7.8.25 ~ The Prophet for Profit Test

Good morning!

Last night, the zoom call we did an overview on the seven crucibles that Balaam walked through at the hands of Balak (Num. 22-25). At first blush, that may seem like a topic that is irrelevant to us today, yet with the appearances of prophets popping up on the scene everywhere predicting, healing, reading people's 'mail', etc.. It’s pretty important to know what the scripture says about these individuals.

Are they true? Are they false? Is there criteria that needs to be followed 100% in scripture? Deuteronomy chapter 13 gives us the details on The qualities of a godly prophet. And, scripture gives us the details on who is not a true prophet. Let me first say that I'm not talking about someone prophesying. I'm talking about someone who claims to be a prophet.

A word of prophecy doesn't require a special calling. It doesn't require that they are in a Torah keeping, covenant relationship with Yahweh Elohim/the Lord our God. They don't have to be 100% correct all the time. They don't have to be able to heal people. A word of prophecy is a declaration from the Word of God into the life of a person to strengthen and/or correct the path of an individual.

A prophet on the other hand must be 100% correct all the time or they should not be listened to. They must be a Covenant keeping Torah lifestyle believer or they should not be listened to. They can be, and most likely are able to perform a wide variety of miracles, but those miraculous happenings aren't the definitive sign of a prophet. Finally, and most important, if these individuals lead you away from a Torah based lifestyle, they are false prophets (Deut. 13).

When you hear someone speak/preach/teach or read something someone has written in a book or on the Internet you might condition yourself to ask yourself a series of questions. You should test what the person is saying, not by whether it fits with the doctrines you have previously been taught by theologians, but whether the theme the person is sharing meets each of the following four criteria.

1. What they are saying is clearly revealed in the Torah
2. It is emphasized by the Prophets of the TaNaKh (Torah, Prophets and Writings; aka the Old Testament)
3. It is present in Psalms
4. It is reiterated in the actions and teachings of Yeshua and in the writings of Yeshua’s disciples.

If all four of these criteria are met by the message, the messenger passes the spiritual deception test.

Why should this matter? Yeshua and his disciples warn us about false prophets in the last days. And, in our generation when people are more concerned with the 'signs that follow' rather than a 'love for the truth' (2 Thess. 2:8-12); there's more deception happening that will lead to an unexpected destruction (2 Thess. 2:8-12).

And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion,
that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thess. 2:8-12)

Last night's zoom call: Balaam, the Prophet for Profit  is alive and well on planet earth!

Shalom,
Alan

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