3 Warnings about False Prophets in the church

Is there a false prophet around you? Someone who is using spiritual manipulation or theology to try and get an agenda that is not God’s in your life?

They are harder to spot then you would think in this age of spiritual and emotional intelligence, and some of the biggest movements have one or two false prophets lurking around so how do we identify them, keep away from their entrapment, and how do we keep their voices from bringing confusion from what God is saying?

Sometimes its just someone using the God card, you know saying that God told them something that is direct opposition to what God has shown you for your life and direction. Now that in itself doesn’t make them a false prophet in your life, but when they try and manipulate you to fit their God card and get controlling or even bully you into no doing what God has shown you because they Lord their perspective over your own freedom to follow Jesus…. You have a problem and this is one of the areas I want to address and hopefully give you some spiritual intelligence and faith in.

Wouldn’t this be such a useful video if I could just call some people out? I would love to because there are many people who speak for God but they have crossed the line when it comes to actually control tactics, bullying, and even fear mongering to get what they think is God’s agenda through.
The Apostle Paul warns in 2 Corinthians 11:14-15:
“And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness.”

There is a lot of ego driven power in being a leader at times, and people come into the church with an agenda to fulfill a grand purpose and sometimes get a savior or messiah complex. When this is in a cultish church or denomination its easy to spot and the tactics are obvious. When its in your home church or denomination its easier to sit under it for a long time without actually rejecting it. So many people who enter into a desire for prophecy and anointing do so really wanting to serve Jesus, but they don’t always have the character to grow in it.

The appearance of anointing: There are quite a few mainstream ministers and people that are in a position that haven’t been anointed for a long time if ever, but have an appearance of having authority because their smart and charismatic and sometimes even just charming. Its hard not to listen to them, but as you watch their fruit in the long term, it might tell you a different story about who they really are. I have had to pastorally counsel people so many times who have been manipulated or even controlled by someone who wasn’t even anointed from God. False prophetic voices and people who have crossed over into manipulation or self gain can easily seem so anointed because they are probably gifted especially at communicating.

Communications is one of the greatest ways the gifts of God are activated after all.
You can begin to discern if the person is actually anointed though even when you don’t have an opportunity to look at their track record by observing the anointing on them.
Here are a few ways to discern in the moment:

Listen to the actual words they are telling you, are they actually that profound for you. Are they more emotionally driven “You have a HUGE transition coming that will change everything!!!” When someone uses a lot of emotional cues without a lot of information of revelation points in the word it can be a sign that they have learned to make their words sound more profound and expect you to take them as more profound than they really are. Telling someone a huge transition is coming can be profound, but its not very specific and they can’t make a life decision easily off of it, but some ministers build their whole ministry on shallow statements delivered in profound ways. Listening to a recording of a spiritual word someone gave you or even writing it out will show you if its even that profound or a glorified spiritual opinion.

Does it feel manipulative? When someone tries to manipulate you into adopting their perspective and doesn’t respect your own God given authority to make a decision I would question that. One leader at a church I am friends with has been called out multiple times because young people want to move away to start a new career or focus and he spiritually manipulates them saying its not God’s will that they should stay and that they are sons of the house and won’t be blessed leaving without his consent. This would be ok if they were in a rehab program and needed help in their greater life direction, but true spiritual fathers and mothers aren’t looking to control or make decisions for their spiritual children, but are looking to help direct and support them. After all, in the parable of the rich son who becomes a prodigal the father didn’t resist the sons bad desire to go but recognized he was a man and could make his own decisions but ultimately his love to support his son led the prodigal back home to be fully in his rightful identity after his rebellion. Biblically we are never called to control someone else’s decision. Paul was so mad at John Mark for going back home to his mom that he wouldn’t travel with him again for a long time but he didn’t try and control him.

Does the person have demands on you? Are they using spiritual hooks to try and get your service, finances from you, your social network, or more? False prophetic voices and false prophets are in it for their own gain and the nepotism of their family. There is always a lot of talk about sacrifice, serving, and the importance of giving but its usually only one direction. Its important if someone is using revelation or strong “covenant” language in your life but the relationship is not really reciprocal that you look at it for what it is. On top of this if someone is using prophetic messaging to keep you hooked, you may have a huge problem you need to address.

Galatians 5:1 reminds us to guard our freedom:
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Spiritual Intelligence and Faith
The challenge is: How can you separate God-given guidance from human manipulation? One powerful method is to remember the counsel from 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21:
“Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good.”

If someone claims to have a word from God that impacts your life, put it to the test. Pray, search the Scriptures, and consult trusted spiritual advisors.
If the word doesn’t hold ultimate truth for you then you are allowed to reject it and this doesn’t mean you are rejecting the person giving it. You can still love someone and respect a person who has told you “God told me…” but were wrong with you. But if they feel rejected and pull away, retaliate, or gossip about you this could be an indicator that they are operating out of the wrong spirit and this becomes a seed bed for false spiritual authority and false prophets.

How To Guard Against False Prophets:
1) Maintain Spiritual Awareness: Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Always be spiritually alert.

2) Consult the Holy Spirit: John 16:13 says, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” Never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit to guide and confirm what is from God.

3) Cling to Your Freedom in Christ: If you feel cornered or manipulated, remember that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17).

False prophets are real, and their activities are insidious. However, equipped with spiritual intelligence and rooted in faith, you’re not defenseless. Keep your spiritual eyes open and lean into the wisdom that comes from above.

You might be asking yourself the question: What do I do?

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