What steps can we take to discern true prophecy from false teachings today? Setting the Scene: Clash in the Court of Ahab 1 Kings 22:24 — “Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went up, struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, ‘Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when He departed from me to speak to you?’” • Two prophets stand before Israel’s king: – Zedekiah, backed by 400 colleagues, assuring victory. – Micaiah, alone, warning of disaster. • One is celebrated, the other punished—yet only one speaks for God. • Their confrontation lays out a pattern for testing voices then and now. Step 1: Anchor Every Claim to the Written Word • God never contradicts Himself. Compare any “prophecy” to Scripture: – Isaiah 8:20 — “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.” • Scripture itself calls us to this test: Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17. • If the message twists clear teaching (e.g., denying Christ’s deity or excusing sin), reject it outright. Step 2: Confirm Fulfillment and Accuracy • Deuteronomy 18:21-22 sets the standard: if the word fails, the speaker is false. • Micaiah’s warning (1 Kings 22:17, 34-38) comes true that very day; Zedekiah’s prediction collapses. • God’s prophets may be unpopular, but they are never wrong. Step 3: Examine the Fruit • Matthew 7:15-20 — “By their fruit you will recognize them.” • Look for: – Personal holiness (Galatians 5:22-23). – Humility, not showmanship (James 3:13). – Edifying results in listeners (Ephesians 4:11-16). • Arrogance, greed, or immorality expose a counterfeit, no matter how compelling the speech. Step 4: Test the Spirit Behind the Message • 1 John 4:1-3 — “Test the spirits.” – Does the message exalt the true, incarnate, crucified, risen Jesus? – Does it depend on emotional hype or on God’s unchanging Word? • Micaiah speaks “what the LORD says” (v. 14). Zedekiah relies on theatrics and a self-proclaimed anointing. Step 5: Observe the Cost the Messenger Is Willing to Bear • True servants accept rejection (2 Timothy 3:12). • Micaiah endures prison (1 Kings 22:26-27). • False teachers usually court favor, comfort, and crowds (Jeremiah 6:14; John 12:43). Step 6: Seek the Counsel of the Spirit-Led Community • God often confirms truth through multiple obedient believers (Proverbs 11:14). • The 400 prophets were unanimous yet deceived; their unity lacked submission to Scripture. • Surround yourself with mature believers who will weigh every word, not just applaud it. Practical Checklist for Today ✓ Does the prophecy align with the clear teaching of the Bible? ✓ Is Jesus Christ exalted as Lord in content and motive? ✓ Has the word proven accurate when verifiable? ✓ Do the messenger’s character and conduct display the fruit of the Spirit? ✓ Is there a willingness to suffer rather than compromise truth? ✓ Have wise, Scripture-saturated believers affirmed or corrected it? Hold fast to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22), and you will walk in the steady light that kept Micaiah faithful amid a sea of flattering lies. |
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