True and False Prophecy

Scriptures:  1 Corinthians 14 v 3: "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort."

1 Samuel 28 v 3 - 20 - King Saul consults a witch and receives a death sentence;

Ezekiel 13 v 6 - 9: "They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The Lord saith: and the Lord hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word."


King Saul was in a dilemma as the prophet Samuel was dead, who had always given him the word of the Lord concerning war and the outcome of battles; Saul had also banished from Israel those who used familiar spirits - witches, wizards and fortune-tellers.

So when the Philistines began to gather for battle against Israel he was very afraid. Saul prayed to the Lord for guidance but received no answer. Saul had lost the favour of God over the way he treated David and for disobedience to Him. 

In desperation Saul asked his helpers to find him someone who could use divination so he could enquire as to his response to the Philistine threat. They found a witch in a forest in Endor and Saul disguised himself to visit her. She saw through his disguise and was terrified he would kill her.

He reassured her and demanded she channel the spirit of Samuel the old dead prophet. Normally a familiar spirit of the one asked for would be channelled. The true spirit is not able to comply. (All who practice spiritualism listen up - your dead mother or child or uncle cannot be channelled. Satan sends a spirit called a "familiar" who knows everything about the dead person to fool and deceive you.)

In this case, however, the real spirit of Samuel was sent by God to confront Saul. The witch was terrified of him. Samuel rebuked Saul for the sin of witchcraft and told him that he and his sons would be dead by the following day. They were. When Saul saw his sons die in battle he fell on his own sword. 

There are two kingdoms ruled by two different spirits. The Kingdom of God which is built on truth and the kingdom of Satan which is built on lies and deceit. God sends His prophets to bring a true and accurate word from Him to those who need it. Satan uses all forms of divination, astrology, omens, and familiar spirits to deceive the foolish.

If we are submitted to Jesus we would be committing sin if we went to a witch or a fortune teller. Just as Saul sinned and his immediate death and the death of his sons ended his reign as king of Israel. 

I saw a Christian friend a while ago whom I first met at a prayer meeting 25 years ago. At that original meeting I suddenly got a terrible headache - its one of the ways God uses to show me if there is a need. I asked if anyone present had a bad headache and she said she needed prayer for it. I laid hands on her and she was healed. She shouted "its gone, it's gone" over and over.

She testified to the group that twenty years before she had consulted a fortune teller and when she left her she had this vicious headache. It had never left her for 25 years!! No medication relieved the pain!! Jesus healed her completely and instantly. He alone has this power. If the Son of God sets us free we are free indeed.

The lesson to learn is be aware that we live in a world controlled by unseen spirits.  Our Father in Heaven is invisible to us; He sent Jesus His Son to be His manifest presence on Earth. Jesus is the Creator of all. He is generally not visible now but lives in the hearts of believers to change the corruption of sin into the beauty of righteousness.
Colossians 1 v 16 - 18: "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
 17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
 18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence."

Satan controls the unbelievers through hordes of unseen demons that most (Western) people pooh pooh the existence of. This suits God's enemy well as he can do terrible things and have people call them Acts of God. These demons are in control of nations, cities, towns, people, weather, earthquakes, plagues, famine, war, persecution, murder, rape, theft, corruption, diseases, blackmail, nightmares, witchcraft, divination etc.

As Christians our job is to pray as spiritual warriors to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit and our spiritual weapons eg the Sword of God's Word to do battle against evil demons and overcome them. There is power in Jesus' name, and in the Blood of Jesus to defeat Satan and his demons.   

Revelation 12 v 10 - 11: "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
 11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."

Satan is called the Accuser of the brethren because he accuses us before God's Throne all the time.  Jesus is our Advocate who speaks on behalf of born again Christians who have been cleansed of all sin.


Most fortune tellers or diviners talk about impending doom and death. If you put your faith in their words the predictions will happen. Then the diviners get the credit for predicting correctly.

I knew a man who had prayed for 5 years for a lady in his church to be saved. He excitedly told me one night that she had got gloriously saved that evening. The next morning he was very depressed as she had died overnight. I discerned a false prophecy and a spirit of death. I enquired of this man and he said that a "prophet" had come to his church from America a few months back and had prophesied over this woman that within 3 months one of her family members would be dead. It was she herself who died believing this "prophet" spoke the truth.

Prophecies that come from God are sent to confirm what God has already told you. They should not be a new direction you know nothing about. I boarded a plane and God clearly spoke and said there is a woman on this plane who has received a false prophecy about marriage. Moments later I was sitting next to a Russian woman who was doing a missionary course in South Africa. One of her instructors had prophesied over her that she was meant to stay in SA and marry him! She was very confused as she had a calling to Cambodia.

I told her what God had shown me and we prayed together to release her from his words and the confusion they had brought her.  The blockage to her obedience to God was removed and she was restored to her calling.

So do not be in a hurry to run after so-called prophets and perhaps get hurt by false words. If God wants you to know something He will find a way of confirming it. Don't act on any word until He does confirm it.

Another Christian called me for help. Before she said anything I received from the Lord that she had suffered huge financial loss through divination. She said that it was through a man who was a water diviner who said their was an underground stream on her property. After 8 wells had been dug and a great deal of money wasted not a drop of water was found. 

If God is not talking to you find out why before you go looking in the wrong kingdom for wrong directions and guidance. Develop your relationship with Jesus to keep you on the right track.

Prayer: Heavenly Father our enemy prowls around seeking those he can devour with lies. We put all our trust in Your true Word to keep him away. Let those who have strayed repent and blot out every evil word with the Blood of Jesus. Be cleansed and free in Jesus' name. Amen.