How can we identify false prophets today, as warned in Jeremiah 27:18? A Living Warning from Jeremiah 27:18 “ But if they are prophets and if the word of the LORD is with them, let them now plead with the LORD Almighty, that the articles that remain in the house of the LORD, in the palace of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem will not be carried off to Babylon.” (Jeremiah 27:18) Jeremiah challenged the self-proclaimed prophets of his day to put their message to the test. Real prophets would intercede before God; false ones could not change anything because God had not sent them. The same principle guards believers now. Key Principles for Discernment Today • God never contradicts Himself; every genuine word lines up with the written Word. • True prophecy ultimately glorifies the Lord, not the messenger. • Authentic voices seek the good of God’s people, not personal gain or popularity. • Intercession and repentance accompany a genuine call from God. Scriptural Tests for Any Prophetic Voice 1. Agreement with Scripture • “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.” (Isaiah 8:20) • If a message departs from the clear teaching of the Bible, the speaker is false—no matter how persuasive the delivery. 2. 100 Percent Accuracy in Predictive Elements • “When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the thing does not occur or come to pass, that is the thing the LORD has not spoken.” (Deuteronomy 18:22) • God is never mistaken; neither are His true spokesmen. 3. Loyalty to the One True God • Even if signs accompany the message, leading people after “other gods” exposes a deceiver. (Deuteronomy 13:1-4) • Christ is always central (Revelation 19:10). 4. Fruit of Character and Conduct • “By their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:15-20) • Look for humility, obedience, purity, sacrificial love—never manipulation or moral compromise. 5. Willingness to Call for Repentance • Jeremiah, Isaiah, and John the Baptist all confronted sin. • False prophets speak smooth words that soothe rebellion (Jeremiah 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:3-4). 6. Spirit-Driven Confession of Christ • “Every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.” (1 John 4:1-3) • Denial of Christ’s incarnation, lordship, or resurrection unmasks error. 7. Intercessory Burden, Not Empty Boasting • Jeremiah 27:18 singles out prayer. Real servants labor before God for the people, rather than offering empty forecasts. 8. Freedom from Greed • “In their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words.” (2 Peter 2:1-3) • Exorbitant fees, relentless merchandising, or a lifestyle of luxury signal danger. Practical Checklist for Everyday Discernment • Compare every prophetic claim with clear passages of Scripture. • Note long-term accuracy rather than short-term excitement. • Observe lifestyle and financial patterns. • Listen for themes of repentance, holiness, and Christ’s glory. • Watch whether prayer and Scripture permeate the ministry. • Stay in accountable fellowship; the Body protects itself when each part clings to the Word. Staying Rooted in the Word Regular reading of the whole counsel of God sharpens spiritual eyesight. Like the Bereans who examined “the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true” (Acts 17:11), believers guard themselves by knowing the text intimately. With the living, inerrant Word as the plumb line, false prophets—then or now—cannot stand unnoticed for long. |
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