What criteria help discern true prophets from those God "did not send"? Starting Point: God’s Own Warning Jeremiah 23:21 – 22 sets the tone: “I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. But if they had stood in My council, they would have proclaimed My words to My people and turned them from their evil ways and their deeds.” Key Criteria Drawn from Scripture • Message must match God’s written Word – Deuteronomy 13:1-4 warns that even accurate predictions are void if the prophet lures listeners away from wholehearted obedience. – Galatians 1:8 reminds us that no “different gospel” is ever from God. • Prediction must come true – Deuteronomy 18:22: “When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the message does not come to pass or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken.” • Fruit must be godly and life-giving – Matthew 7:15-20: “By their fruit you will recognize them.” A holy life, not mere words, authenticates the messenger. – Jeremiah 23:14 shows the opposite: ungodly behavior in false prophets. • Focus must be on turning hearts toward repentance and holiness – Jeremiah 23:22: true prophets “would have proclaimed My words … and turned them from their evil ways.” – False prophets comfort rebels with empty promises of “peace” (Jeremiah 23:17). • Confession must exalt the true Jesus – 1 John 4:2-3: the genuine Spirit confesses “that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.” Any denial of Christ’s incarnation, deity, or lordship marks a counterfeit voice. • Motive must be free from greed or self-promotion – Ezekiel 13:19 condemns prophets who barter divine words “for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread.” – 2 Peter 2:1-3 highlights exploitation “with fabricated words.” Practical Steps for Today 1. Weigh every supposed prophecy against the clear teaching of Scripture. 2. Watch for consistent, Christ-honoring fruit in the prophet’s character and ministry. 3. Give it time: genuine words of God stand the test of fulfilled reality. 4. Stay anchored in fellowship where gifts can be discerned in community (1 Corinthians 14:29). Holding fast to these biblical criteria guards hearts and churches from voices God never sent while welcoming the life-giving words He still chooses to speak. |
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