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Beware of False Prophets
There have been several stories on social media in the past year or so about fake prophets. These leaders are not people who made a mistake or “missed it” once or twice. These are people who claimed to speak for God, and their whole lives were a lie. It feels like a major crisis as one charismatic leader after another falls.
In prayer, I was talking to the Lord about it, asking, “Why is this happening?”
I heard Him say, “There have always been fake prophets.”
The truth is, Jesus warned us that there would be fake prophets.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are
ravenous wolves.” – Matthew 7:15
One reason that Jesus warned us about fake prophets is so we don’t back off from the real thing. Sometimes, when recognized leaders fall, other leaders will back off from supernatural gifts, like the gift of prophecy.
The Apostle Paul said this to the church at Corinth: “Forbid not to speak in tongues.”
To the church at Thessalonica, Paul said, “Despise not prophesying.”
Paul said these things because people in the church were misusing spiritual gifts to the point that some began to despise them. If you find yourself in this place, despising the gift of prophecy, you are thinking wrong.
This is not a time to back off from the Holy Spirit. This is a time to step up.
How do we step up?
“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.” – 1 Corinthians 14:1
We need to contend for the gifts of the Spirit. We do this simply by eagerly desiring to see the gifts of the Spirit in manifestation. One thing is for sure: if we don’t want the Holy Spirit to move in our churches, we will not see it.
I am so thankful for the gift of prophecy in my life. Here is one story about how one prophecy changed the course of my life.
In 1983, I was 24 years old and had already been in “full-time” ministry for four years. The problem? I was only making $100 a week.
I loved what I was doing, but I couldn’t imagine how it could ever be sustainable. I was dating a girl I loved and wanted to get married, but how could I raise a family on my salary? I felt trapped—like I was going to have to choose between staying in ministry and starting a family.
That March, Willie George hosted the International Children’s Ministry Conference at the Camelot Hotel in Tulsa, OK. Somehow, I scraped together enough money to attend. I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but I desperately needed to get away, to be in an atmosphere where I could hear from God.
The conference was everything I hoped for—anointed teaching, powerful worship, and life-giving friendships. But one moment changed everything.
In the very first session, Willie George suddenly called me out from the middle of the
auditorium.
“Mark Harper, get up here.”
I didn’t hesitate.
When I got to the front, he began to prophesy over me. I won’t share the whole prophecy,
but these words pierced my heart:
“I want you to see how serious this call is that I placed on your heart. For son, the ministry I’ve planned for you—you haven’t even entered into it yet; you’re just at the start. I’m going to open new doors of ministry for you in this year. Take it boldly, son, and don’t give place to fear. Yes, I’m going to change your ministry this year in 1983.”
That word shifted everything.
- It got me unstuck. Suddenly I had hope when I felt trapped.
- It reminded me that God saw me. He understood my struggle and had a plan.
- It lifted my vision. I thought I was limited to a small church of 100 people, but God saw something bigger.
- It pushed me into prayer. I began to seek God earnestly for what was next.
Within five months, everything changed. I got a job at a growing church in Tulsa. My salary quadrupled. Debbie and I got married and moved to Tulsa. Because I was there, I began speaking at Willie’s Kidmin conferences nationwide. That platform became the launchpad for what would eventually become Super Church Curriculum.
A few months ago, I found myself reflecting on that 1983 conference. The Holy Spirit moved in a powerful way—not just in my life, but in hundreds of lives. Then I asked myself:
“Why don’t we see Kidmin Conferences like that anymore?”
When was the last time you heard someone give a prophecy at a children’s ministry
conference?
As I prayed, the Holy Spirit whispered: “Why don’t you do it?”
To be honest, I didn’t want the responsibility. I just wanted to speak at a conference,
maybe attend one. But God had a different plan.
That’s why we’re hosting the Supernatural Children’s Ministry Summit this September
22–24 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Minneapolis.
It’s not just another ministry conference. It’s a time to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to be refreshed in worship, and to receive from seasoned leaders who have walked the same road you are on. We need the supernatural gifts of the Spirit to manifest. This is the kind of atmosphere where that happens.
Learn more about the Supernatural Children’s Ministry Summit by CLICKING HERE!
