There is a rash of self-proclaimed prophets in the land. In my own area there are some people who are self-proclaimed prophets who need to be very careful what they say and do.
It goes like this -- some other "prophet" gives a "prophecy" where the person is told they are a "prophet", and then the person feels they have a license to speak for God. The problem is there is very little accountability in such procedures. No denomination or governing body or church to supervise them -- they are vigilante prophesiers with "thus says the Lord" in their holsters instead of guns. But their "words from the Lord", if misappropriated or misdirected, can do as much damage as an errant bullet.
I am a pastor and an ordaianed minister of the Word and Sacrament, and I have spent many years in study and preparation. I am accountable to my local sessions and my presbytery and my national church bodies. I was affirmed and accredited by my home presbytery and the one in which I serve, and the one in which I began ministry. Along the way I have been checked out, vetted, tested and confirmed by many Christians. This kind of accountability is a good and necessary thing in the Christian church. Vigilanteism brings about a kind of lawlessness that has no kinship with our stewardship of things of God, which are called to be decent and in order.
Christianity has always had its share of false prophets from Marcion to Joseph Smith Jr. ear ticklers have sought to spread their personal revelations as if they were the voice of God on earth. Even in modern times false prophets and false messiahs like Sun Yung Moon and Jim Jones have sought to lead astray the very elect. We should not be amazed that the sons of belial should come as shepherds to lead astray the very elect, we were warned from the beginning that they would come.
Jeremiah 14:14 Then God said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of naught, and the deceit of their heart.
God even tells us explicitely how to judge a prophet for certain.
Deuteronomy 18:21-22 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
When a prophet speaketh in the name of God, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which God hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
How do you test a prophet? Well Jesus states: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing,but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them."
So by their fruits you shall know them. The Bible is also clear that true prophecy is always in line with the revealed Word of God, the Bible itself. And there is also the Biblical principle of "two or three witnesses," found in a number of Scriptures, including Matthew 15:18-20. There is also the Biblical principle of love -- everything must be done in a spirit of love, even correction.
The great problem with vigilante prophets is their great ability to be hurtful to those they prophesy about, to those that believe the Prophet is hearing clearly from God. Then, when they miss it, it injures the faith and esteem of the one who believed in teh prophet and prophesy, sometimes taking their eyes off the true prophetic words of the Word of God. The Bible is our key for how to live.
I remember a "prophet" who came to an Alaskan village I was pastoring in a number of years back. He had a revival at the Assembly of God church. Not many folks went, but I did one night, in a gesture of ecumenism.
The young man was not seminary or Bible College trained, but he was a revivalist called by God "from his birth" by his own testimony, which was very fervent and heartfelt. That night he gave a prophecy over a young married couple expecting a baby. He told them that God was calling forth another great male prophet just like him. They did not need to have a sonogram -- God was telling them it was a boy and he would be a mighty preacher and prophet.
So the couple went to Juneau the next week and spent much of the husband's logging bonus on clothes and toys for their little boy. They even painted the crib room blue. People in town crocheted blue blankets and bought clothes for the little boy.
But then the little child was born, and she turned out to be a very healthy girl. Soon boy baby clothes were featured at the next village rummage sale. And the young couple started worshipping at the Presbyterian Church.
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