Four Tests of a Prophetic Message

SERMON STARTER

I'm always affirmed as I prepare to preach in a certain area of Biblical teaching and experience great resistance from the enemy of our souls. As I prepared this message I was attacked again and again in my personal life. This is how I know God is in a message He has put on my heart.

Considering contemporary prophecy in the Body of Christ, I have personally observed in the past half-century at least two major cycles of prophetic emphasis. Today's prophets come and the prophets go. When men and women aspire to become prophets, what is in their inmost being comes to the surface, whether it is good or bad. The prophetic office either enhances what is good and fine in the prophet or brings up deeply embedded flaws in human character.

          There has been a pattern of operation by these false prophets. In our region we had several men who assume they possessed hidden truths about God. They were prepared to reveal them to their faithful only after hours of rhetoric (brainwashing) and hours of redundant listening by their followers.

          One man, now deceased, (Stanley Scott, 2003) Founded the Church  at Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio held two to three hour services. A hostile, dominant man, Stan always preached from the hip and usually locked the doors of the church until after the offering was taken and he was finished preaching or prophesying. He openly ridiculed education and people like me who prepared their sermons.

          Something happens inside a listener when a meeting goes on for that long. Personal, spiritual and emotional boundaries are breached and adherents lose their sense of self.  They become enmeshed into the self-proclaimed prophet’s vision and agenda.

          This morning's sermon is aimed at equipping God’s saints to be able to discern what is true prophecy from error. There are four strong tests for a New Testament prophet. Check them out.        Pastor Phil  <><<

August 25, 2019 - Sheepfold Ministries

Pastor Phil Roland

 

Four Tests of a Prophetic Message

Deuteronomy 18:18-22 - 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

 

“In the End Times false shepherds will appear and attempt to deceive many.  God’s people will appear to be drawn to that which is false, but God Himself will be able to discern between sheep and goats.  He is the True Shepherd, and His Sheep will follow Him.”                      Pastor Phil Roland <><<

 

John 10:27
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

 

1 Thess. 5:21-22

 “Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”

 

 

First Test of a Prophetic Word from God. . .

I.  Conformity to Scripture and Established Christian Teaching

          A. The Apostle’s Creed - The oldest statement of Christian belief

                    1. Affirms Monotheism

                                    I believe in God, the Father Almighty,     

                                    the Creator of heaven and earth,
                    2. Declares Jesus is the Son of God

                                    and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

                    3. Proclaims His Virgin Birth

                                    Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,

                                    born of the Virgin Mary,
                    4. Asserts He Died on the Cross and was Buried

                                    suffered under Pontius Pilate,

                                    was crucified, died, and was buried.

                    5. Rose Again the 3rd Day, Ascended, Sits at God's Right Hand

                                    The third day He arose again from the dead.

                                    He ascended into heaven
                                     and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
                                    whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

          B. Nicene Creed - Adopted in Nicaea, Italy in 325 AD

                    1. Affirms Monotheism

                              I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,
                    2. Declares Jesus is the Son of God

                                    And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God,
                    3. Asserts Jesus was God / Man for the Salvation of Mankind

                                  who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven,

                                  and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary,
                                  and was made man;
                    4. Declares Jesus was crucified, buried, rose and ascended

                                    and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
                                    he suffered and was buried and the third day he rose again
                                    and ascended into heaven,
FOUR TESTS, cont. p. 2

 

                    5. Affirms that Jesus will Return

                                    and sits on the right hand of the Father;

                                    and he shall come again, with glory,

                                    to judge both the quick and the dead;

                                    whose kingdom shall have no end.

                    6. Asserts that the Holy Spirit is Triune w/the Father and Jesus

                                                                                         

          B. What to look for in a False Prophet

                    1. Denies Monotheism, implies Polytheism

                    2. Denies the Virgin Birth

                    2. Denies the Trinity. . .Father, Son and Holy Spirit are One

 

Second Test of a Prophetic Word from God. . .

II.  Resonance of the Holy Spirit Within – 1 John 2:26,27

“These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”

A. The Holy Spirit will teach you all things – John 14:26

          "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name,

            He will  teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I             said to you.”

                    1. When you accept Jesus into your heart, God's Spirit                                      indwells your heart

                        Eg. Singing in Don Hobb's Choir - 35 men in the bass section

                            Literally Felt the resonate vibrations -  Could not sing off key

                    2. God's Truth will always ring like a bell in your heart

          B. The Gift of Discernment – 1 Cor. 12:10

                    10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another             discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the             interpretation of tongues.

                    1. Question, Is Jesus Christ come in the flesh? 1 John 4:2,3

                                        2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that

                         Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that

                         does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of

                         God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard

                         was coming, and is now already in the world.

                    2. Sometimes supernaturally revealed - Eg. Hackles go up

                    3. Actually heard Oprah say, "Jesus Christ is NOT the only way"

                                                                                         

Third Test of a Prophetic Word from God. . .

III.  Do Predicted Occurrences Actually Take Place? Deut. 18:20-22

20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.' 21 And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?'-- 22 when a prophet speaks in FOUR TESTS, cont. p. 3

 

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.

 

          A. They will if God has spoken through them – Deut. 18:20-22

B. Does the prophet attempt to turn you away from God? 13:1-5

          1. Israel stoned false prophets

          2. There would be a lot of “stone piles” today

                                                                                         

Fourth Test of a Prophetic Word from God. . .

IV.  Does the Prophecy Bear Good Fruit? – Luke 6:43-46

"For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. "For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

          A. Does the prophecy grow disciples into "fruit-bearers?" Gal. 5:22-23

                    22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,

              goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is

              no law.

                    1. God's Prophets bear good fruit

                    2. The enemy's False Prophets bear rotten fruit

                    3. False promises of blessings, health and wealth

B. Know them by their fruit - Matthew 7:15-20
            15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but

              inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits.

              Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so,

              every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good

              tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree

              that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

             20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

 

DISQUALIFIERS:

1. Is the person solid and stable in their Christian life?

2. Is the person free of serious wrongdoing?

3. Is the person’s motivation pure?

4. Is the person submissive to proper authority?

5. Is the person of basic emotional and psychological health?

End Time Prophets Will Come: Know Them

Four Tests of a Prophetic Message, texts:

Deuteronomy 18:18-22
18 I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.
19 And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.
20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.'
21 And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?'--
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 13:1-5
1 "If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder,
2 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods'--which you have not known--'and let us serve them,'
3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
4 You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.
5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There Are Many Specific Promises Made to God's Jewish People

Genesis 26:3-4 (NKJV)

3 Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. 4 And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed;

These passages to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob contain a number of very specific promises. They include the following:

Promise 1: A great nation will come from the man Abraham.

Promise 2: Abraham’s name shall be blessed.

Promise 3: He shall be a blessing to all nations.

Promise 4: Those that bless Abraham’s people will be blessed.

Promise 5: Those that curse Abraham’s people will be cursed.

Promise 6: His descendants, through his son Isaac, will inherit a land with specific boundaries.

Promise 7: This land will be theirs forever.

Promise 8: His descendants will be countless.

Promise 9: Among their descendants would be kings.

There Are Further Predictions and Promises

As God had promised, Abraham’s descendants multiplied. Four hundred years later, the people were about to enter the land of promise. Before the nation went into the Promised Land, God reconfirmed the covenant with them. The Bible says:

See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land the LORD swore he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—and to their descendants after them. (Deuteronomy 1:8)

This land was to belong to them. This is what the Lord promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeremiah 1:5 (NKJV)
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."