Who Is a Prophet?Prøve

Many false prophets are preying on people’s desires and promising them things they know those people want to hear. The apostle Paul predicted this would happen as well: “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.” (2 Timothy 4:3 NLT) The time that Paul was referring to is now here. Returning to Jeremiah, we read, “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.” (Jeremiah 23:21 NLT) This is the bottom line: Many of the people who claim to be prophets are not really prophets. They are speaking their own words. Those who do so should heed the warning God gave the false prophets in the Old Testament. The penalty for issuing a false prophecy in the Old Testament was death. Thankfully the punishment is not as severe in the New Testament times in which we live. But that doesn’t mean God takes it any less seriously when a person presumes to speak on His behalf today. Prayer: Father, please forgive me for being enticed by false messages that I want to hear rather than Your truth, and please help me listen with discernment. Amen.