I have a friend I’ve known for many years, but I hadn’t talked to him in 30 years, basically. I knew him from my college years, and we got back in touch with one another.
I had been talking to him a little bit, and one day God gave me a message for him.
Over the years, God has used me in this way to deliver messages to certain people. Usually they’re leaders. Usually they’re church leaders, I’m going to be honest. Not necessarily pastors, but people leading in the church. That’s who He has called me to speak to in the past.
This person wasn’t quite that, but he was a friend. So I gave him the message.
And he just went ballistic.
It was like I was the enemy.
He started giving me quotes “You are not the only one who can hear God.” “I can hear God for myself.” “Watch out for false prophets.”
I was shocked.
He’s my friend. I wasn’t expecting all that.
So I kindly told him, “Look, I’m not a false prophet. I’m telling you what the Lord God told me to tell you. If you want to believe it or not, that’s up to you. All I can do is give you the message.”
And that was that.
But it made me ask a serious question:
How can we tell who is a false prophet?
Because Jesus warned us. He said many would come in His name. Many would rise up and deceive many. That’s not one or two. That’s many.
So, yes, my friend was right to question.
Discernment matters, but it is not suspicion. Discernment is not pride. Discernment is not reactionary emotion. Discernment is the ability to judge fruit.
Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits.”
Not by whether they challenge you.
Not by whether you like the message.
But by their fruit.
Are they doing what Jesus said to do?
Are they keeping His commandments?
Are they confessing that Jesus Christ came in the flesh?
Are they walking in love?
Because the Bible says plainly: if someone says they love God and hates their brother, they are a liar. God is love. And if love is not present, God is not present.
Another way Scripture teaches us is this: ask God yourself.
Father God, was that message from You?
Is this person speaking from You?
Or is this a false prophet?
Ask Him. And then wait for His answer.
We are living in times where many voices are speaking in Jesus’ name. So we must test the spirits.
God bless, Shirah Chante,Relationship Artist
P.S. Be sure to listen to the entire episode for the full teaching on false prophets, Matthew 24, testing the spirits in 1 John, and the complete story behind the song “False Prophet.”There’s so much more depth we didn’t cover here.