Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen for you oracles that are false and misleading.
Lamentations 2:14

When those who claim to speak on God’s behalf fail to bring a message from God, they become false prophets. They might be speaking from their own desires, giving their own opinions. They might be guided by a finger in the opinion polls to see which way the winds of public opinion are blowing. They might suppress a part of God’s message that is currently unpopular, and only tell part of the story. They might just be preaching what they were taught in an apostate Seminary or religious institution. However it happens, a preacher or teacher who falsifies God’s Word is a false prophet.

Jeremiah, 630 years before the birth of Christ, sitting in the ashes of what had been the great city of Jerusalem, with its “impregnable” fortifications smoldering in heaps of rubble around him, laments the work of the false prophets of his day. When they could have faithfully delivered God’s Word and called the people to repentance and faith, they failed. They gave them misleading “I’m Okay, You’re Okay” messages of false comfort instead, encouraging them to continue in their sinful ways and feel good about themselves.

With my whole heart I seek You; let me not wander from Your commandments!
Psalm 119:10

Lord Jesus, You warned us about false prophets, “wolves in sheep’s clothing.” Give me the discernment I need to understand Your Word and to live and speak faithfully. Deliver Your people from false teachers and preachers, and keep us close to You. Amen.

Pastor Dan Giles