False Prophets in Your Neighborhood

When you look around the area you live in most people do not think of there being false prophets in their neighborhood.  They are not a crazy man with a long beard and dressed in sackcloth yelling at the top of his voice some lie of Satan.  False prophets are very distinguished and respected people in our communities.

A biblical prophet is not a person who tells what the future hold.  Although they can do that, a prophet simply is someone who communicates the message of God.  A prophet speaks the message which God has given to him for others to hear.  A good example is a preacher.

A preacher stands up before the people to speak forth what God has directed to be given to a congregation for that week.  He is to speak for God to the people so that they might know better what God desires of them.  His words are not to be his opinion, but the opinion of God as confirmed by Scripture.

A false prophet will give false messages from God.  There are many pastors and priest in churches around the world who are false prophets.  They tell falsely a message from God such as good works will save you, there is no Hell, all people will go to Heaven, and the Bible is not the inerrant word of God.

There are false prophets not only in the pulpits and everywhere else in the world.  Anyone who speaks against what is written in the Bible is a false prophet.  Teachers, politicians, and even your next door neighbor could be giving false prophecies.

The only method of confirming if a person is a false prophet or not is to compare their words to the words of Scripture. 

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Photo Credit: Priest in Union by Danny Hammontree