How can you identify a false prophet? In some instances, time will tell, as it did in the case of Hananiah in yesterday’s devotion. There are modern day examples of that. I don’t know how many different dates the Jehovah’s Witnesses have said the end of the world was coming, but as you can see, it hasn’t happened yet. Some false prophets are easy to identify by their inaccuracies.

About 20 years ago, a fellow named Gene Robinson was making headlines. He was an openly gay, practicing homosexual who left his wife in order to live with his male lover. He was the first openly practicing homosexual to be elected bishop in the Episcopal Church. In an address he delivered in Massachusetts, Mr. Robinson made this statement: “Interestingly enough, in this day of traditional family values, this man that we follow was single, as far as we know, traveled with a bunch of men, had a disciple who was known as ‘the one whom Jesus loved; and said, ‘my family is not my mother and father, my family is those who do the will of God.’ None of us likes those harsh words. That’s who Jesus is, that’s who he was at heart, in his earthly life.”  (WorldNetDaily.com 4/3/5) Mr. Robinson was suggesting that perhaps Jesus was homosexual.

Here’s the problem with false prophets. They will say “Thus says the Lord.” They claim to speak for God. But is the message they proclaim truly what God has said? In the case of false prophets, the answer is always NO! And how can we know whether or not someone is speaking the truth? When it comes to spiritual matters, it is simple. We ask one little question: “What does the Bible Say?”

That is the basis for judging whether or not a message is from God. What does the Bible Say? We have the source at our disposal. We can check it out for ourselves. And God even gives us instructions for trying to discern whether or not someone is a false prophet.

Deuteronomy 18:20-22 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death.” You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?” If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

False prophets are not a new problem. Already at the time of the Exodus warnings were given against these folks, and how to determine who was telling the truth. The instruction here was the same thing Jeremiah said: If what they say doesn’t happen, the message is not from God.

Be observant. Listen to what is being said. Is the person giving glory to God or himself or herself? Is the message consistent with the one passed down to us through the written Word, or does the message contradict what God has already said? For example, Bishop Robinson, in trying to justify his own sinful behavior, suggests that Jesus may have been homosexual. But Jesus would not have discarded or gone against any of God’s Laws.

Matthew 5:17-19 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

A stern warning to false prophets. God’s Word is consistent. God does not change. He always condemns sin. He still does today. But He has provided us a solution. False prophets will tell you to go ahead and indulge your sinful desires, claiming they are no longer sinful. That is a false solution. The only real hope we have is found in what God did for us in Jesus. He took our sins of Himself in order to pay the penalty we deserve. He gives us His righteousness instead so that we can be at peace with God.

False prophets encourage you to remain in your sin, saying there will be no consequences. God tells us to leave our lives of sin and trust in what Jesus has done to restore us as God’s dearly loved, forgiven children.

A few more thoughts on this tomorrow.