HOW TO IDENTIFY A TRUE PROPHET

By Isaiah-Phillips Akintola

Quite often today, we are becoming over burden by the lingering effect of the false ministries of the prophets all around, and so we tend to focus more on how to identify these false prophets, and I believe we still need to do more with regards to this unfortunate reality in the body of Christ.  However, we seem to be neglecting a critical aspect that can enhance and accelerate the issue of dealing with these false prophets which is a strong capability to effectively identify the true prophets when we meet them.

The ministry of false apostles and prophets are almost clouding our judgement to discerning and recognizing those the Lord has given to us due to their seemingly simplicity of lifestyle. This is a vital point that needs a sound ministry of a teaching priest to bring clarity and balance in our spiritual discernment.

Therefore, I will be sharing a few valuable points here to help us recognize a true prophet if we have the privilege of meeting one. We don’t want to be caught up in trying to identify the negative while we can no longer recognize the authentic. Do you know that almost 90% of the prophet’s ministry is an expression of a behavioral lifestyle, embodied within a value system that is synchronized with the value standard, passion, and principles of the Spirit of Christ?

Every aspect of a prophet’s existence and interaction either with the Body of Christ, the Church, those outside the church, and creation generally all carries a specific prophetic agenda that could either be defining the very approved order of the father, or be found aggressively challenging the compromising, corrupt lifestyle of what he sees on ground, especially within it’s immediate geographical matron.

 

The prophet, by default design, carries a strong governmental capacity to challenge and confront anything, or person, especially within the body of Christ found to be playing a double standard with the things of the Spirit. This we see in the life of Paul as he confronts the compromising character of apostle Peter according to Galatians chapter one.

The entire life history of a true prophet is more of the message than what you hear him articulate. Ninety percent of his message is not taught by words, they are rather caught by coming under his heavenly climatic atmosphere and environment. The imprint of his message is more of a regulation of a life, and the administration of his personality as he adheres to the Spirit of Christ as the bearer of the ultimate testimony of the Spirit of prophecy.

 

 If you desire to know a true prophet, don’t just take his words on a face value, or his ability to perform miracles, signs and wonder as the approved hallmark of his calling, you must be willing to vigorously listen, study and discern the strong hand of the Lord upon his or her life from the beginning of his day on earth.

The constrains, restrains, and the strong [guidance] leading of the Spirit of the Lord in his movements of leadership influence are all parts of the defining factors of the very nature character and identity of the prophet’s life and assignment.

The authenticity of his calling and refining processes is usually defined by what is demanded and taking from him than what he receives, or giving to him, as the case is in our lower level of revelatory understanding of heaven’s provision. What he is not, defines more of what he is as an approved standing before the father, than what he is before the eyes of his fellow brethren and the rest of the world. He’s value and measure of approval is completely different from the general acceptable charismatic [gift] standard of ministry.

A life of a prophet, the heavenly man, is a riddle; a proverb, and a symbol of things that was, and is, and yet to come. His entire being embodies the living message he is sent to preach and represent to those he’s been sent to. However, only a hand full of saints, who through the fruit of humility and brokenness can effectively read the ways and ministry pathway of a sent prophet. When they say come, that’s when he says my time has not yet come, and when they say to him, let’s go, that when he tarries and remains; he is a constrained man.

He does not dance to the popular rhythm or sound of the day. He or she only responds to the melodious sound of heaven.  A prophet’s agony, burden, limitation, lack, wants, needs, increase, open doors or shut doors are all part of a grand designed purpose, ordained to bring the judgment of the Lord, or the eternal realities of his kingdom closer to rebellious communities and the earth in general. He’s inadequacies, creativities, influence, relationships, rejections or acceptance by others are all part of his life’s message and speakings of the kingdom life order to those around him.

His life is an atmosphere of creativity to some desiring life and productivity, while he may also be the very rod of the fathers to a wrong, corrupt, deceptive atmosphere or environment. He’s entrance, and departures are deep prophetic messages from the father that cannot be taken for granted within a church community or the larger society .

He does not seek the glory, fame, or favor of men. He has learned to wait on his father to send all his supplies without hoping in man’s provision. Yet, he is extremely cognizant that the father will often use the least people around or from afar to meet his needs, and when those needs are met, he does not continue to look up to the same people, means, or method the father used yesterday for his today’s provision. For a man can receive nothing except it is given from above. [John 3:27]

These are some ways and value standard of identifying a kingdom centered prophet.