nfortunately there are those, which are not sent of the Lord. I aim to give you some clear guidelines to follow through experience and the Word on how to identify such individuals and what courses of action you will need to be taken in removing them from your midst.

Look Not at Externals

The first point you should remember in identifying a false prophet is that they are a deception. This means that they are not easy to point out:

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. (GMR)

They look like the rest of the sheep. So if you are assessing the call of a someone by outward appearance you will not discern what is in the heart. For all may look like sheep but there may be those that have within them the heart of a wolf. So your first guideline is not to ‘categorize’ a person until you have a clear word of revelation.

It is often a temptation to slot an individual into a certain ‘group’ of doctrine, beliefs or success. But until you can look deeper than that which is obvious you will not only miss out on the treasure the Lord has sent you in cert

ain someones, but you might in fact find yourself embracing the false prophet who was not sent of the Lord.

Talking the Right Talk, but Walking the Wrong Walk

Matthew 7:16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? (GMR)

The first sign that identifies a false prophet, is one who says the right words and plays out the correct actions but yet their lives do not produce the fruit of their words or actions. A very good indication of this would be to look at those whom they have mentored. This may be an associate or their children. One who professes the Lord with their lips and acts out the motions but leaves behind them a trail of destruction be wary of.

We will be known by our fruit, and our fruit are those things that we bear of ourselves. It is not possible to have the power of God in your words and have those closest to you walking in association with the enemy. The two mix like oil and water and this is the first indication that something is amiss.

A clear indication of the fruits, is to try to identify the blessing or curse in the life of the someone. One who is walking in a continual curse is one who is not walking in the Spirit, but in the flesh. We will indeed be known by our fruit and our fruit are those things we leave behind us. Our fruit is seen in the lives of people we minister to and the results of our actions and ministry. If a trail of theft, destruction and fear is left behind a someone, this may not only be an indication that they are under a heavy curse, but also that they do not know the love, light and life that the Lord Jesus offers.

When you spend that kind of time with the Lord, you pick up His blessing and His light dispels the darkness. One who professes to spend hours in the presence of the Lord in prayer, yet still is under a curse, be wary of.

Does Not Encounter Rejection, but is Accepted With Open Arms

Luke 6:22 Blessed are you, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you [from their company], and shall reproach [you], and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

Luke 6:26 Woe to you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

In evaluating someone you will always find that a true prophet has faced much rejection in their lives from their childhood. The person who professes to have had the perfect home, always being accepted as the leader and has this ability to ‘draw’ people to themselves, be very wary of.

The true prophet of God faces rejection and trials that have formed them into that special vessel for His use. The false prophet might have confidence and natural boldness and leadership skills, but the true prophet knows the look of the cross and what it means to ‘let it go’.

The true prophet of God does not blame others for their failures, but takes their flesh to the cross in humility having learned the hard way what it means to submit and be under the authority of another. Before becoming a leader, the prophet is first taught how to be a servant. The person who has not learned to be a servant, but has always been in control, being hailed as the most popular, is false and will seek to glorify themselves with their great spiritual revelation, above the grace and mercy of God.

1 John 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world hears them.(GMR)

The false prophet will find success in the world and will not know what it means to live by faith. They may have experienced tough circumstances due to curses operating in their lives, but yet they will show success in the world and will be accepted by the status quo and systems of the world.

Do not think that a false prophet is one who is a loner and does not associate himself with others. He is very much part of a group. If you would read through the New and Old Testament you will find that the false prophets were within groups. It has been common practice to suspect the person who remains standing alone and is not associated with other ministries. Yet I would tell you that the one who is riding the wave of popularity and welcomed with open arms by every status quo system is more likely a deception sent of the enemy than the one who stands alone.

The 'Gift' of Divination

Ezekiel 13:17 Likewise, you son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy you against them,

18 And say, Thus says the Lord GOD; Woe to the [women] that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of my people, and will you save the souls alive [that come] to you? (GMR)

The person who claims to know things before they occur (particularly negative events) be very wary of. To dream and receive visions of the death of people before their actual death is know as the spirit of divination in the Word. As in Ezekiel, words were being spoken of death and destruction – and the events actually took place.

False prophecy does not simply mean that the events prophesied will not come to pass – it means that a word of decree was sent forth by the power of the enemy. This word releases a curse over the life of another bringing the plans of the enemy to take place in that person’s life. More dangerous than the words of a prophet whose revelations do not come to pass, are the words of a false prophet whose words of divination and destruction DO come to pass!

Be wary of someone who speaks of the ‘gift’ they identified as having been there even before salvation. The person, who speaks of having revelations with regard to the future of others even from childhood, not even knowing the Lord, shows a very clear sign of the spirit of divination. I was once told by a prospective student, "The world has psychics, God has prophets". When I challenged him on having this ‘gift’ he spoke of having it before salvation. Now being saved, he continued to function in this ‘gift’ and now is asking God to bring his other family members to be saved who also function in this ‘gift’ that they too might become prophets of God!

Unfortunately this is how the world sees a prophet, and if a someone has this kind of mindset, then they are not of God. A prophet has a passion for the hurt and lost. The emphasis of the prophet is one of hurt for the Body of Christ. The true prophet travails over the destruction of the church. The false prophet seeks the gifts and manifestation, concentrating more on the revelation than on the

God who gives the revelation.

Speaking Words of Destruction and Death

Lamentations 2:14 Your prophets have seen vain and foolish things for you: and they have not discovered your iniquity, to turn away your captivity; but have seen for you false burdens and causes of banishment. (GMR)

The false prophet will speak words of destruction and condemnation, not bringing the life of Christ to heal the sin. This Scripture is a good example of that. The false prophets condemned the people, telling them they were in slavery because of reasons they made up in their own minds. Yet they did not point out to the real sin so that they might repent and be set free.

The Scripture says that Godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation – not to be repented of, but that the sorrow of the world produces death. The prophet who speaks and brings God’s people under such condemnation that they are paralyzed from moving on for God is not sent of Jesus, but from the enemy to place burdens on the shoulders of the Body of Christ.

The true prophet of God will speak a word and expose the sins of men’s hearts that will cause them to repent and be changed – these words of sorrow are never to be repented of for they bring change. Paul spoke to the Corinthians in such a way and their repentance brought him much joy! However there came those whom Paul had to rebuke, for they came as false prophets dominating and oppressing the people.

Builds a Wrong Foundation That Falls

Ezekiel 13:9 And my hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and you shall know that I [am] the Lord GOD.

10 Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and [there was] no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered [morter]:(GMR)

The prophet who is not of God has built a foundation not built on Christ and it will therefore fall. The Lord says later on in this passage that He would bring hailstones to destroy these whitewashed walls that were built. All may look perfect from without, but within the foundation and building is weak, and when the power of God brings a shaking you are bound to see many structures of man fall to the ground!

Look for a trail of destruction in the way of destroyed ministries and lives. One who has built incorrect structures in the lives of others will show by those people being destroyed or those ministries crumbling. I am not speaking of a ministry that opposed the work of God and so crumbled, but of ministries who fervently were working towards fulfilling the will of the Lord and still came under a curse and was torn apart by the enemy.

Turns People Away From the Truth

The prophet not of God will continually seek to turn people to himself and away from the Lord. Barjesus that Paul came into confrontation with in Acts is a good example of this. Barjesus sought to turn his master away from the truth. This is true of those not sent of God. They continually get the people concentrating on matters that distract them from the Lord.

They may bring utterances and prophecy that draw people into works and into building the structure. They will change the direction of the people, away from the Lord and on to the programs, the externals and on to the revelation – forsaking the revealer and the foundation of the structure.

Be wary of those who keep instructing people to look at their own strengths and their own abilities outside of Christ. The gifts are only available to us inside of Christ, and if any person is getting revelation by simply using the power of their own spirits, then they are out of order.

Makes Merchandise of God’s People

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not. (GMR)

The prophet who is not sent of God, is one who will seek to make for himself wealth from God’s people. Just as in the days of Ezekiel where the diviners cast spells and spoke curses for a fee, so too will the prophet once again exalt his own revelation above the revelation of others, and seek to use that revelation to milk wealth from the people of God.

Unfortunately this is seen very commonly these days. I remember coming across a website once where the ‘prophet’ in question promised to get word from the Lord to tell you when your ‘time and season’ was to sow and reap financial benefits. All this for only a low price of $49.99! The Word of God is not given for the sake of financial benefit, but for the edification and equipping of the saints.

Hinders and Prevents the Flow of the Spirit

Acts 16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: (GMR)

The false prophet will continually break the flow of the Holy Spirit to spout off their own revelation, once again drawing away from the work of the Lord. You would need to have the gift of discerning of spirits to know when the Lord is speaking and when he is interrupted. The one who consistently disrupts and sways the attention away from the moment is not sent of the Lord.

The true prophet is one who can sense the move of the Spirit and will flow with that move. Their revelation will fall in line with the revelation of the others, while the false prophet will come with a revelation totally contrary and opposing the others. The revelation of the false prophet might even line up with Scripture, which is why you need to have the capacity to test the spirits and know when the Spirit of God is being grieved.

Often a word will be spoken and the false prophet will interpret it incorrectly. The word may actually be of the Lord, but the false prophet will use the word and twist it to his own ends. Check every interpretation against the Word of God and once again discern the spirit on it.

Confronting the False Prophet

If you sense that there is one applying to your School or even enrolled in your School who shows these signs, there needs to come a confrontation. Apply this passage to the situation:

Matthew 18:15 Moreover if your brother trespasses against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone: if he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
16 But if he will not listen to [you, then] take with you one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every [rhema] word may be established.
17 And if he fails to listen to them, tell [it] to the church: but if he fails to listen to the church, let him be to you as a heathen person and a tax collector. (GMR)

In love you will be required to point out your matters of concern to the person in question. Back up your conclusion with both the Word of God and what you sense in your spirit. If the person in question shows a spirit of divination, you need to bring it up, you need to share that they are in deception and that the revelation they share is not of the Lord. This kind of confrontation is likely to occur when a false word is brought or an incorrect interpretation is shared.

In confrontation, I would highly recommend that you do not choose to handle this situation on your own or make the judgments alone. For in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word will be established. Either bring this matter before the entire group for judging or go to your leadership for confirmation. In this way you are not approaching this matter alone but with support.

If the person in question receives what you have to say, then help them identify where they allowed the enemy entrance to their lives. If it is generational they will need to break that bondage and ask for forgiveness of their sin, for listening to the voice of the deceiver. Make sure that the person in question is genuine in their commitment and advise them to refrain from ministering or speaking into the life of any person until they are set free, as they will contaminate those they associate with.

However if they do not respond in brokenness, but retaliate with arrogance showing they do not desire to change or accept the word you have spoken, you are to take the advice of John:

2 John 1:10 If anyone comes to you, and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into [your] house, neither greet him:
11 For he that speaks a greeting to him is a partaker of his evil deeds. (GMR)

You are to withdraw from such a person and not allow them to continue in your fellowship. The Lord Himself did not mess around with those that led His people astray and His anger is just as pure today against those who would bring calamity rather than healing.

Unaware of Deception

It is important to remember that the false prophet may not actually realize that they are of this category. If you read Jeremiah you will see how the prophets in front of the king struck Jeremiah because he said they were prophesying falsely. They retorted, "What makes you think the spirit of revelation would pass over us and on to you?" As far as they were concerned, they were speaking for the Lord. Such a person will be both surprised and likely offended by your revelation. Yet if they truly know how to hear from the Lord, then they will receive the revelation for themselves and truly submit to the correction. It is possible that this type of person is so steeped in deception that they cannot see it at all.

If they come to repentance they will be able to break free and get rid of the deception that is clouding the true word of the Lord. If such a person breaks free of their bondage, the Lord can truly continue to use them. However I would once again advise that such a person refrain from directive or group ministry until his spirit has come into order. They should be placed in a position where they start from the very beginning and sit under teaching to rebuild what the deception has torn down. They will have to learn what it is to be a servant and to remain in submission before the Lord can release them to work on His behalf. This person is also likely to face a lot of death and pressure to continue to expose all areas that the deception has spread to.

They will have to come to a place of total doubt and uncertainty in their revelation before the Lord will release them to speak again. Then when they finally do get to speak out, they will do so in fear and trembling!

Deliberate Deception

For the one who is aware of their deception and continues in it, to them this Scripture applies:

Matthew 18:6 But whoever shall offend one of these little ones who believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea. (GMR)

Cast such a one from your presence and refuse to accept their words of revelation. Remember specifically to break spiritual ties and to send back any words that may be spoken over you. The enemy can only be given licence in your life if you allow him in. If you keep your spirit and heart closed to such a person, they will not have any power over you. However if you keep your heart open to them and allow them to influence you, you will indeed come under their curse and find yourself (and your ministry) under a curse.

Conclusion

I would like to end by saying that as a leader it is vital for you to stand accountable before the Lord. He has entrusted you with those in your fellowship and it is up to you to provide that protection for them. At times you will be required to love sacrificially, but at other times you will be required to stand in the fullness of your authority. Do not be afraid to stand in the authority the Lord has given you. When you stand in that authority in faith, the Lord will intervene on your behalf every time.

There are going to be times when you are going to misread people and make mistakes. However if you will remain covered by the Lord and remain humble, He will turn even your mistakes to your advantage. So on the one hand be transparent and available, but on the other do not apologize for your presence or for what you feel the Lord would have you do. In these end times the Lord is raising up leaders who are ready to lay down all for the call; who are meek enough to love His flock, but also strong enough to lead and protect them. The Lord has laid a tremendous responsibility on your shoulders, but if you would simply walk in His love and light, there is nothing you will not overcome.

May you be blessed as you continue on this journey set before you. May the Lord guide your steps and open your eyes to the works of the enemy. May He show you the correct way to go and may He give you the strength to keep getting up and moving on.