TITLE: HOW TO RECOGNIZE FALSE PROPHETS
TITLE: HOW TO RECOGNIZE FALSE PROPHETS
SCRIPTURE:
“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. 2 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, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spiritof truth and the spirit of falsehood.” (1John 4:1—6 NIV)
OBSERVATION:
It’s a crucial warning to all of us believers: do not believe every spirit but test the spirit to see whether they are from God. Because many false prophets have gone out into the world, false prophets have gone out into the world from where we may ask? From within the church. They speak the name of Jesus, perform miracles in the name of Jesus, speak false dreams and visions of hope to people, and have deceived many believers. This underscores the importance of our discernment and responsibility as believers. John did not say we shouldn’t believe in prophecy. But he is saying learn to recognize the fake and the genuine prophets when you hear them. I am in ministry because of those who genuinely have the gift of prophecy and spoke those words over my life. I did not seek them out. Five individuals in five different times and spoke the same prophetic word over me. Now, I see every single prophecy they spoke over my life years ago, in full display in my ministry today.
We are not to believe any prophets just because they talk about Jesus. We are and must TEST the spirits to see whether they are from God or not. John gives a helpful test on recognizing the Spirit of God. This is important to remember; when we recognize the Spirit of God, we will also identify the false prophets. It starts with us as believers recognizing the Spirit of God first and not following any spirit that comes our way. How do we recognize the Spirit of God?
· Every spirit acknowledging that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. There is no if, but, or when question about who Jesus Christ is. Either Jesus is from God or not.
· But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is NOT from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist you have heard coming and is already even now in the world…This is the spirit that only acknowledges that Jesus is a good moral leader and a great teacher, but not God. Yet, we, as believers, can take confidence in the victory we have in Christ over such spirits.
John then affirms and encourages the believers to be who they are in Christ. We are not to fear the spirits now operating in the world. We are children of God. We are greater than those who are operating in the world. We are not to be afraid of those who reject their prophetic dreams and false visions over our lives. We are to TEST and not be fearful of those who claim to be prophets. Whenever someone says, I want to prophesy over you, don’t be afraid to test their words against what Christ has already done in your life.
We are not to fear because we have overcome them. We are not to fear because the one in us is greater than the one in the world. Those are from the world and, therefore, speak from the world’s viewpoint, which the world listens to. But we are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us, but whoever is not from God does not listen to us, and that is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. John encourages believers not to be afraid of confronting the false prophet who speaks false visions and hopes into our lives. Just because they say they are prophets does not mean they speak for God. Be careful, be aware, and be warned.
APPLICATION:
I am grateful for this warning as we journey in these last days. So many genuinely have the prophetic gifts that God has gifted them with. But there are so many false prophets as well who have the world’s viewpoint in their prophecy over so many people’s lives. I am grateful to those who had a god given prophetic gift who spoke into my life over 40 years ago. The prophetic words were not about my blessing but about how to fear God, walk in obedience, and seek his purpose, and the blessings will become mine. I will continue to test every spirit and never be intimidated by the false prophets. I will continue to discern and never be shy to confront those who try to prophesy over my life and reject any prophecy that does not honor Jesus and his purpose.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me to test every spirit and to recognize the spirits that are not of you. I pray that you continue to teach me discernment and the power to recognize false prophecies and teachings that deceive your people. Give me the courage to confront false prophets and expose their teachings so they will not mislead many of your children. Thank you that you who is in me is greater than those who are in the world. I pray all these in the name of Jesus, Amen!
