What is a false prophet?

"Love covers a multitude of sins."

WHAT IS THE message of the prophet? One minister described it as "to announce fate." Fate is such a fatalistic word. Our God is not fatalistic. There is no failure, no "ifs" in Him. He is specific and precise, to the minute and the hour, although we may not always be aware. "Aware" is a better word. Prophets make us aware. They give both hindsight and foresight. They can make us to see how past events led us to the current time as well as stating what will happen.

Prophets do not speak outside of God and they never speak outside of the death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. They never draw any other image of God except that. This defines a true prophet and a false one. A false prophet is not someone who prophesies incorrectly. Each man and woman speaks from the Spirit through the mind. But the mind must be submitted to the Lordship of Jesus, and it must be renewed to see God how He is, in His Word and in His presence, through relationship.

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)

My mother always gives this example. If you ask her does she know some famous person by name, she would have to say no. She only knows OF them. She cannot say what they like or dislike or what their daily habits are. But if you ask her about my dad, she knows him in great detail. They have been together for almost 60 years. So it is with our relationship with God. How well do we know Him?

A false prophet presents a story to the public with the deliberate intent to deceive or is one who is deceived themselves. They have a destructive intent and wish to create fear and strife. Whereas a prophecy which merely seems to be wrong can have many reasons why. But the motive of the speaker was not selfish. Incorrect prophecy can come from misunderstanding, and it can also be that it is misunderstood. Many of Isaiah's prophecies are not fully fulfilled nor those of the prophet Daniel. Time can be one reason for what seems to be Incorrect. Lack of knowledge of spiritual truths can be another reason. What we don't know, we don't speak.

Minister Dutch Sheets tells of a trip he made to Washington D.C. years ago where he wasn't sure what God needed from him. He'd gone to visit a popular government building and was there in prayer when a woman approached, a young mother pushing a baby stroller. She proceeded to stand in his face and say "Thus saith the Lord," then wheeled off murmuring about how this has forced her to get out of bed. God used an average mother to deliver a supernatural message.

There is a difference between the office of the prophet and someone who just speaks prophecy, but it is like splitting hairs. Whatever word God gives someone to speak, He gives them the authority to speak it and to do whatever else is needed.

Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). We are too quick to assume people's intentions, too quick to assume a prophecy's meaning, and too impatient to bother to seek God for its timing. He will never give a word of truth to someone without instruction. Maybe He doesn't specify the "when" it will happen but that we must wait upon it. Too often we don't seek the instruction but take the prophecy and "run with it." Far too often we guess at its symbolism and lean toward warnings and even threats in its interpretation.

We condemn those who speak and get it wrong. Even to take them to task over it in what seems to be support can be done in condemnation, since the Word of God is plain that we seek peace and refuse to cause others embarrassment (1 Peter 3:11). We should not call names for any reason but to praise and to show love. We must walk in the Spirit and endeavor to look like Christ, who died for those who mocked and condemned Him. Who did not want to condemn even Judas.

“We despised him and rejected him—a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we didn’t care.” (Isaiah 53:3 TLB)

Be slow to anger and refuse to take offense. Be generous with your praises and your time. Give wholeheartedly and spend on others at your expense. These are the behaviors of children of God who are seated in heavenly places where the wisdom of God and the Word of God hold center stage. Where the God of our salvation sits and shares His vision. We see through a peephole, only as much as that small window allows. We must remain humble and be grateful for it. These are the ones who God's Spirit will bless. They are those who will hear and run with the vision (Habakkuk 2:2-3), making it plain for all who see.

“So we have seen and proved that what the prophets said came true. You will do well to pay close attention to everything they have written, for, like lights shining into dark corners, their words help us to understand many things that otherwise would be dark and difficult. But when you consider the wonderful truth of the prophets’ words, then the light will dawn in your souls and Christ the Morning Star will shine in your hearts. For no prophecy recorded in Scripture was ever thought up by the prophet himself. It was the Holy Spirit within these godly men who gave them true messages from God.” (2 Peter 1:19-21 TLB)

Image by HANSUAN FABREGAS from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com