I have a friend who is talking with a psychic/spiritualist. He says she's not really a psychic but more of a spiritualist, and that she gives him free minutes so he doesn't pay for his sessions.
What alarms me is that he says he sees her as a friend. He says she tells him insights into his life, and she also told him to fast and pray. Do you think this spiritualist is of God? My instincts tell me no, so I showed these verses to my friend:
Matthew 7:15
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
Jeremiah 14:14
Then the LORD said to me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries [a] and the delusions of their own minds.
Ezekiel 13:9
My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.
Matthew 7:16-25
By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Is there anything else I can tell him or show him from the Bible to help him see that psychics/spiritualists are not of God?
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There are alot of weird and bad teachings out there. I know of one author that makes it seem like pychics can hear from God. This lady, Sylvia Brown is one of the biggest false prophets that is gaining a following out there.....I had to help out a young prophet who had bought her book thinking it was "ok"(the lady claims it is God that gives her the knowledge she has)....only to later learn that it wasn't. Sadly that is why discernment....and personal knowledge of the word are so important to believers today. And I believe that is partially the reason God warns us to be diligent at studying and knowing the word.....when you have the word of God coarsing through your veins....you can recognize something that is false very quickly. If you are not stable footed on the word of God---you might be tossed about be impostors.
I related a story to a friend who was struggling with how to tell if something is of God or not of God. I told this friend that intimacy with God is the only way to proper discernment of people or situations. When you hang out with someone endlessly(like hanging out with God)...day and night....you begin not only to take on that person's characteristics but you begin to learn all the person's likes and dislikes, things that they favor or don't favor. You cannot have that type of understanding with a stranger. I suggested that true discernment begins with intimacy with God.
Ways to hang out with God being prayer(dialogues WITH God), reading His love letters to us, and worshiping Him.
When my friends are struggling with something that might be false...I suggest that they try to prove it right. Everybody wins when we try proving something right. I don't suggest a person is wrong...since it is not my place. But instead I suggest they find scripture to prove a person right. IF they prove it right....all is well. If not...they can rest knowing they sought out an answer and now know.
Thank you for replying Paige. Good suggestion about asking him to find an example in the Bible where a prophet charges for services.
The weird thing is that this "spiritualist" told him to fast and pray. That's why I showed him the verses in my original post, to show him that anyone can take portions of the Gospel and make their own gospel out of it, but it doesn't make it the true gospel:
Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' - Matthew 7:22-23
I am not an expert...and I don't have all the answers...
But...There isn't an example in the word...where prophets have "sessions" or "charge for services". You can ask this person to show you an example in the word...of a prophet having sessions or charging for services. Ministry isn't a business....
A good rule of thumb for your friend to consider...is, does this person's "insights" point this person toward Christ-Jesus and the cross. All true prophets of God will mirror scriptures...in saying that I mean, you will see Jesus...the "word" will point to Jesus....or will exhort the person nearer to Jesus....the person should always see scripture somewhere within true prophetic.
Replies
There are alot of weird and bad teachings out there. I know of one author that makes it seem like pychics can hear from God. This lady, Sylvia Brown is one of the biggest false prophets that is gaining a following out there.....I had to help out a young prophet who had bought her book thinking it was "ok"(the lady claims it is God that gives her the knowledge she has)....only to later learn that it wasn't. Sadly that is why discernment....and personal knowledge of the word are so important to believers today. And I believe that is partially the reason God warns us to be diligent at studying and knowing the word.....when you have the word of God coarsing through your veins....you can recognize something that is false very quickly. If you are not stable footed on the word of God---you might be tossed about be impostors.
I related a story to a friend who was struggling with how to tell if something is of God or not of God. I told this friend that intimacy with God is the only way to proper discernment of people or situations. When you hang out with someone endlessly(like hanging out with God)...day and night....you begin not only to take on that person's characteristics but you begin to learn all the person's likes and dislikes, things that they favor or don't favor. You cannot have that type of understanding with a stranger. I suggested that true discernment begins with intimacy with God.
Ways to hang out with God being prayer(dialogues WITH God), reading His love letters to us, and worshiping Him.
When my friends are struggling with something that might be false...I suggest that they try to prove it right. Everybody wins when we try proving something right. I don't suggest a person is wrong...since it is not my place. But instead I suggest they find scripture to prove a person right. IF they prove it right....all is well. If not...they can rest knowing they sought out an answer and now know.
The weird thing is that this "spiritualist" told him to fast and pray. That's why I showed him the verses in my original post, to show him that anyone can take portions of the Gospel and make their own gospel out of it, but it doesn't make it the true gospel:
Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' - Matthew 7:22-23
But...There isn't an example in the word...where prophets have "sessions" or "charge for services". You can ask this person to show you an example in the word...of a prophet having sessions or charging for services. Ministry isn't a business....
A good rule of thumb for your friend to consider...is, does this person's "insights" point this person toward Christ-Jesus and the cross. All true prophets of God will mirror scriptures...in saying that I mean, you will see Jesus...the "word" will point to Jesus....or will exhort the person nearer to Jesus....the person should always see scripture somewhere within true prophetic.