Christian Living
Jesus warned of an increase in the number of false prophets in the world, people with the sole goal to deceive people and keep people bound (Matthew 24:4,11). Question is; why do false prophets exist? How can we recognize them? This article has been in my drafts for months, and I am glad to finally tidy it up to share on some signs of false prophets and teachers.
Why Do False Prophets and Teachers Exist?
False prophets and teachers are agents of the devil and their mission is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10, Mathew 7:15). They are out to destroy the work of God by keeping God’s children in bondage.
False prophets and teachers manipulate, entice and control people.
Baby Christians are often prone to being fooled by false teachers because of their naivety of the Word of God (Ephesians 4:14 ). When this happens, spiritual growth is stunted, maturity is hindered, purpose is not achieved, and kingdom work is hampered.
How to recognize false prophets and teachers
There may be other features not captured here, however the following are 10 common signs of false prophets and teachers.
1. They distort scripture, teaching strange unscriptural doctrines.
▪️They gloss over scriptures.
▪️No detailed teaching or emphasis on scripture.
▪️They readily teach man’s (earthly) wisdom and knowledge, making references from the Bible; buttressing human wisdom with scriptures.
▪️They also use scriptures to buttress their personal convictions.
2. They call on the name JESUS but do not identify with His earthly ministry as a Man anointed with the Holy Spirit.
3. They place more emphasis on miracles, signs and wonders rather than on teaching the Word of God.
4. They keep attention on themselves rather than on the Word of God.
5. They twist scriptures to favor them, using the Word of God in manipulating and deceiving their followers.
6. They place too much emphasis on money and giving (to them) as a way to prosperity.
7. They present themselves as gods and your only access to the true God. Some Attempt to play intermediary role between God and man; without them you cannot reach God
8. They cage their followers, keeping them under the illusion that they’re the best thing that ever and can ever happen to them. They won’t get better elsewhere.
9. They teach distorted doctrine of liberty and freedom that negates the Word of God
10. They encourage sexual perversions in the name of love and inclusiveness.
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Scripture References-
▪️”Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world. By this you know and recognize the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges and confesses [the fact] that Jesus Christ has [actually] come in the flesh [as a man] is from God [God is its source]; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus [acknowledging that He has come in the flesh, but would deny any of the Son’s true nature] is not of God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world. Little children (believers, dear ones), you are of God and you belong to Him and have [already] overcome them [the agents of the antichrist]; because He who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world [of sinful mankind]. They [who teach twisted doctrine] are of the world and belong to it; therefore they speak from the [viewpoint of the] world [with its immoral freedom and baseless theories—demanding compliance with their opinions and ridiculing the values of the upright], and the [gullible one of the] world listens closely and pays attention to them. We [who teach God’s word] are from God [energized by the Holy Spirit], and whoever knows God [through personal experience] listens to us [and has a deeper understanding of Him]. Whoever is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know [without any doubt] the spirit of truth [motivated by God] and the spirit of error [motivated by Satan].”
1 John 4:1-6 AMP
▪️ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
Matthew 7:15-20 NKJV
