Discernment in the "God Told Me" Era: A Call for Accountability

 

*_Discernment in the 'God Told Me' Era: A Call for Accountability_*

In today’s Christian world, we hear many voices proclaiming, _“God told me this,”_ or _“God revealed that to me.”_ Perhaps God does use people to speak His truth, as He has done in the past. But we need to exercise discernment whenever someone claims to have received a direct word from God. Not every message spoken in His name comes from Him.

The Bible makes it clear that everything spoken must be tested against Scripture. *"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God"* (1 John 4:1). If someone says _“God told me,”_ we must carefully compare what they say with the Word of God. The Holy Spirit will never contradict the Bible, so anything that doesn’t align with Scripture is not from God.

It’s also important to remember that those who claim to prophesy or speak on God’s behalf must remain humble and accountable. *"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall"* (Proverbs 16:18). God does not speak through those who are filled with pride. Any person who claims to speak for God must walk in humility, understanding that they are simply vessels, not the source of the message.

When we venture down the path of saying _“God told me”_ when He has not, we are on dangerous ground. *"But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak... that prophet shall die"* (Deuteronomy 18:20). This is a sobering warning about the gravity of speaking falsely in God’s name. Those who claim to hear from God must be held to a higher level of accountability because their words have a great impact on others.

We must always test prophetic words against Scripture and remain vigilant. Humility and accountability are essential for those who claim to hear from God, and it is our responsibility to ensure that we are truly hearing from Him, and not from the flesh.