Prophecy that Leads to Death

Deuteronomy 13:1-5 (AMP)
1If a prophet arises among you, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder,
2And the sign or the wonder he foretells to you comes to pass, and if he says, Let us go after other gods--gods you have not known--and let us serve them,
3You shall not listen to the words of that prophet or to that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being.
4You shall walk after the Lord your God and [reverently] fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and cling to Him.
5But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has talked rebellion and turning away from the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of bondage; that man has tried to draw you aside from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So shall you put the evil away from your midst.


What message are you listening to? Who is the prophet that speaks into your ear? God’s people are entertaining the mouths of those who encourage covenant with idols.

Oftentimes, when we speak of false prophets, we reference only those who prophesy a thing that does not come to pass. Unfortunately, we don’t understand fully what the false prophet is. Did not Isaiah, Jeremiah, Nehemiah and many others die before their prophecies came to pass? Were they false? Of course not!

When God addressed His people in the Book of Deuteronomy, he spoke of a false prophet whose “predictions” were accurate. It was not the word that made them false, but the motive. The prophet and his word were competing with God.

There is a warning before the people of God. Beware of those prophets who prophesy in order to create idols. It is so much more common than we would want to believe. Let’s just make it plain…

“Give $1000 and He will bless your family.”
“Run around the church three times, He will heal your body.”
“Throw $500 at your Pastor’s feet, and when they hands on you, God will save your family.”

We all hear and see such things, but when they take place, who really gets the glory? Does it line up with the word of God? Not at all.

In the church, we are too busy entertaining people. Preachers, pastors, prophets… they are getting the glory, not God! The glory, instead, is going to flesh – not only to a man or woman, but also to one’s own desire to receive. We must be so careful about seeking prophecy that is conditioned to increase our natural possessions. When we do what we do only in order to receive something, our focus is wrong!

In the first chapter of Malachi, as God begins to rebuke the priests, He asks who will worship Him for nought. In other words, who will worship God just because He deserves the glory? Who will praise Him because He’s worthy? Who will do the righteous thing just because it’s the right thing to do?

Of course, God blesses us in our obedience. Yet, if our motive is to receive something, that condition becomes an idol. Beware of the prophets, especially in this season, that prophecy on the conditions of what you will receive rather than what God has instructed, according to His word.

Selah.