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 ye shall know them. (Matt 7:15-20)
WE are to be fruit inspectors!
The list of fruit of the Spirit – from Galatians:
Love (agape)
Joy (emotion of well-being/ calmly happy)
Peace (oneness, quiet, rest)
Longsuffering (enduring patiently)
Gentleness (kind)
Goodness (praiseworthy)
Faith (belief that the Creator will answer you)
Meekness (humility)
Temperance (self-control/restraint)
Beware of false prophets says the Lord. How are we to know them? We are to know them by their fruit.
In another thread Joel Osteen was called a false prophet. So let’s check Joel Osteen:
Is Joel Osteen indifferent? (Which would be a lack of love.)
Is he in despair? (Which would be a lack of joy.)
Is he in unrest or at war? (Which would be a lack of peace)
Is he impatient? (Which would be a lack of longsuffering)
Is he harsh? (Which would be a lack of gentleness)
Is he condemning? (Which would be a lack of goodness)
Is he doubting? (Which would be a lack of faith)
Is he arrogant? (Which would be a lack of meekness)
Is he unrestrained in his behavior? (Which would be a lack of self-control)
Even in Osteen’s Larry King interview – he leaves the judgment of one’s heart to God. He agrees that Jesus is the way, truth and life. Osteen wont place judgment of anther's heart. God is the author and finisher of our faith! I do not follow Osteen – but what I have seen of him is that he is not indifferent, nor in despair. I have not seen him fight. I’ve seen gentleness, goodness, faith and humility. He doesn’t seem to be at war with anyone. Nor does it appear that he lacks self control.
If Joel Osteen is a corrupt tree- he will display corrupt fruit.
It would be foolish on my part to think that the Lord cannot use Joel Osteen.
By that which the Lord has told me to use in placing judgment on a false prophet - Joel Osteen is not a false prophet.
An example of a false prophet -
the mormon’s first prophet – founder of the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint’s” – the mormons.
The day Joseph Smith died – he pulled a hidden gun and shot and killed people.
Was Smith indifferent? He definitely didn’t have love toward those who might be lost.
Was he in despair? He had no joy being in jail (hiding a gun).
Was he in unrest or at war? Well yeah. He even taught his followers that it’s us against them.
Impatient? Definitely didn’t suffer his situation very long.
Harsh? No gentleness toward outsiders – or those inside who were upset that he destroyed the printing press.
Condemning? Yes – Smith condemns the world if they don’t become followers of him.
Doubting? Smith did not have faith that the Creator would take care of his accusers.
Arrogant? Smith said the Bible is correct only if he re-interprets it - then he re-wrote the “wrong parts” and even inserted himself into the bible- so that he would be a fulfillment of prophecy.
Unrestrained in his behavior? Well he instituted polygamy – to cover his adultery.
Joseph Smith was(is) a false prophet (to top that off he also created -let alone taught- false doctrine).
Now go ahead and judge the prophets on this forum – by the Lord’s standard of determining a false prophet. I have seen quite a few on this forum. The harshness, and despair and fighting and arrogance and condemnation and doubting and lack of self-control and impatience and indifference is - well - to beware of - that false prophet. The best way to really get a good look at a forum member you consider to be a prophet is to click on their name - then read all their posts - from post number one onward. You may decide to no longer believe in them as a prophet of God.
They come to us in sheep's clothing yet they are ravening wolves.
Don't misunderstand me... we are all growing - but we do not all have the calling of "Prophet". We all have the "spirit of prophecy" - as defined by Rev 19:10 - because we all look forward to the Lord's Coming.