14/04/2018
PROPHETS (Which ones to follow &which ones to run away from)
To demystify the topic we first have to point out what DOES NOT constitute a true measure of a Godly Prophet. The term prophet is so generic in the scriptures, it is not necessarily always used in reference to Godly people.
Our generation has held hostage of many shenanigans for lack of a simple Biblical yardstick. While there is a steady rise of credible servants of the Spirit, they are often overshadowed and their ministry brought into disrepute because of the horrendous acts of reprobates and syncretists whose fast impending damnation is sure.
1. ACCURACY IN PREDICTION IS THE MEASURE OF A PROPHET TO FOLLOW.
Deuteronomy 13:1-4
"If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder spoken of TAKES PLACE, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” YOU MUST NOT LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF THAT PROPHET or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.”
FROM THE PASSAGE ABOVE WE GATHER THAT:
1. The predictions do actually take place.
2. The 'accurate' prophet can still mislead people away from GOD. Therefore accuracy by itself is neither a measure of Godliness nor credibility.
3. The misleading accurate prophet is a TEST to see if people's hearts will actually follow GOD ONLY!
There are many people who say, I don't care where the help emanates from, as long as I get my problem solved. Such people are always in danger of falling into binding long term satanic covenants that offer Temporary relief in exchange for an open door into one's life for generations. The sacrifice is not worth the relief.
2. SIGNS AND WONDERS ARE NOT A MEASURE OF A TRUE MAN OF GOD OR PROPHET.
Mark 13:22-23 “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.”
3. THE MENTION OR USE OF THE NAME OF JESUS INOT A CONCLUSIVE MARK OF A TRUE PROPHET.
Matthew 7:22-23 “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy IN YOUR NAME and IN YOUR NAME drive out demons and IN YOUR NAME perform many miracles?’” Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
So, if accuracy of prediction, the prevalence of signs and wonders and the mention of GOD or the use of the Name of JESUS are NOT conclusive marks of a Godly prophet...Then what is?
How are we to know who’s worthy of our ears and support / following?
SO, IF ACCURACY OF PREDICTION
SIGNS AND WONDERS
AND THE USE OF JESUS NAME
ARE NOT CONCLUSIVE MARKS OF A PROPHET WORTH FOLLOWING
WHAT IS?
HOW ARE WE TO KNOW WHO'S WORTHY OF OUR EARS AND SUPPORT?
HOW TO IDENTIFY A GODLY PROPHET
1. A PRAYERFUL AND CONSECRATED LIFE.
James 5:17-18 “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and HE PRAYED EARNESTLY that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And HE PRAYED AGAIN, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.”
2. A PROPHETIC FOCUS THAT GLORIFIES GOD'S VIEWPOINT. GLORY TO GOD – NOT TO THE PROPHET!
Ezekiel 37:7 “So I prophesied AS I WAS COMMANDED. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.” Ezekiel 37:10 ”So I prophesied AS HE COMMANDED me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.”
Jeremiah 19:14
“Jeremiah then returned from Topheth, WHERE THE LORD HAD SENT him TO PROPHESY, and stood in the court of the Lord’s temple and said to all the people.”
NB. NOT as people demanded - prophesy! Go deeper!
3. A PROPHETIC EXPERIENCES THAT ARE LIFE CHANGING.
1 Samuel 10:6
“The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and YOU WILL BE CHANGED into a different person.”
4. A PROPHETIC WORD THAT EXPOSES WHAT IS FAKE AND ELEVATE THE GENUINE.
Jeremiah 23:28
“Let these false prophets tell their dreams, but let my true messengers faithfully proclaim my every word. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STRAW AND GRAIN!
4.1. A genuine Prophetic ministry will always have a final say even over the popular and well received. E.g. Jeremiah vs Hananiah
Jeremiah 28
“And it happened in the same year, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur THE PROPHET, who was from Gibeon, spoke to me IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying, “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two full years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord's house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon. And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon,’ says the Lord, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’ ” Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and in the presence of all the people who stood in the house of the Lord, and the prophet Jeremiah SAID, “AMEN! The Lord do so; the Lord perform your words which you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the Lord's house and all who were carried away captive, from Babylon to this place. Nevertheless hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people: The prophets who have been before me and before you of old prophesied against many countries and great kingdoms—of war and disaster and pestilence. As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the Lord has truly sent.” Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke off the prophet Jeremiah's neck and broke it. And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Even so I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years.’ ” And the prophet Jeremiah WENT HIS WAY. Now the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “Go and tell Hananiah, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “You have broken the yokes of wood, but you have made in their place yokes of iron.” For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him. I have given him the beasts of the field also.” ’ ” Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Hear now, Hananiah, THE LORD HAS NOT SENT YOU, BUT YOU MAKE THIS PEOPLE TRUST A LIE. Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have TAUGHT REBELLION AGAINST THE LORD.’ ” So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.”
OBSERVATIONS
1. The Bible does validate that he was indeed a prophet.
2. This prophet spoke from church.
3. Jeremiah even said Amen to his prophecies.
4. He was not sent.
5. He caused people to believe a lie.
6. Deliberate, willful.
5. CAREFUL, EVEN THE TRUSTED AMONG PEOPLE CAN BE BOUGHT TO INTIMIDATE AND INSTILL FEAR - THE OPPOSITE OF GOD PLEASING FAITH.
Nehemiah 6:10-13
One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you.” But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” I REALIZED THAT GOD HAD NOT SENT HIM, BUT THAT HE HAD PROPHESIED AGAINST ME BECAUSE Tobiah and Sanballat HAD HIRED HIM, He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.
OBSERVATIONS.
1. He was shut in - pretended to prayerful an separated to GOD
2. The address for the proposed meeting was religiously attractive
3. The warning looked credible - Nehemiah had enemies
4. DISCERNMENT!!!!
5. Hired to intimidate - spiritual intimidation is serious
6. Intention - Bad name - discredit / dent your reputation