The Prophets

Prophets of God and false prophets seem to be everywhere today, how do you tell the difference?

Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

In the Bible for example we have five major prophets and twelve minor prophets up until the time of John the Baptist. Major and minor does not signify importance but is determined by the size of the books they wrote that make up our Biblical Cannon.

Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

How many prophets does God have today? I have no way of knowing but if you do an internet search for prophets of God you will come up with the following results: Google 49,600,000 and on Yahoo 8,870,000.

Wow! That is a big list so how do you know which are true prophets of God and who are the false prophets?

Test the spirits.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

As humans all can make errors so we must check what the prophet is saying with God's Word to verify they are speaking from God and not out of their own imagination.

Other checks on character:

• Are they called or self motivated?
• You will know them by their fruits.
• Do they accuse their brethren?
• Do the gifts of the Spirit follow them?
• Are they motivated by money?

If you haven't spent time getting to know your Lord by reading His Word you are in grave danger of being deceived.

Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

He who claims to love God must also love his brother.

1 John 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.