but I being the smart one never believed him from the start and laughed. My question is how do we know whether a prophet is really legit and his or her words are from God? I'm never convinced by any I see but I know they exist out there. How can I distinguish who's fake or not?
How does one know whether a prophet or prophecy is of and/or from God?
- Thread starter Socreta93
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D
Smart Alex answer: If it doesn't happen, follow the law. Kill the prophet.
(They did have to be 100% correct, or they were killed.)
More reasonable answer: What don't we know already that's so important it has to be prophesied about? OT prophets preached what was about to happen and how it would work out. (Emmanuel is coming.) We know how it worked out -- Jesus came. We know how it ends -- God triumphs. If anyone is feeding you a line of bull about the economy, politics, or aliens are coming in unicorn spaceships LEAVE THAT CHURCH! Don't waste time learning junk! Prophecy is about God, not the US.
(They did have to be 100% correct, or they were killed.)
More reasonable answer: What don't we know already that's so important it has to be prophesied about? OT prophets preached what was about to happen and how it would work out. (Emmanuel is coming.) We know how it worked out -- Jesus came. We know how it ends -- God triumphs. If anyone is feeding you a line of bull about the economy, politics, or aliens are coming in unicorn spaceships LEAVE THAT CHURCH! Don't waste time learning junk! Prophecy is about God, not the US.
Dont follow feelings, the Mormons claim that as their proof of truth.
The enemy can absolutely use feelings against you to deceive you.
If what they preach is not backed up by the Word of God, then they arent from God. God would not purposefully contradict Himself.
If their predictions do not come true, then its probly safe to assume they arent a prophet of God.
From Deut 18-
19 I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. 20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.”
21 You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.
The enemy can absolutely use feelings against you to deceive you.
If what they preach is not backed up by the Word of God, then they arent from God. God would not purposefully contradict Himself.
If their predictions do not come true, then its probly safe to assume they arent a prophet of God.
From Deut 18-
19 I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. 20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.”
21 You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?” 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed.
I think prophecy (speaking forth) today is usually related to prophetic insight... or maybe the spirit leading you to bring up a particular Scripture in a Bible study.
1 CORINTHIANS 14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,
1 CORINTHIANS 14:25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
1 CORINTHIANS 14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,
1 CORINTHIANS 14:25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
M
I'm a bit confused as we have never had a "prophet" preach in my church.
We have had several guest speakers over the years but no one is ever invited
or introduced to preach for their "prophetic abilities". Guest speakers are usually invited
because they are recognised as gifted speakers, teachers, preachers etc.
On the odd occasions after the main Sunday service or a mid week meeting, we may
invite someone who is gifted to teach specifically on their gifting or give a word of
testimony for people who are interested.
Sometimes people within my own church have had prophetic words to say, but I don't
think any of them would call themselves prophets just because of the occasional
inspired word here and there.
Personally I would be a little worrried about a church which went out of its way
to invite outside Prophets to preach to the whole congregation. Why would
an outsider have special words of knowledge for the congregation, but not anyone
within the congregation?
Just my thoughts anyway for what it's worth.
We have had several guest speakers over the years but no one is ever invited
or introduced to preach for their "prophetic abilities". Guest speakers are usually invited
because they are recognised as gifted speakers, teachers, preachers etc.
On the odd occasions after the main Sunday service or a mid week meeting, we may
invite someone who is gifted to teach specifically on their gifting or give a word of
testimony for people who are interested.
Sometimes people within my own church have had prophetic words to say, but I don't
think any of them would call themselves prophets just because of the occasional
inspired word here and there.
Personally I would be a little worrried about a church which went out of its way
to invite outside Prophets to preach to the whole congregation. Why would
an outsider have special words of knowledge for the congregation, but not anyone
within the congregation?
Just my thoughts anyway for what it's worth.
That's easy socreta but people don't think of God in the following terms? You know something is of God not only with regard to prophecy but with one's prayer life "WHEN REALITY PROVES GOD IS RIGHT." It has "NOTHING" to do with your feelings because your feelings are subjective.
In fact, look at what you just said in your post? " I remember a guy who prophesied that the U.S. Election was going to be cancelled and that Obama will continue to be president, that obviously did not happen." See, the reality of what the guy said did not happen, therefore he is a false prophet. There is also another aspect to this? I have been praying for my brother to be saved for over 50 years every single day. I have not seen him in over ten years and six months ago his wife died of cancer. He called me and wanted to visit us over Thanksgiving. The first day here he was beside himself and lonely and I was able to tell him about Jesus Christ. We ended up praying together and he is now saved. I did tell him about Jesus over those 50 years but he never seem interested so I just kept praying for him. You never give up. Hopes this helps!
IN GOD THE SON,
bluto
In fact, look at what you just said in your post? " I remember a guy who prophesied that the U.S. Election was going to be cancelled and that Obama will continue to be president, that obviously did not happen." See, the reality of what the guy said did not happen, therefore he is a false prophet. There is also another aspect to this? I have been praying for my brother to be saved for over 50 years every single day. I have not seen him in over ten years and six months ago his wife died of cancer. He called me and wanted to visit us over Thanksgiving. The first day here he was beside himself and lonely and I was able to tell him about Jesus Christ. We ended up praying together and he is now saved. I did tell him about Jesus over those 50 years but he never seem interested so I just kept praying for him. You never give up. Hopes this helps!
IN GOD THE SON,
bluto
These are the tests:
1. Does the prophecy come true? (Sometimes this is a hard one to confirm, since we never know just how far down the line it will happen. Like end times prophecies that are not yet fulfilled. That doesn't make them untrue.)
2. Does the prophecy glorify God?
3 Does the prophecy add to scripture (false), or apply existing scripture to today's events (true)?
4. Is the prophecy given and interpreted in an organized manner or is it an uncontrolled free-for-all?
5. Is the one giving the prophecy humble or a braggart?
1. Does the prophecy come true? (Sometimes this is a hard one to confirm, since we never know just how far down the line it will happen. Like end times prophecies that are not yet fulfilled. That doesn't make them untrue.)
2. Does the prophecy glorify God?
3 Does the prophecy add to scripture (false), or apply existing scripture to today's events (true)?
4. Is the prophecy given and interpreted in an organized manner or is it an uncontrolled free-for-all?
5. Is the one giving the prophecy humble or a braggart?
H
The Bible clearly says He gave some to be prophets... Anyone who closes the book of Acts as tho it is finished is ignorant of God's work.. We are the continuation of that book.. We are still catching and building up the body.. Sadly in part BC folks teach we aren't..
Like Demi said, you'll feel it in your spirit.. Not like feeling emotions or feeling with the body, those are not the spirit.. feeling or sense or a knowing.. it should jive with what you already know.. but if spiritually you're not open to it BC you haven't gotten to know God in Spirit then you'd have no idea what's true... once you know how God operates, you know when it's Him or not.. He never contrary to Himself.. A flow occurs
Generally speaking..
Like Demi said, you'll feel it in your spirit.. Not like feeling emotions or feeling with the body, those are not the spirit.. feeling or sense or a knowing.. it should jive with what you already know.. but if spiritually you're not open to it BC you haven't gotten to know God in Spirit then you'd have no idea what's true... once you know how God operates, you know when it's Him or not.. He never contrary to Himself.. A flow occurs
Generally speaking..
Hi Socreta,
It's time we obeyed scripture and heed what Paul told us to do as he told the Corinthians. Corinthians 14 says this.
29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent.31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
So where are the judges? I've been in more than a handful of Charismatic churches, some very wild and one pretty conservative. In none of them did anyone judge the prophecies coming forth. None.
That simply encourages all the false prophecy to come forth if they aren't going to be held accountable to the body. It's time to judge all things as a protection to the whole body. It's love to judge, it's unloving to allow these false prophecies to continue within the church.
It's time we obeyed scripture and heed what Paul told us to do as he told the Corinthians. Corinthians 14 says this.
29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent.31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
So where are the judges? I've been in more than a handful of Charismatic churches, some very wild and one pretty conservative. In none of them did anyone judge the prophecies coming forth. None.
That simply encourages all the false prophecy to come forth if they aren't going to be held accountable to the body. It's time to judge all things as a protection to the whole body. It's love to judge, it's unloving to allow these false prophecies to continue within the church.
S
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I think a prophecy needs to present certain criteria to be considered a bona fide fulfilled prophecy. Here are 5 necessary things I propose:[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]1- the prophecy unambiguously and accurately envisions the event alleged to be the fulfillment[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]2- the prophecy was made well in advance of the event predicted[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]3- the event actually came true[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]4- the predicted event that come true could not have been staged to fulfill the prophecy[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]5- the evidence cannot be plausibly explained as a lucky guess[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I feel accepting a prophecy that fails any of those five points would be a mistake.[/FONT]
By the way I started another thread recently on prophecies and I'm looking for biblical prophecies that fulfill those 5 points I propose, so feel free to visit my thread and comment there if you feel you can contribute something.
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]1- the prophecy unambiguously and accurately envisions the event alleged to be the fulfillment[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]2- the prophecy was made well in advance of the event predicted[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]3- the event actually came true[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]4- the predicted event that come true could not have been staged to fulfill the prophecy[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]5- the evidence cannot be plausibly explained as a lucky guess[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]I feel accepting a prophecy that fails any of those five points would be a mistake.[/FONT]
By the way I started another thread recently on prophecies and I'm looking for biblical prophecies that fulfill those 5 points I propose, so feel free to visit my thread and comment there if you feel you can contribute something.
L
one should first study the differences between old and new testaments
people who have an old testament complex are not operating in the gift described in the new
people also get a word of knowledge confused with prophecy...people calling themselves prophets are manipulative and easily spotted
if you do not have discernment, you are not a prophet...how do you suppose all those fake prophecies fly around?
a person receives what they think is a word from God...they do not use discernment and they start operating from 'another' spirit and out of the flesh
it's really not complicated...problems arise because many confuse the operation of the gift of prophecy with old testament prophets...
and nothing I say about lthis has ever made any difference here whenever the subject comes up
people seem to want a spiritual experience and accept them without discernment ...the fake prophecies and teachings that are so widespread are evidence of that
people who have an old testament complex are not operating in the gift described in the new
people also get a word of knowledge confused with prophecy...people calling themselves prophets are manipulative and easily spotted
if you do not have discernment, you are not a prophet...how do you suppose all those fake prophecies fly around?
a person receives what they think is a word from God...they do not use discernment and they start operating from 'another' spirit and out of the flesh
it's really not complicated...problems arise because many confuse the operation of the gift of prophecy with old testament prophets...
and nothing I say about lthis has ever made any difference here whenever the subject comes up
people seem to want a spiritual experience and accept them without discernment ...the fake prophecies and teachings that are so widespread are evidence of that
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L
This ^^^^^^is what scripture teaches
it's not about how we 'feel' when we hear something
that, is actually a dangerous criteria if it is the only one a person goes by
further, a prophet or one operating in a similar gift...word of knowledge...will increase in that gift as they use it...but only if they adhere to the warnings in scripture and do not go off track and use their 'gift' for their own person...this happens and destroys the real gift
then, you end up with people threatening others, manipulating, telling others what God's will is, and so on