A true prophet of God is a messenger, inspired by the Holy Spirit to deliver God’s messages to certain people without fear or favour. The commissioned prophet must deliver the message/s without any deviation from the assigned script. 

Years ago, I travelled 60 kilometers from home to listen to a world-renowned Christian speaker who had a burden for men of the Christian faith. His heart’s concern was to motivate and inspire men to rise-up to be the men God had created them to be; in their homes, at work, and in their community. I had read several of the speaker’s books and was most impressed with his concern and message.

I was comfortably seated in an airconditioned, multi-level auditorium in the company of several thousand male believers of various Christian denominations. After the usual welcome and a bracket of songs, the guest speaker was introduced. From the outset, I sensed the audience connect with him–he had a commanding presence. What he said was simple to understand and worthy of my attention. However, at the end of his presentation he directed the audience to stand up and praise God aloud in spiritual tongues! To my surprise, the whole audience complied with his direction! Well, that was it for me… I stood up, but for the purpose of leaving the auditorium.

Friends, when a person speaks on behalf of God, they walk precariously along a thin line unless they speak the whole truth of God. I was shocked when this Christian author/speaker ignored the clear instructions of Paul to the Corinthian church concerning their wrongful practice of speaking in tongues. My translation of the Bible says… “When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you. No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately” (1 Cor. 14:26-28 NLT). Clearly, public speaking in spiritual tongues for true Believers is conditional! (Note four stated conditions in bold type.)

Jeremiah was one of a few people specially chosen by God to deliver messages to His people, Israel (ten northern kingdom tribes) and Judah (two southern kingdom tribes). Through willful disobedience, God’s people had gone ‘off the rails’ and were in serious trouble. The following message was assigned to Jeremiah for delivery. God said, “Israel and Judah have done nothing but wrong since their earliest days. They have infuriated Me with all their evil deeds. From the time this city was built until now, it has done nothing but anger Me, so I am determined to get rid of it. The sins of Israel and Judah—the sins of the people of Jerusalem, the kings, the officials, the priests, and the prophets—have stirred up My anger. My people have turned their backs on Me and have refused to return. Even though I diligently taught them, they would not receive instruction or obey. They have set up their abominable idols right in My own Temple, defiling it. They have built pagan shrines to Baal in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, and there they sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech. I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it never even crossed My mind to command such a thing. What an incredible evil, causing Judah to sin so greatly!” (Jer. 32:30-35 NLT).

Israel and Judah did not warm to Jeremiah’s prophecies. Why? They were stiff-necked, hard-hearted, and hell-bent on doing as ‘they’ pleased. Their standard of immorality and lawlessness exceeded the evil of their pagan neighbours. Not only that, but false prophets busily discredited the messengers and messages of God.

How did Jeremiah feel about false prophets? He said,“My heart is broken because of the false prophets, and my bones tremble. I stagger like a drunkard, like someone overcome by wine, because of the holy words the Lord has spoken against them. For the land is full of adultery, and it lies under a curse. The land itself is in mourning—its wilderness pastures are dried up. For they all do evil and abuse what power they have” (23:9-10 NLT).

How did God feel about false prophets? He said, “Let these false prophets tell their dreams, but let My true messengers faithfully proclaim My every word. There is a difference between straw and grain! Does not My word burn like fire?” says the Lord. “Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces? “Therefore,” says the Lord, “I am against these prophets who steal messages from each other and claim they are from Me. I am against these smooth-tongued prophets who say, ‘This prophecy is from the Lord!’ I am against these false prophets. Their imaginary dreams are flagrant lies that lead My people into sin. I did not send or appoint them, and they have no message at all for My people. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (23:28-32 NLT).

How do ‘I’ feel about false prophets? I say, beware of smooth-tongued prophets! They abound in greater numbers today than in ancient times. They can be disguised as world-acclaimed authors, charismatic stage performers, attractive and eloquent in speech. They can be the person who occupies the pulpit in your church on Sundays. Whatever their podium, be careful not to blindly subscribe to everything they peddle.

Friends, we are born-again Believers… Children of Truth! With the wide variety of means and ease of access to God’s truth today, we must with His help ‘be’ careful investigators of Scripture. That is the only way we can be sure as to the authenticity of true messengers of God, and the veracity of their messages. Sad News: Eight-days ago, the Roman Catholic Church aligned itself with the Church of England, the Anglican Church, and other denominations by giving a green-light for same-sex marriages to be blessed by the clergy! Now, either our immutable God has changed His stand on the sacred act of marriage He ordained or these religious institutions have taken liberty to give licence to false prophets… messengers of fake news.

The ‘Inspirator’ of God’s truth ‘is’ resident in the lives of Believers. The Holy Spirit is the Person whose job it is to reveal to you and me what ‘is’ and what is ‘not’ truth. Enemies of life are those who cleverly package lies in wrappings of truth that deceive mankind and discredit God. Whenever I present a message on behalf of God, I say to my audience, “Please, do not believe what ‘I’ say, believe only what God ‘is’ saying to you from His word… the Holy Scriptures.” It is God’s truth that sets us free! (Jn. 8:32).

Please… beware of smooth-tongued prophets.

Bill