the new testament prophet

Edwin Christiaan | June 4, 2024

False prophets are very popular nowadays, just like they were in the days of the Old Testament. One common denominator is how they both tell people what they want to hear. These days, you mainly find preachers who call themselves prophets in the Charismatic and Pentecostal church circles, where having an experience of the Holy Spirit is more important than hearing sound Biblical doctrine.

It seems the more popular they are, the more their predictions turn out false! And many others follow, who also prophesy completely wrong stuff. Take for instance the many specific prophesies about major political events like how they said that Donald Trump was going to be re-elected in 2020 and that the Covid-19 pandemic was only going to be short lived. In both instances, the prophets were not only wrong, but the exact opposite happened! 

Other false prophets said that there would finally be peace in the Middle East, and then the October 7 slaughter and kidnapping happened in Israel, sparking war and major unrest. Other false prophesies include the promise that all your family members will get saved in a worldwide revival, and that there will be a major wealth transfer that will enrich all faithful Christians overnight. We are still waiting on those! Even just recently, we were told that Donald Trump wouldn’t be found guilty in his felony court case in New York City, yet he was found guilty on all 34 charges. Not even one was found not guilty. 

On top of all the usual political prophesies, comes, of course, the favorite thing false prophets love to predict; the year, month, or exact date the Rapture will happen. Yet, apart from those false prophets who deliberately use the tactic of being very bold and specific to gain notoriety, have you noticed that most prophecies are never very specific or accurate? False prophets use vague words that could potentially mean a myriad of things, and they bring general statements that are open to all sorts of interpretations. Then, there are also the many false personal prophecies that are given to people in meetings every day, which some false prophets even go so far as to take from people’s Facebook profiles and the registration forms people fill out before the meeting begins. The con is unreal. 

Even though these false prophets claim to have a message from God, we should not believe anything they say. All of them have one thing in common, they like to get paid! They literally use their spiritual gift, which is not a gift from God at all, to sell you all spiritual things you need, like deliverance, healing, financial breakthrough miracles, speaking in tongues, spouses that are coming, hope, comfort, soothing promises – anything you want to hear. And of course, they tell you that God requires of you to tithe and sow a seed for your breakthrough to the man or woman of God. You wouldn’t dare to disrespect the anointing, would you? A few hundred dollars will do the trick: You will be told how to obtain your miracle, how to activate your gift, and how to get your own personal breakthrough anointing power. 

The Bible describes how these prophets operate under a “different spirit” and that they are not being let by God’s Spirit. That is the reason their prophecies are always false!

The Apostle Paul told the Corinthian Church the following:

“I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.”

2. Corinthians 11:3-4 NLT

Jesus Himself predicted that in the last days,

“False prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.”

Matthew 24:24 NLT

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT PROPHETS 

In the Old Testament, the prophets spoke on behalf of God to the people of Israel. Under the Law of Moses it says,

“But any prophet who falsely claims to speak in my name or who speaks in the name of another god must die.’ “But you may wonder, ‘How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the Lord?’ If the prophet speaks in the Lord’s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared.”

Deuteronomy 18:20-22 NLT

In the New Testament, it says,

“In His Grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.”

Romans 12:6 NLT

God’s gift of GRACE means “freely given!” In other words, you cannot work for it, earn it, or buy it, like these false prophets tell you.

Under the New Covenant, the prophetic gift is used only for believers within the Body of Christ to strengthen, edify, and comfort them.

“The one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.”

1. Corinthians 14:3 NLT

“Prophecy is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers.”

1. Corinthians 14:22 NLT

“But one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.”

1. Corinthians 14:4 NLT

The primary purpose of the New Testament prophet is to strengthen, encourage, and comfort God’s people to remain faithful to God and His GRACE covenant. Contrary to the Old Testament prophet, it is not about predicting the future or divining yes or no answers, but rather a spiritual position of leading people in correct doctrine and a ministry of spiritual encouragement through speaking a fitting word from the Scripture into a specific situation. 

They always seek the highest good for the people, as they challenge shallow and superficial spiritual standards, and they always encourage heartfelt obedience to God and His Word. A true prophet of God truly loves people and never takes advantage of them for personal gain. 

Without love, the prophet would be nothing! The Bible says:

“If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.”

1. Corinthians 13:2 NLT

In their love for people, a New Covenant prophet of God, or a person with a prophetic gift, will talk about things that take people away from the Law and into Grace. They will always use Scripture to encourage people to walk directed by the Spirit, in true freedom. They will explain the true Gospel, and never dabble in mysterious or superstitious predictions and fables. They will never put bondage on people, and never give false hope based on false promises. 

These are scriptures that would be essential to the ministry of the prophet:

“For the law was given through Moses, but Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

John 1:17 NKJV

“For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.”

Romans 3:20 NLT

“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”

Galatians 5:1 NLT

“So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.” But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When He was hung on the cross, He took upon Himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.””

Galatians 3:11-13 NLT

A true prophet of God will make sure sound doctrine is being preached in the church, using these words of the apostle Paul to encourage the church to stand firm in God’s Grace and not fall back into Law. 

“For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the Grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.”

Galatians 2:19-21 NLT

A true prophet will always preach salvation by grace only!

“God saved you by His Grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.”

Ephesians 2:8 NLT

It is important to note that every born-again, spirit-filled Christian can prophesy, but not every believer is called to “be” or “operate in the office of” a prophet. 

Scripture says,

“Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.”

1. Corinthians 12:29-31 NLT

IN CONCLUSION 

A true prophet of Jesus Christ walks a life of total dedication to God and His Word of GRACE. He or she holds onto what Jesus taught His disciples, when He said to them,

“Freely you have received, freely give.”

Matthew 10:8 NKJV

Therefore, a true prophet of God will never do business with God’s Word or sell the prophetic gift or prophecies. They will shun this evil behavior because they understand their responsibility to behave as a true prophet of God should.

Massive of people are being deceived and let away from the true Grace Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Christian/Charismatic churches!.