False Prophets

Deuteronomy 18

A New Prophet Like Moses
15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, 16 according to all you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’

17 “And the Lord said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good. 18 I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 19 And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. 20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’— 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.

How to identify false prophets/teachers

Matthew 7

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

2 Peter 2:1-3 (NKJV)

Destructive Doctrines
2 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does[a] not slumber.

What we should do to discern the truth heart of the prophet/teacher

1 John 4:1-3 (NKJV)

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that[a] Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

Pray to the Holy Trinity for clarity, wisdom, knowledge, strength, discipline to the Word of God. All to ensure the wolf in sheep’s clothing is not the "prophet/teacher" you follow. Ask God, is the is truly a person of His will, way, and word?  Ask Him to show you and others that gravitate to this teacher, the desires of the heart of the leader, meaning intent, as well as your own. Stand firmly on the Word of God,  His son Jesus, and take the teachings of the prophet and compare them to the teachings of Christ. This will tell you who this person or group truly is. Thank God along the way for all His work to steer you and others right.

Abba, Father! We Praise You today! Despite life's and the enemy's challenges we are Here! By Your grace, mercy, love, forgiveness, joy, peace, and discipline, we stand against all that is not of You! Thank You Father God!  Thank You for the weapons, tools, guidance, and know how to thwart the enemy's plans. These same things You have given us will help us to expose the heart of hearts of those proclaiming to be prophets, teachers, even You.  Please light our path that we may not stumble. But, should we falter, please guide us back to Your path.  Help us to show others how to discern truth from lie, wolf from sheep.

Amen.