TEST THE MESSENGER BEFORE THE MESSAGE
As I’ve watched the ongoing conversations about prophecy, I’ve become increasingly convinced that in our effort to test and weigh prophetic words, we may be overlooking something foundational.
What if we’ve started at the wrong place?
If our primary question is whether a prophetic word is true or false, we may miss the most important factor in the entire equation.
Before we evaluate the message, shouldn’t we first consider the messenger?
“So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit” (Matthew 7:17).
Accuracy alone is not enough.
Consider the slave girl in Acts 16:16-24. She spoke words that were true, yet Paul recognized the source behind them was demonic. It wasn’t the content of her message that exposed the deception—it was the spirit inspiring it. By many of today’s standards, her accuracy might have qualified her as a legitimate prophetic voice. Paul looked deeper.
“And in their greed they will exploit you with false words” (2 Peter 2:3).
If we truly desire greater accountability in prophetic ministry, I believe we must first learn to distinguish those who are genuinely called by God from those who are self-appointed or speaking from another source. Before analyzing prophetic words, perhaps we should become better at discerning prophetic people. Can we recognize those whom the Lord has truly called, anointed, and appointed (Ephesians 4:17-18)? Can we recognize the Spirit of God resting on a messenger before evaluating every word they speak?
That doesn’t mean authentic prophets will be 100% accurate (please get out of the OT and into a post-Pentecost church). Nor does it mean they will always have the right interpretation or application. This is why the New Testament repeatedly instructs believers to test and weigh prophetic revelation together as the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 14:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-20; 1 John 4:1).
In the New Testament, God’s true messengers are distinguished less by flawless performance and more by the condition of their hearts and the source of their inspiration. They are healthy trees. They exhibit humility, integrity, purity of motive, and a genuine fear of the Lord. They pursue holiness above popularity and speak, not from personal ambition, but because they are being led by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21).
These are the kinds of hearts God entrusts with His anointing.
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God… WE ARE FROM GOD. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:1-6).
None of this removes our responsibility to weigh prophetic words. Every revelation, interpretation, and application should still be tested. In fact, healthy prophetic ministers welcome that process because they desire accountability more than affirmation.
Paul warned Timothy about those who seek messages that simply “tickle the ears” (2 Timothy 4:3). King Saul serves as a sobering example. Desperate for a word from God, he sought one from a corrupted source. His desperation ultimately cost him both his crown and his life.
Perhaps that’s why John’s instruction is so important.
He doesn’t first tell us to test the words.
He tells us to test the spirits.
My prayer is that we would become just as discerning of the spirit behind a messenger as we are of the message itself. If we learn to recognize the fruit, character, motives, and authentic anointing of the Holy Spirit on those who minister, many deceptive voices will become obvious before we ever have to debate the accuracy of an individual prophecy.
Yes, test every prophetic word. Scripture commands us to do so. But let’s not overlook the first test.
Before examining the message, learn to discern the messenger. When we become skilled at recognizing the difference between the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error, we’ll be far better equipped to discern both true prophets and true prophecy.
