Deuteronomy 13:3,4 “Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.”
In the Old Testament, Moses gave very strict commands about maintaining the pure worship of God. Behind those rules are the Ten Commandments – especially the first two.
He warned Israel, just a little while before he died, to watch out for those who would attempt to get people to turn from the principles and laws God had already given to Israel. He said that there will come some people, calling themselves prophets and other things, suggesting that their new message was from God – or another god.
God may permit false prophets to rise up occasionally (more so now) to test (“prove”) His people. He wants them to see (He already knows) their own hearts as to whether or not they will stay faithful to God and His Word.
Their intent is to distract God’s people from the truth of God’s Word and from the righteous worship of God. The warning especially needs to be heeded today. Many modern-day so-called prophets, preachers, apostles, and priests, etc., think nothing of delivering messages that are contrary to God’s infallible and eternal Word.
They are everywhere on TV, the Internet, radio, in print, and elsewhere. Things that God forbids, they say are OK. Methods that God does not approve of – they say are now permitted. They condemn anyone who contradicts them – even criticizing the Word of God – which God has promised to preserve forever.
Christian, evaluate what you hear and see by the Word of God – and you cannot go wrong. The Bible tells us that when our Lord will judge – it will be based on the Word (“the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”) – not on some man’s word who contradicts what God said. I would hate to be found guilty of contradicting what God plainly said on that Day! Remember that it is His Word that was given “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:17).