Phony and Fake

“Constantly be on your guard against phony prophets. They come disguised as lambs, appearing to be genuine, but on the inside they are like wild, ravenous wolves! Matthew 7:15 (The Passion Translation, TPT)

Many translations say to beware of false prophets or false teachers. But how do we know if someone is a fake? The next verse, Matthew 7:16 says we can know them by their fruit, or by what they produce.

Some people are quick to label prophets as false if they prophesy something and people don’t see it come to pass right away. Prophecies not like instant coffee, where you just add water and it’s done. They require time to come to pass. And a prophecy may have layers of meaning, or may have some mystery tied to it- so we have to dig to see exactly what God meant when He spoke. He likes to speak in ways so that those who aren’t sincerely following Him cannot understand or figure it out. So a false prophet is not someone who prophesies something that doesn’t come to pass immediately and in the way we think it should. A false prophet or teacher is someone who does not bear good fruit in their lives and their motives are impure. Many times they are motivated by self-promotion or greed. Their intention may be to prey on the sheep for their own benefit. It’s about motive.

God has given us the spiritual gift of discerning of spirits, and the Word tells us to try the spirits to see if they are of God. If there’s something that bugs you about someone that you just can’t put your finger on, it may very well be your discernment kicking in and telling you to steer clear. And sometimes, we have to wait things out and watch people to see how they act. Many times, when you first meet someone, they are on their best behavior, but over time their good disposition fades away and you see what they really are.

And definitely check their theology and teaching to make sure it lines up with sound doctrine and with the full message of the Bible. Certainly double-check any new revelation they are preaching and watch their lives and conduct closely. In this day, there are many who come in the name of the Lord who are only there to profit from the Gospel. Don’t toss aside every prophet that comes along, but be on your guard for the phony and the fake.