Spotting False Prophets...

False prophets, what the Bible says about them. Taken from Jeremiah chapter 23. 1. they break God’s heart. 2. The land is full of adultery and under a curse because of their lies. 3. They all do evil and abuse their influence/power 4. They live dishonesty, and encourage others to do the same (they don’t turn people away from their sin) 5. They promote futile hope, by making up everything they say, for selfish gain 6. They tell people not to worry who despise God’s word, telling them they will still have peace. 7. To those that practice their selfish, they tell them “no harm will come your way”. 8. These false prophets never go into the Lord’s presence, because they don’t want to hear what God has to say (they don’t care). 9. They think they can hide from God 10. They get so caught up in their own agenda that they get people to forget God 11. God allows them to preach for a short while at times as punishment for those that don’t take the time to pursue Him, or that don’t care to know Him. 12. Their punishment will be an erased memory of their existence, expelled from God’s existence, and while they are still alive, they will be an object of ridicule for all to see. A true follower will always speak truth, turn people away from sin, and point them back to God.

9 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 wordsthe Lord has spoken against them.10 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 eviland abuse what power they have. 11 “Even the priests and prophetsare ungodly, wicked men.I have seen their despicable actsright here in My own Temple,”says the Lord.12 “Therefore, the paths they takewill become slippery.They will be chased through the dark,and there they will fall.For I will bring disaster upon themat the time fixed for their punishment.I, the Lord, have spoken! 13 “I saw that the prophets of Samaria were terribly evil,for they prophesied in the name of Baaland led My people of Israel into sin.14 But now I see that the prophets of Jerusalem are even worse!They commit adultery and love dishonesty.They encourage those who are doing evilso that no one turns away from their sins.These prophets are as wickedas the people of Sodom and Gomorrah once were.” 15 Therefore, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says concerning the prophets: “I will feed them with bitternessand give them poison to drink.For it is because of Jerusalem’s prophetsthat wickedness has filled this land.” 16 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to His people: “Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you,filling you with futile hopes.They are making up everything they say.They do not speak for the Lord!17 They keep saying to those who despise My word,‘Don’t worry! The Lord says you will have peace!’And to those who stubbornly follow their own desires,they say, ‘No harm will come your way!’ 18 “Have any of these prophets been in the Lord’s presenceto hear what He is really saying?Has even one of them cared enough to listen?19 Look! The Lord’s anger bursts out like a storm,a whirlwind that swirls down on the heads of the wicked.20 The anger of the Lord will not diminishuntil it has finished all He has planned.In the days to comeyou will understand all this very clearly. 21 “I have not sent these prophets,yet they run around claiming to speak for Me.I have given them no message,yet they go on prophesying.22 If they had stood before Me and listened to Me,they would have spoken My words,and they would have turned My peoplefrom their evil ways and deeds.23 Am I a God who is only close at hand?” says the Lord.“No, I am far away at the same time.24 Can anyone hide from Me in a secret place?Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?”says the Lord. 25 “I have heard these prophets say, ‘Listen to the dream I had from God last night.’ And then they proceed to tell lies in My name. 26 How long will this go on? If they are prophets, they are prophets of deceit, inventing everything they say. 27 By telling these false dreams, they are trying to get My people to forget Me, just as their ancestors did by worshiping the idols of Baal. 28 “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!29 Does not My word burn like fire?”says the Lord.“Is it not like a mighty hammerthat smashes a rock to pieces? 30 “Therefore,” says the Lord, “I am against these prophets who steal messages from each other and claim they are from Me. 31 I am against these smooth-tongued prophets who say, ‘This prophecy is from the Lord!’ 32 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! False Prophecies and False Prophets 33 “Suppose one of the people or one of the prophets or priests asks you, ‘What prophecy has the Lord burdened you with now?’ You must reply, ‘You are the burden! The Lord says He will abandon you!’34 “If any prophet, priest, or anyone else says, ‘I have a prophecy from the Lord,’ I will punish that person along with his entire family. 35 You should keep asking each other, ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’ or ‘What is the Lord saying?’ 36 But stop using this phrase, ‘prophecy from the Lord.’ For people are using it to give authority to their own ideas, turning upside down the words of our God, the living God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.37 “This is what you should say to the prophets: ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’ or ‘What is the Lord saying?’ 38 But suppose they respond, ‘This is a prophecy from the Lord!’ Then you should say, ‘This is what the Lord says: Because you have used this phrase, “prophecy from the Lord,” even though I warned you not to use it, 39 I will forget you completely. I will expel you from My presence, along with this city that I gave to you and your ancestors. 40 And I will make you an object of ridicule, and your name will be infamous throughout the ages.’ ” Jeremiah 23:9-40