FALSE PROPHETS (PART 2)

An Active Prophetic Season

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children” (Hosea 4:6).

The way we understand, think, believe, speak, receive and disseminate information are unique to us. All our biases are perfectly formed over a lifetime through our social systems. There is no doubt, because of our fallen human nature, our cognitive processing system is by far a faulty mechanism. (12)’How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.” (13) “Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin.” (Psalms 19:12-13, NLT)

Our visceral, base self will always reveal our true nature. It is a first response indicator of who we are. We are unrefined in nature and need spiritual transformation and an enlightenment by the Spirit. A reliance on Jesus to map the course of our lives is important in a climate of spiritual shifts. It requires an acute sense of understanding and listening to the voice of the Spirit. This is possible when honed through a prayerful lifestyle. An acute spiritual sense of hearing what the Spirit is saying is key. Relying on inner cues and our unreliable and biased cognitive mechanisms for spiritual understanding in a prophetic season forfeits the purpose of spiritual intelligence. Indeed, when the Spirit has revealed our sins we must come into agreement with what the Spirit is saying. To remain in denial about our failings, weaknesses and sins is tantamount to implying that the Spirit-revelation is untrue. Do not shun the Spirit of Truth. You must agree with the Spirit concerning who you are, confess your sins, repent and turn away from them. Failure to change course will result in a strengthening of the hold that the enemy has on that area of your life.

Prophetic revelations should be the preserve of everyone. It is not just for those deemed to move in a higher prophetic manifestation. We should all be hearing from God for our individual remits. Apostle Paul encourages desiring the gift of prophecy which is to seek divine understanding, building up and edifying each other in love. We are only made complete in Christ Jesus if we love one another and abide in Him. To love one another is the fulfilment of the law, a sovereign royal command.

Who can be deceived?

“And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.,
(11) And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. (12) And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. (13) But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 24:10-13, ESV). Strong’s Greek (4105). ‘planaó’ interprets as ‘to cause to wander’, ‘to get off course the right path’, ‘to deviate’. Clearly, an intentional, hidden agenda lies in the heart of false teachers who are themselves under a deception by the enemy.

Many will be deceived because their foundation is insecure in Christ Jesus. The race of the faith that Christians have signed up to is not for those who are swift off the mark. You have received salvation to endure hardship as a good soldier. 2 Timothy 2:3). Rather, those who persevere on the battlefield in resisting seducing and deceptive spirits are like warriors, steadfast in the trenches doing service unto God. Their singleminded approach will be rewarded by our Lord Jesus as their labour of love will account for righteousness.

The spirit of deception is no respecter of persons. In fact, the deception on leadership within the body of Christ indicates a systemic cross-generational failure throughout the church ages to adhere to doctrinal truth. The spirit of deception has filtered through machinations of the body of Christ corrupting many. The subtle reach of this insidious deceptive spirit has caused many to reject and abandon the season’s cohort of called prophets. We are in the time when God’s elect will be hated, called a false prophet and betrayed. The offenders, righteous in their own eyes will think they have done God a favour. It is in effect the same spirit that caused Jesus to be isolated from the religious leaders. His ministry was rejected. He was called ‘Belzebub’ – a false prophet, Betrayed by His own people, He was eventually offered up to the authorities. It is a fearful truth that many are under its influence even now but they have learnt to normalise their behaviour and carry on, lost in religious oblivion.

We can only be deceived if we do not know our Lord and fail to remain untainted from doctrinal error. We must seek to be discerning in the spirit, doing the will of the Father. Judge no man falsely, praying rather that all false prophets repent or they will be exposed by the Spirit. God is faithful and will not forsake His faithful people in the end times. (Isaiah 26:) “So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.

Who are the false prophets?

At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe it. (23) For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. (24 ESV).

A false prophet is a term used to make a distinction of someone with a spirit of divination. They cease to operate out of the pure prophetic gift that they have been endowed with. The line between the prophetic and divination is very thin. It requires constant vigilance in the Word at the feet of our Lord. The once pure prophetic gift of these individuals has become corrupted by falsehood, deceit and contempt towards the sacredness of the things of God. They are driven by ulterior motives under the spirit of error, resisting God’s truth. You will know them by their fruits. Their true manifestations are revealed under the omniscient seven eyes of the Spirit of Truth which is the Spirit of our Lord Jesus. There can be no relationship between the Spirit of Light and the hidden works of darkness.

These dubious characters are suave and convincing, intentioned on leading God’s people into doctrinal error because their works are evil. This is what God requires from His true servants: ’They are to teach My people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to discern between the clean and the unclean.’ (Ezekiel 44:23, BSB). They fail to teach the people the things of God and to bring the body of Christ into doctrinal purity and truth. Strong’s Greek (5578) gives a meaning for false prophets as ‘religious imposters’. There are of course degrees of operation between false prophets. Generally they claim to be commissioned by God but their inner works are impure and self driven. We are warned to be aware of them and test the spirits against the Word. If it is not about the Testimony of Jesus or Lord, then mark such a one.

“For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. (5) And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. (6) For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. (7) All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. (8)Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My Name. (9) At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another, ( 10 Berean). And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. (11) And because lawlessness (sin – my emphasis) will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. (12) But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (13).And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.” (14, NLT)

The scriptures places much emphasis on the validity of our foundational integrity. “For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3;11, BSB) The eternal pillars of our faith will remain unshakeable as the demonic storms wreak havoc to make shipwreck of our faith but we can have confidence in the skilled master builder. “Together, we are His house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.” (Ephesians 2:20, NLT).

We must be convinced of our true identity in Jesus, knowing the Word to counter and expose the unclean spirit behind the works of false prophets. They do not speak for God as they claim. “When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the message does not come to pass or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:22, BSB) These individuals cannot elevate the righteous works of the kingdom or bring the elect ones into spiritual maturity and truth because their motives are impure.

The word of a true prophet will come to pass. Only, be not hung-up on expecting that word to manifest according to your timing and understanding. Inexperienced christians tend to quickly call others false because a word is perceived to be long coming into being. But, by the very nature of prophecy, the long wait, although timely in God’s calendar, characterises the birthing of a word given by God. In the wait, the active experiential journey of the servant chosen, gets God the glory. That word is also aligned to other events unfolding. In the greater scheme of God’s plans a prophetic word is an experiential journey of faith that is proven to be true in the fullness of God’s timing.

Only a foundational construct build on the Word in Jesus our Lord can withstand the subtle works of demonic powers in this end season. The subtle, beguiling and convincing unclean spirit that juxtapositions itself against the Spirit of Truth is being exposed in the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit is superior and omniscient to detect, flush out and reveal every hint of evil. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12, BSB). The fight of God’s faithful elect ones is undoubtedly with the supernatural realm. Reference is always drawn to having an enduring spirit, continuing in the faith at all cost. We must persevere in the fight and win the battle in order to make heaven. Be assured that we are safe and secured in our Lord Jesus.

Territorial Dominance

It is without doubt that the battle for territory is fought in the mind. The fight to keep the Word in our hearts begins with resisting impure thoughts. Doctrinal error is a stronghold of the enemy and is a prevalent spirit in this time. False ideologies and historical religious fallacies are generational sins of iniquity to be resisted. We are disadvantaged when we do not understand the battle we are in. The strategies of the enemy is to have christians in confusion, opposing the prophets and failing to fight against adversarial attacks using the Word.

Many are also ineffective in their efforts because they do not know who they are in Christ Jesus through the power of the Word. (4) “The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (5) We tear down arguments, and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5, BSB) “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; He cares for those who trust in Him.” (Nahum 1:7). “Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.” (2 Peter 2:19, BSB). To be in confusion about our spiritual position in Christ and to be without divine knowledge is to be ill-prepared and ill-equipped in the battle of the mind, for territorial dominance. This level of spiritual ignorance will elicit from the enemy a wounding deadly blow.

Safety in Numbers

The Prophetic Council collectively provides safety in numbers as long as we are speaking and minding the same things. We are surrounded by an innumerable company of angels. (1) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.” (2) “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2, BSB) Jesus with us is the majority. We
sometimes focus on the physical organic entity in the understanding of the term ‘safety in numbers’. But, a deeper revelation unfolds at the entrance of the Word. When we search the scriptures for truth impartation, we derive a deeper understanding of the innumerable heavenly host that is with us and come to appreciate the eternal heritage of the faith.

Jesus, our sure and solid foundation, with the prophets and the apostles, the forefathers of the faith are concrete pillars in the spiritual legacy given unto us. The Prophetic Council is more than our earthly cohort. Under the auspices of God, His early prophets and apostles, left a legacy as credible, trusted and divinely commissioned cohort of servants. They were positioned in the body of Christ providing an innumerable body of faithful witnesses of the faith. Yahweh, El Saboath, Lord of the Host, leads this heavenly company, a great cloud of witnesses who have gone on before us. They attest to our faith and the confidence we can have in the durable Word during spiritually restive times. Our Lord will provide the safety we need. The prophets and leaders today, likeminded saints, are a community of true believers. They are the elect of God, positioned around us as the time of the end ushers in our Lord’s imminent return. Be not afraid but stand still and see the deliverance God will give unto his faithful ones.

Gwendolyn Smith. #NEWPENTECOST. JANUARY 2020