Testing the spirits.........the prophetic ministry and real vs fake prophets.

fliperacci901

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Does anyone here consult prophets and prophetesses or are involved in the prophetic ministry. I do, but I wont lie, I have been burned by a false prophet before. No big deal. We all make mistakes. If you have experience with the prophetic ministry, then how do you discern the difference between the real deal and the frauds. I consult with a ministry I saw on late night tv that I called out of curiousity. They have never steered me wrong. On the other hand Ive also been burned by a guy that claimed to be a prophet. He got many things wrong with me and the OT clearly states, that if a prophet gets even one thing wrong, do not fear him. My ultimate objective here is not to expose fakes or to get into any kind of debate so please leave that to another topic. My objective here is to hear other peoples stories with the prophetic ministry. To tell the truth I am fascinated with the prophetic realm. I'm also wondering how you discern when you are dealing with a false prophet. It is a learning experience for me as Ive been fooled before. However, I do believe the guy I consulted with truly believe himself to be a prophet. Which is why I don't call his name on here. I don't want to embarrass anyone who means well. Who knows why he thought he was a prophet, but as the scriptures say............. if a prophecy does not come to pass then they are not real. Please do not call anoyones name though unless you truly feel they are taking advantage of people for personal gain. I understand there are people out there that are deceived and think they are prophetic when they truly aren't. There are a lot of skeptics out there, my goal here is not to convince anyone or get into a debate, just hear peoples stories. If moderators feel this thread is too controversial feel free to delete it. I am just so fascinated with the prophetic.
 

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Does anyone here consult prophets and prophetesses or are involved in the prophetic ministry. I do, but I wont lie, I have been burned by a false prophet before. No big deal. We all make mistakes. If you have experience with the prophetic ministry, then how do you discern the difference between the real deal and the frauds. I consult with a ministry I saw on late night tv that I called out of curiousity. They have never steered me wrong. On the other hand Ive also been burned by a guy that claimed to be a prophet. He got many things wrong with me and the OT clearly states, that if a prophet gets even one thing wrong, do not fear him. My ultimate objective here is not to expose fakes or to get into any kind of debate so please leave that to another topic. My objective here is to hear other peoples stories with the prophetic ministry. To tell the truth I am fascinated with the prophetic realm. I'm also wondering how you discern when you are dealing with a false prophet. It is a learning experience for me as Ive been fooled before. However, I do believe the guy I consulted with truly believe himself to be a prophet. Which is why I don't call his name on here. I don't want to embarrass anyone who means well. Who knows why he thought he was a prophet, but as the scriptures say............. if a prophecy does not come to pass then they are not real. Please do not call anoyones name though unless you truly feel they are taking advantage of people for personal gain. I understand there are people out there that are deceived and think they are prophetic when they truly aren't. There are a lot of skeptics out there, my goal here is not to convince anyone or get into a debate, just hear peoples stories. If moderators feel this thread is too controversial feel free to delete it. I am just so fascinated with the prophetic.
Hi there. I do not believe that God appoints people to be specifically prophets in their role, but rather, the Christian spirit is the very spirit of Christ that dwells in us, and we are encouraged to grow in strength of that spirit and to become purified from every selfish interest (Philippians 2:5-7) so that our every word, being without any trace of sin and falsehood, come to represent The Spirit of Truth (John 14:15-18).

Those who stand to call themselves prophets or prophetesses are always motivated by pride rather than humbleness (by my observation - there might be exceptions that I haven't seen). They speak from their own heart and then take God's name in vain to qualify their message because they desire so much for their message to be true. But Jeremiah 23 speaks very strongly against speaking in that way:

Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot:
“Do not listen to the words of prophets
who are prophesying to you.
They are leading you into illusion,
speaking a vision of their own heart
and not out of the mouth of Adonai.
They keep saying to those who despise Me,
Adonai has said, you will have shalom.’
To everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart they say:
‘No evil will come on you.’”

For who has stood in the council of Adonai,
that he should see and hear His word?
Who has heard to His word and obeyed?
Look, a storm of Adonai goes out in fury,
yes, a whirling tempest will swirl down
on the head of the wicked.
The anger of Adonai will not turn
until He has executed and fulfilled
the purposes of His heart.
In the last days you will discern it clearly.

“I did not send those prophets,
yet they ran.
I did not speak to them,
yet they prophesied.
If they have stood in My council,
then they would have announced My words to My people,
and turned them from their evil way,
and from the evil of their deeds.”


For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Revelation 19:10c

So lay aside lying and “each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
Ephesians 4:25

“But you are not to be called rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man on earth your father; for One is your Father, who is in heaven. Nor are you to be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Messiah. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 23:8-12

It is about exercising discernment to really come to know the voice of God. That is, to recognise the spirit of The Holy One who has the absolute authority. This might be useful for you to ponder too:

 
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ToBeLoved

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Does anyone here consult prophets and prophetesses or are involved in the prophetic ministry. I do, but I wont lie, I have been burned by a false prophet before. No big deal. We all make mistakes. If you have experience with the prophetic ministry, then how do you discern the difference between the real deal and the frauds. I consult with a ministry I saw on late night tv that I called out of curiousity. They have never steered me wrong.
What kind of stuff are you asking about? Can you give us two examples from the one you said has gotten it right so far?

I personally would be afraid they weren't real prophets or even Christians but people doing divination if it's long distance.
 
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fliperacci901

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What kind of stuff are you asking about? Can you give us two examples from the one you said has gotten it right so far?

I personally would be afraid they weren't real prophets or even Christians but people doing divination if it's long distance.
They are called Zoey ministries. I remember them prophesying that the next president would be the first black president of the United states of America. It came to pass. I believe if I am not mistaken they actually predicted this before Obama even ran. They also sent me a free prophetic word that warned me to try not to gain weight. Unfortunately I did not listen out of my own stupidity and I deeply regretted it later.
I remember Mike Murdock sent me a letter with a word of knowledge if you know who that is, and it was very on point and specific and it was exactly what was going on with me. But like I said, I understand some people will be skeptical. I respect their beliefs, but please also respect mine. I do not want to get into a debate just hear other peoples stories and advice.
 
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fliperacci901

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What kind of stuff are you asking about? Can you give us two examples from the one you said has gotten it right so far?

I personally would be afraid they weren't real prophets or even Christians but people doing divination if it's long distance.
They are called Zoey ministries. I remember them prophesying that the next president would be the first black president of the United states of America. It came to pass. I believe if I am not mistaken they actually predicted this before Obama even ran. They also sent me a free prophetic word that warned me to try not to gain weight. Unfortunately I did not listen out of my own stupidity and I deeply regretted it later.
I remember Mike Murdock sent me a letter with a word of knowledge if you know who that is, and it was very on point and specific and it was exactly what was going on with me. But like I said, I understand some people will be skeptical. I respect their beliefs, but please also respect mine. I do not want to get into a debate just hear other peoples stories and advice.
 
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fliperacci901

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What kind of stuff are you asking about? Can you give us two examples from the one you said has gotten it right so far?

I personally would be afraid they weren't real prophets or even Christians but people doing divination if it's long distance.
I did not know that those who practice divination pretend to be prophets and prophetesses. Did that happen in the Bible? If it did I don't remember.
 
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fliperacci901

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Hi there. I do not believe that God appoints people to be specifically prophets in their role, but rather, the Christian spirit is the very spirit of Christ that dwells in us, and we are encouraged to grow in strength of that spirit and to become purified from every selfish interest (Philippians 2:5-7) so that our every word, being without any trace of sin and falsehood, come to represent The Spirit of Truth (John 14:15-18).

Those who stand to call themselves prophets or prophetesses are always motivated by pride rather than humbleness (by my observation - there might be exceptions that I haven't seen). They speak from their own heart and then take God's name in vain to qualify their message because they desire so much for their message to be true. But Jeremiah 23 speaks very strongly against speaking in that way:

Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot:
“Do not listen to the words of prophets
who are prophesying to you.
They are leading you into illusion,
speaking a vision of their own heart
and not out of the mouth of Adonai.
They keep saying to those who despise Me,
Adonai has said, you will have shalom.’
To everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart they say:
‘No evil will come on you.’”

For who has stood in the council of Adonai,
that he should see and hear His word?
Who has heard to His word and obeyed?
Look, a storm of Adonai goes out in fury,
yes, a whirling tempest will swirl down
on the head of the wicked.
The anger of Adonai will not turn
until He has executed and fulfilled
the purposes of His heart.
In the last days you will discern it clearly.

“I did not send those prophets,
yet they ran.
I did not speak to them,
yet they prophesied.
If they have stood in My council,
then they would have announced My words to My people,
and turned them from their evil way,
and from the evil of their deeds.”


For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Revelation 19:10c

So lay aside lying and “each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
Ephesians 4:25

“But you are not to be called rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man on earth your father; for One is your Father, who is in heaven. Nor are you to be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Messiah. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 23:8-12

It is about exercising discernment to really come to know the voice of God. That is, to recognise the spirit of The Holy One who has the absolute authority. This might be useful for you to ponder too:

I respect your beliefs. But I disagree. Prophecy is a spiritual gift. It clearly states in the NT scriptures that some will have the gift of prophecy others tongues, etc. Now, I don't believe that just because someone claims the title of prophet that it necessarily means they are coming from a place of pride. Although I do believe that is the case in many instances. But I don't see anyone calling theirself a prophet any different from someone calling theirself a construction worker or fireman or that they are proud because they hold that title.
 
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ToBeLoved

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I did not know that those who practice divination pretend to be prophets and prophetesses. Did that happen in the Bible? If it did I don't remember.
Jesus Himself speaking about the last days said there will be false prophets.
 
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ToBeLoved

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I respect your beliefs. But I disagree. Prophecy is a spiritual gift. It clearly states in the NT scriptures that some will have the gift of prophecy others tongues, etc. Now, I don't believe that just because someone claims the title of prophet that it necessarily means they are coming from a place of pride. Although I do believe that is the case in many instances. But I don't see anyone calling theirself a prophet any different from someone calling theirself a construction worker or fireman or that they are proud because they hold that title.
Yup. A spiritual gift.

There are Christians that call themselves prophets and some say the are even apostles
 
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tturt

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Some just like to stir up crap. The enemy is given more credit by some than The Holy Spirit. For there to be false prophets, there has to be authentic ones. flipperaai91, admire your aim and it would be great to have a forum where a thread such as this could thrive. If you find one, please let me know.
 
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Serving Zion

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I respect your beliefs. But I disagree. Prophecy is a spiritual gift. It clearly states in the NT scriptures that some will have the gift of prophecy others tongues, etc. Now, I don't believe that just because someone claims the title of prophet that it necessarily means they are coming from a place of pride. Although I do believe that is the case in many instances. But I don't see anyone calling theirself a prophet any different from someone calling theirself a construction worker or fireman or that they are proud because they hold that title.
Of course that decision belongs to you! .. but I advise caution, is all. Why yield your faith to anyone other than God Himself? (1 John 4:1).

I know when The Holy Spirit speaks to me, and I know when people speak from their own heart in His name too. That's the most important thing. This is, as I read it, the main message behind such scriptures as Philippians 2:12, Philippians 2:20-21, Acts 20:29, 2 Peter 2:1-3 and what caused St. Paul to write 2 Thessalonians 2:3. Of course, Jesus knew this was going to happen too, as He said things like John 12:35 and Luke 19:14.

That booklet is worth reading, because it connects scriptures in a useful way like this. Look at this page:

 
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tturt

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Applies to all prophetic words, sermons, etc.

"Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." I Thess 5:20-21

Once a prophesy is given, some additional steps are needed to prove all things such as:
-checking it against Scripture (Acts 17:11),
-asking The Holy Spirit and hearing His voice for ourselves, confirmation (Matt 18:16; II Cor 13:1; Acts 9;9-19 especially v 10-12)
-fasting (Matt 6:16),
-spiritual discernment (I John 4, I Cor 12)
-does it point to Yeshua,
-receiving G_dly counsel (Prov 11:14).

Same method applies to sermons "And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Acts 17:10-11
 
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High Fidelity

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They also sent me a free prophetic word that warned me to try not to gain weight.

I'm sorry, but I'm struggling to take things like that seriously.

Really? Really? That's some fortune cookie wisdom at its finest; aka, broadly applicable to 95% of people that read it. Your doctor would tell you to eat a balanced diet too given the chance and that doesn't make them a prophet should you eventually gain weight.

I'm sorry, but I don't believe spiritual gifts operate today; I believe they ceased at the end of the Apostolic era and we have nothing but con-men today preying on vulnerable minds and souls.

'Pastors' on stage 'healing' people. Sorry, not Biblical. Healthy and wealthy if you just pray and donate enough? Not Biblical. Tongues the mark of a real Christian? Not Biblical.

This phenomenon is particularly taking hold in Africa. Africa has millennia of experience with 'voodoo' and other forms of 'witchcraft', 'black magic' and other boogieman nonsense, so when they see the 'Pastor' on stage 'casting out demons' in the form of rocks, that's nothing new to the congregation, but it is believable because culturally there just isn't that modernity in a lot of places to be able to discern what's real, what's possible and what's just utter nonsense.

I worked with a guy from Nigeria studying an MBA over here in the UK and he was telling me how black magic is a huge thing there and people turn themselves in to birds, go flying around all night and then turn back to a human and go to work etc... I laughed because I thought he was joking, but he was serious.

The police there even arrested a goat on suspicion of trying to steal a car... there were two suspects and apparently one fled and one used 'black magic' and 'turned himself in to a goat to avoid arrest'...

So you see there are a great many places in the world that need to catch up and the Charismatic movement -- at least this aspect of it -- is considered to be not one of the best American exports, let's put it that way...

So yes, as someone else has stated, I'd steer well clear of that 'ministry' because 'ministries' like that are just throwing muck at the wall and sooner or later something will stick; like a broken clock, it's right twice a day.
 
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Prophecy is a spiritual gift. It clearly states in the NT scriptures that some will have the gift of prophecy others tongues, etc.

Yes, I do believe that prophecy is a spiritual gift. But be very careful!

1) Prophecy is not the same as "telling the future". Prophecy is telling what God requests us to tell. Take prophet Jonas. He announced to the people in Ninive: «After 40 days God will destroy you because of your sins.» But after 40 days God chose to be merciful and pardon the Ninivites - the town was not destroyed.
Was Jonas a false prophet? No, because he really announced what God had asked him to announce. But God is always free to change His mind.

2) "Telling the future" is usually against God's will, because He does not want us to know the future (usually). Divination is a sin against the 1st commandment. In most cases those that claim to tell the future - even if they succeed - are false prophets just for the reason that they are not saying what God asked them to say.

3) I add a detail that comes from Catholic Church but I think is shared or can be shared by many non-Catholic Christians too. According to the 2nd Vatican Council all baptized people are in a sense prophets, because they are connected to Christ, who is the Perfect Prophet. In what sense? Whenever we announce truth, justice, love, peace, etc. they announce what God wants us to announce to the world - like Jonas to the people in Ninive. Of course we are human beings and even sinners, like Jonas who initially refused to do his prophetical job; we may become for some time silent or even temporarily false prophets; but we can and should be - all we that are baptised in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - true prophets (as long as we keep connected to Christ).

So, my advice is to avoid searching for future tellers and look for true prophets (although imperfect prophets) - even more, to try and become yourself a true prophet (although imperfect), while still listening to other true prophets.
 
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tturt

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Jonah's prophetic word came to pass - 150? years later.

Yahweh tells the prophets first what's going to happen "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." Amos 3:7

Yahweh wants us to know the future (even if you exclude Rev and the prophesies yet to be fulfilled about Yeshua returning), there's Scripture such as:
Acts 9:8-20 "But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:" Acts 9
plus
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." John 16:13
"who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time eternal,” II Tim 1:9 His plan, His purpose for us.

Moses wanted all the people to prophesy (Num 11) as did Paul (I Cor 14). There's major differences between fortune tellers and Godly prophets - including The Source and the purpose.

There's prophesying and there's being a prophet. "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the self same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." I Cor 12 "And he gave some, apostles, and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;" Eph 4:11
 
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