Protection From Deception - False Prophecy in the Church Today

​In the present time, there are many who have deviated from the path of truth and have opened themselves up to deception. This has been the case for a long time, but has been particularly evident in the past year where questionable prophecies from Christian leaders have been given.

​Consider for example, that there are Christian leaders who regularly give a “prophetic” forecast for the coming year. Yet, in the forecasts for 2020 that were given in 2019, whilst many things were said, there was a glaring absence of anything resembling COVID-19 or widespread lockdown.

Furthermore, around March of 2020, a particular Christian prophet released a word that basically said that COVID-19 would amount to nothing, surviving it would not be the story of this generation, and that it was now dissipating naturally. That obviously wasn’t accurate.

But the most obvious manifestation of the current state of deception has been a number of prominent Christian leaders who prophesied that Donald Trump would win the 2020 election and serve another term. I know of at least two such ministers who have subsequently apologised and admitted that they got it wrong. In my opinion, this is commendable. However, there still is a concern. If their prophetic methodology yielded such an error, and they teach that same methodology to their followers, then there is a much bigger problem. In addition to repentance and reflection; review and revision of prophetic methods is needed.
 
Be that as it may, the current state of affairs reminds me of something that happened in ancient Israel during the years of the divided kingdom. King Jehoshaphat of Judah and King Ahab of Israel agreed to go and fight a battle together against Ramoth Gilead. But Jehoshaphat asked Ahab to consult the Lord. Ahab gathered the prophets together and asked them if they should proceed. All 400 prophets said:

“Go up, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
(1 Kings 22:6 NKJV)

After hearing this, Jehoshaphat asked if there was still another prophet. Ahab told him that there was still Micaiah, but that he never prophesised nice things. They summoned Micaiah, and this is what he said:
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19 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left. 20 And the Lord said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ 22 The Lord said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the Lord said, ‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’ 23 Therefore look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared disaster against you.”
(1 Kings 22:19–23 NKJV)
 
The prophecy of the 400 prophets was not true. God permitted a lying spirit to enter them so that the wicked king Ahab would be killed in the battle.  Not every spirit is the Holy Spirit!  As Paul wrote:
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4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!
(2 Corinthians 11:4 NKJV)
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Peter also warned of false teachers in the church:

1 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 Peter 2:1 NKJV)

So how can we protect ourselves from being deceived?  Here are some safeguards.

Four Safeguards

1. Love the truth
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9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
(2 Thessalonians 2:9–11 NKJV)
 
This explains why the 400 prophets were deceived, but Micaiah wasn’t. The 400 didn’t have the love of the truth, Micaiah did. Whenever your desire is not for the truth, you open yourself up to demonic influence and deception. Don’t follow a teaching because it seems nice of makes you feel good, follow the truth! Make sure your hearts allegiance is for God alone, and not to anything else, including your political persuasion!


2. Know the Scriptures

​24 Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?
(Mark 12:24 NKJV)

When we do not know the Scriptures, it is easy to be led astray and to be “mistaken”.  When we do know the Scriptures, it is easier to spot false teaching.  Furthermore, when we immerse ourselves in the Bible, we get to know the way God speaks, and the type of things He says.  Many so called prophetic utterances sound so different than the God of the Bible.
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3. Test all things
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1 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.
(1 John 4:1 NKJV)
 
20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
(1 Thessalonians 5:20–21 NKJV)
 
Remember, not every spirit is the Holy Spirit.  Prophetic words should be tested to ensure that it is truly God that has spoken.  We can test them by making sure they line up with Scripture and listening to the witness of the Holy Spirit within us.  If the Spirit doesn’t bear witness with the prophecy, don’t accept it. Also, it a prediction is made and it doesn’t come to pass, it is not from God:
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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.
(Deuteronomy 18:22 NKJV)
 
Notice, it says, “you shall not be afraid of him”.  Don’t follow people that make false prophecies.  Instead, listen to the sound preaching of God’s word:
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2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
(2 Timothy 4:2 NKJV)
 

4. Recognize that Satan's ministers look like the real thing

Paul wrote:
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13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
(2 Corinthians 11:13–15 NKJV)
 
Satan’s ministers make themselves look like minister of righteousness, so we have to be careful.  They will preach the word, but they will mishandle it like Satan did when he tempted Jesus.  Don’t tolerate teaching that mishandles Scripture, taking things out of context etc.  Also, false teachings will also often preach the truth, but mix in their error also. Remember, the devil is subtle; he wants his servant to appear like true men of God. Ask God for discernment!
 
The four safeguards against again:

1. Love the truth
2. Know the Scriptures
3. Test all things
4. Recognize that Satan's ministers look like the real thing