When Believers Can't Tell the Difference Between Prophets and Psychics
Prophets and psychics can both make accurate predictions. Accuracy is not the only test of a true prophet. Test the spirit behind the word because there are many false prophets making true predictions (1 John 4:1).Several people asked me to give Scripture to back up the comment. Of course, the Scripture was listed in the comment. In 1 John 4:1, John the apostle clearly states by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, "Beloved, 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."
Many False Prophets Are Rising
The backlash against the post caused me to realize just how much confusion there is over prophetic ministry, the source of true prophecy, the function of prophet and how some will defend soulish prophecy to the death.
Listen to Jennifer's podcast on this topic: The Difference Between Psychics and Prophets.
As I always say, we wouldn't have to test the spirits if it wasn't for all the prophets who have gone out into the world. Jesus warned that false christs and false prophets would rise in the end times (Matt. 24:11). We're seeing that now.
Indeed, I'm seeing blatant misuse of the gift of prophecy. Some who carry the title of prophet have been caught looking over the shoulders of closed-eyed congregants to get an up-close look at their offering envelopes. Later, these prophets give a word to the ones whose envelopes they peeped. Some faithful believers are falling for it hook, line and sinker.
We're seeing some who call themselves prophets encouraging people to sow $54.17 so they can tap into God's protection promised in Isaiah 54:17, which reads: "No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment, you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me, says the Lord." Some faithful believers are falling for it hook, line and sinker. We don't need to pay God for protection like He's a mafia boss—we just need to obey the Lord and believe His Word.
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Yes, I'm seeing all manner of foolishness in modern-day prophetic ministry, where prophets are operating in deceptive practices for false profits. Jezebel's puppets are running rampant in the church. And some faithful believers are not only falling for it hook, line and sinker to the detriment of their lives and pocketbooks, but they are defending it vehemently.
Unmasking the Spirit of Divination
Remember my original post: "Prophets and psychics can both make accurate predictions. Accuracy is not the only test of a true prophet. Test the spirit behind the word because there are many false prophets making true predictions (1 John 4:1)." Now consider this Scripture:
"On one occasion, as we went to the place of prayer, a servant girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, shouting, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.' She did this for many days. But becoming greatly troubled, Paul turned to the spirit and said, 'I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.' And it came out at that moment" (Acts 16:16-18).
So you see, even someone tapping into a spirit of divination—which the Interlinear Bible defines as "to practice divination, divine, observe signs, learn by experience, diligently observe, practice fortunetelling, take as an omen"—can offer an accurate word. Psychics and some false prophets practice divination. They are tapping into a spirit other than the Spirit of God to prophesy.
The woman with the spirit of divination in Acts 16 was correct—she offered an accurate word—but the spirit behind the word troubled Paul. Ultimately, the apostle cast the devil out of her and set her free from this bondage.
Testing the Spirits
So how do we test the spirits? I wrote an entire book on judging prophecy called Did the Spirit of God Say That? It goes in-depth on the topic with specific real-life examples. But let me give you some starting points because this subject is especially vital in this hour.
The primary way to test the spirits is to test it against the Bible. The Holy Spirit does not speak with a forked tongue. The Spirit of God and the Word of God agree. In Acts 17:10-11, when Paul and Silas preached the gospel to the Bereans, they were "daily examining the Scriptures, to find out if these things were so."
If the word breeds fear, for example, we know it's not from God because God did not give us a spirit of fear (2 Tim. 1:7). If the word exalts the person delivering it, we know that's not God because the spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus (Rev. 19:10). If the word causes strong confusion, we know that's not of God because God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33). When you know your Word—when you know the Lord—you'll recognize what's coming from His Spirit and what's coming from a different spirit.
It's a dangerous game to knowingly turn to prophets who are operating in a false anointing. Leviticus 20:6 says, "The person who turns to spirits through mediums and necromancers in order to whore after them, I will even set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people."
It's also dangerous to do this unknowingly. The Bible warns us over and over and over again not to be deceived. We're told to test the spirits (1 John 4:1). We must obey the Word and not automatically believe any and every prophecy we hear. We must exercise the gift of discernment and know the Word of God, lest we fall prey to false prophets.
Jennifer LeClaire is senior editor of Charisma. She is also director of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, co-founder of awakeningtv.com, on the leadership team of the New Breed Revival Network and author of several books, including The Next Great Move of God: An Appeal to Heaven for Spiritual Awakening; Mornings With the Holy Spirit, Listening Daily to the Still, Small Voice of God; The Making of a Prophet and Satan's Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion and Witchcraft. You can visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter. Jennifer's Periscope handle is @propheticbooks.
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So you may (or may not) be wondering what my thoughts are on this subject.
This subject has been a thorn in my side and a burden to me for a VERY long time!
I always think of Jeremiah 23..... (see in part below*).
This is dangerous stuff. For all concerned. For the prophets of G-d who have fallen and those who follow them. An area where serious discernment is needed.
*Jeremiah 23:25-32
“I have heard what these prophets prophesying lies in my name are saying: ‘I’ve had a dream! I’ve had a dream!’ 26 How long will this go on? Is [my word] in the hearts of prophets who are prophesying lies, who are prophesying the deceit of their own minds? 27 With their dreams that they keep telling each other, they hope to cause my people to forget my name; just as their ancestors forgot my name when they worshipped Ba‘al.
28 “If a prophet has a dream,
let him tell it as a dream.
But someone who has my word
should speak my word faithfully.
What do chaff and wheat
have in common?” asks Adonai.
29 “Isn’t my word like fire,” asks Adonai,
“like a hammer shattering rocks?
30 So, I am against the prophets,” says Adonai,
“who steal my words from each other.
31 Yes, I am against the prophets,” says Adonai,
“who speak their own words, then add, ‘He says.’
let him tell it as a dream.
But someone who has my word
should speak my word faithfully.
What do chaff and wheat
have in common?” asks Adonai.
29 “Isn’t my word like fire,” asks Adonai,
“like a hammer shattering rocks?
30 So, I am against the prophets,” says Adonai,
“who steal my words from each other.
31 Yes, I am against the prophets,” says Adonai,
“who speak their own words, then add, ‘He says.’
32 “I am against those who concoct prophecies out of fake dreams,” says Adonai. “They tell them, and by their lies and arrogance they lead my people astray. I didn’t send them, I didn’t commission them, and they don’t do this people any good at all,” says Adonai.
G-d have mercy on us all.
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