How to Judge a Prophecy – Adapted from Derek Prince
The end purpose of all true prophecy is to build up, to admonish and to encourage the people of God. Anything that is not directed to that end is not true prophecy. (1 Corinthians 14:3)
All true prophecy agrees with the letter and the spirit of the Scriptures. (2 Timothy 3:16)
All true prophecy centers in Jesus Christ and exalts and glorifies him. (John 16:13)
True prophecy produces fruit in character and conduct that agrees with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22)
If a prophetic revelation contains predictions concerning the future, are these predictions fulfilled? If not, the revelation is not from God. (Deuteronomy 18:20-22)
The fact that a person makes a prediction concerning the future which is fulfilled does not necessarily prove that person is a true prophet. If such a person, by his ministry, turns others away from obedience to the one true God, then that person is a false prophet, even if he makes correct predictions concerning the future. (Deuteronomy 13:1-5)
True prophecy, given by the Holy Spirit, produces liberty and not bondage. (2 Corinthians 3:6)
True prophecy, given by the Holy Spirit, gives life and not death. (2 Cor. 3:6)
True prophecy, given by the Holy Spirit, is attested by the Holy Spirit within each believer who hears it. (1 John 2:27)
