Jesus warned us that false prophets would always be with us.

Matthew 24:3-5,10-11  As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”  Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. … At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.

That sounds like a description of our world today. The number of those claiming to speak God’s Word and yet leading people away from Jesus is staggering and growing every day. Jesus tells you how to recognize them in Matthew 7:

Matthew 7:15-16 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.

Something else that identifies a false prophet is selfish motivation.

 2 Peter 1:21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

It is God Himself who gives His message to His true prophets. False prophets speak what they think will get them a reward, whatever will be most profitable for them. They tell people to put their confidence in them, not Jesus. Bad fruit comes from a bad tree. That is why you are told to test everything.

1 John 4:1-3  Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

Those who are against Jesus are all around us and in the church as well. False prophets will downplay and even deny Jesus Christ as Lord and God and Savior. A true prophet will reflect Jesus Christ in what He says and what He does. And here is the message you need to hear: Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners. That is acknowledging Jesus Christ, believing and saying that He took the price of sin upon Himself and paid it in full with His sacrifice of Himself on a cross. Jesus rose again to announce His victory that He shares with any and all who will put their faith in Him. He invites you to be His children and live a new life, in His power, a life that wants to obey His laws in response to the forgiveness He has already given you. Your life will not be free from pain and suffering, but you will have the certainty of God’s love, His forgiveness, and eternal salvation.

How do you know if I am telling you the truth? Don’t take my word for it. Ask yourself if I am proclaiming my word or God’s Word? Am I telling you to believe me or believe God? Am I contradicting what God has said in His written Word or am I repeating it?

Beware of false prophets. Know what God has already said to you in His Word. Don’t be led astray. And in faith cling to Jesus Christ as the one who loves you and cares about you and laid down His life so that you can have forgiveness and eternal life.