What is the difference between a prophet of God and a psychic?
Eagerly desire the gift of prophesy…. 1 Corinthians 14:1
Dr. Becky Slabaugh of Inner Treasures Ministries and Pastor Barbara Moore provide a two week discussion on biblical principles about prophecy and psychic powers. Gifts are to build up the church. We provide some dialogue to perhaps draw you to decide to study the Word of God on a gift that is for the building up and edification of Gods Church. The spiritual gift of prophecy is an extraordinary and unique gift.
Dr. Becky holds a B.A. in Practical Ministry, a Master’s Degree in Christian Counseling, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Pastoral Counseling. http://www.innertreasuresministries.com. 
Dr. Becky’s journey has led her to publish two Number One Best Selling Books on Amazon, “When Dreams and Destiny Collide – God Is Messaging You!” Her most recent Amazon #1 Best Seller book, “The Ultimate Treasure Hunt – 7 Keys To Unlocking Your Destiny” is Volume 2 of the series “When Dreams and Destiny Collide – God Is Messaging You!”
Biblical background in Scriptures:
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:1 to “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” This gift is a blessing to the church and should not be quenched or despised (1 Thessalonians 5:20). Those who have the gift of prophecy differ from the Old Testament Prophets who spoke the authoritative Word of God directly. Their words were recorded as Scripture as they proclaimed, “Thus says The Lord,” whereas the messages from those with the spiritual gift of prophecy must be tested (1 Corinthians 14:29-33; 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21; 1 John 4:1-3). In the New Testament the Apostles, not the prophets, took over the role of Scriptural proclamation from the Old Testament Prophets.
The Greek word for the gift of prophecy is propheteia which is the ability to receive a divinely inspired message and deliver it to others in the church. These messages can take the form of exhortation, correction, disclosure of secret sins, prediction of future events, comfort, inspiration, or other revelations given to equip and edify the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 14:3-4, 24-25). Again, they do not constitute the authoritative Word of God, but are the human interpretation of the revelation that was received. They are spoken in human words through a human mind which is why they must be tested against the Scriptures (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21).
The Holy Spirit gives the gift of prophecy to some believers to make God’s heart known and to edify the church. This gift is for the benefit of both believers and unbelievers and is a sign that God is truly among His church (1 Corinthians 14:22-25). Those with this gift are sensitive to both the prompting of the Holy Spirit and the needs of the church body. They should be humble and continually study the Scriptures in order to test these revelations before speaking them. When they do speak, they should allow and even expect others to weigh what is said against the Scriptures and interpret the message accordingly. In this way the church may be continually built up together in unity (1 Corinthians 14:4, 26). See also Romans 12:6, 1 Corinthians 12:10, 14:1-5, Ephesians 4:11-12, 1 Peter 4:10-11
PROPHETS AND PSYCHICS
Notes by Dr. Becky from John Paul Jackson Ministry teaching The Art of Hearing God. https://www.streamsministries.com/
God gives all of mankind spiritual gifts. It is up to mankind to distinguish and discern from where we are receiving revelation.
Psychics listen from the soul realm (mind, will and emotions).
Prophets listen from the realm of the Holy Spirit.
Example:
Paul and Silas encounter a woman with the spirit of divination.
Acts 16:16-18, “Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling.
This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, ‘These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.’
And this she did for many days.
But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit,
‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’
And he came out that very hour.”
The demon was claiming fact, but it was not proclaiming Truth. Paul revealed this was a demon and thus commanded this demon to leave.
What is the difference between Fact and Truth?
Facts can have an ulterior motive or motives to it.
Truth involves motives with fact. Truth cannot be distorted.
Proverbs 16:25, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”
Many times something can look good for the moment, which is the Knowledge of the Tree of Good and Evil, however, there is a good element that is not of God.
Why did the devil tell her to proclaim: “These men are the servants of the Most High God who proclaim to us the way of salvation?”
The girl was being ‘set-up,’ for dominion (realm of authority) when Paul would leave. She would be considered the leader and to lead people astray.
What is the gift of prophecy?
The ability to RECEIVE the revelation. It’s not the revelation itself, but the GIFT in having the ability to receive the revelation.
With every gift there is a vacuum. Being lead astray or distorted can fill up the place where God’s gift was to be. (The slave girl).
The spirit of divination will speak facts. The Tree of Evil and Knowledge.
The Holy Spirit will speak Truth. God’s Holy Truth. The Tree of Life.
Matthew 12:25-28, “But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out?
Therefore, they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
Are we attributing more power to Satan than to God?
Demons do not know the future, rather only knowledge – not revelation.
Remember: Every gift has a vacuum where Satan can come in and fill up with facts rather than Truth.
Prophets receive spiritual reception from God.
Psychics receive knowledge from demonic intel – observing humans.
Knowledge are things that are disguised as if they were not. When the knowledge comes to pass, they can appear as revelation.
Demons feed the demonic network to give the psychics info. There is a demonic network; demons watch what is going on and tell the information to mediums. For instance, they hear people making future plans and reveal that information to psychics so it appears that psychics can predict the future. If psychics tell you about your future and you agree with it, you just gave the demonic permission to make it happen.
It could be a familiar spirit in operation where knowledge is used as revelation.
Satan is not omnipresent. God is.
If Satan knew the future, He would not have lost the battle.
God won.
God’s prophets display the glory of God.
God is the only Creator; gifts are a creation.
Colossians 1:16, “For by Him all things were created that are in Heaven and that are on Earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”
James 1:17, every good and perfect gift comes from God. Gifts are spiritual – from God who is Spirit. All gifts come from God, although some people do not use their gifts for God’s purposes.
Satan does not give gifts. He is not a creator. Satan is not a giver or creator.
Creator:
Gives; Builds; Adds to; Enhances; Eternal
Counterfeiter:
Steals, Destroys, Deteriorates; Detracts; Temporal
Soul power is energized by Satan.
Psychics have a gift from God, but it is not revelation but information.
Satan’s gift is not a counterfeit gift but a counterfeit usage of the gift. Note the Egyptian magicians: Jannes (rebel and seducer) and Jambres (opponent) and their demonically inspired power.
Satan is not omnipresent. He was kicked out of heaven. Satan will manipulate gifts through the soul realm whereas God release revelation through the realm of Heaven, where His glory resides.
God receives glory by doing what no one else can do: healing, inner healing, and predicting the future, to name a few. To deny prophesy, healing, inner healing/deliverance, and/or dreams is denying God’s glory to Himself.
God’s prophets display the glory of God.
How can we discern the difference between that which is good and that which is of God?
Hebrews 4:12, “For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Hebrews 5:14, “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
It is easy to tell God from evil. It can be difficult to tell the differences between good and God.
Genesis 2:7, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”
The breath of life refers to life in the physical and spiritual realm. Humanity was intended to live in two different realms, the natural (relating to the Earth) and the spiritual (relating to God).
The dust had no form, so Adam was the form from the dust.
Romans 8:29, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
NOTES FROM TEACHING BY John Piper – preaching link below. This is a message on truths regarding Prophecy by a teaching Pastor , John Piper of www.desiringgod.org The Father Son and Holy Spirit help us to hold to sound teaching and truth.
Scripture judges prophecies. Look at teaching of apostles with the gift of prophecy… if anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual he should acknowledge what i am writing is a command of the Lord. Apostolic word judges prophecy. The word of God is the platform. A sure word to test every claim. Acts 2 is and waiting to receive power. Spirit comes like a wind with flames of fire. Filled with Holy Spirit. Verse 11 visitors hear in our own tongue the mighty works of God. They are saying great things about God and His attributes..Verse 16 is explanation. Peter says they are not drunk in their estacy…it is epic making prophetic fulfilling. Joel is coming to pass before your very eyes.. this has forward fulfillment… a world wide spiritual experience… your sons and daughters shall widespread prophecy…men and women… young and old.. high and low class….and they shall prophecy.. first mark of Holy Spirit outpouring huge out pour… last days are now… this is that which Joel said… after last days is coming of Jesus…it is a long extended period. Jesus is the mark of the last days reigning..
some prophet perhaps said the day of the Lord is at hand… verse one says a spirit…now concerning the coming of Christ we beg you to to be shaken in mind, either by spirit or by word or letter purporting… led no one deceive you.. i don’t care if anyone prophesied the day of the Lord…
Gift of prophecy spirit sustained fallible speak..??
something else…what is it …we must create a category….all mixed up with human error…oh what good is it…its a mess….compare gift of prophecy to gift of teaching… prompted and sustained by HS…spirit is moving to make it happen and good and healthy..prompted and sustained rooted in infallible
THIRD CATEGORY…. sifting idea…sift a prophetic 1 thess 5:19-22 do not quench the spirit do not despise prophecies…. but test everything and hold fast what is good… not a test of prophets but of prophecies… helpful or unhelpful …another kind of speak… useful to church when properly weighed … John Piper message:
http://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-authority-and-nature-of-the-gift-of-prophecy
Teaching on Daystar Christian TV by John Paul Jackson…
I have seen Christians who are not getting prayers answered or hearts healed from loved ones gone or deep tragedy chose to get some answers from the wrong side – powers of Darkness. Pokemon and Harry Potter are divination light and many people open doors unknowingly when using revelation from those with light masqueraded in darkness. If you do not have any teaching on contacting the dead as described in Bible:
‘You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor practice divination or soothsaying. ‘You shall not round off the side-growth of your heads nor harm the edges of your beard. ‘You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD. read more.
‘As for the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.
So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam and repeated Balak’s words to him.
“For there is no omen against Jacob, Nor is there any divination against Israel; At the proper time it shall be said to Jacob And to Israel, what God has done!
Theasaurus: Divination
Topics on Divination
Divination, Practiced By
“You are wearied with your many counsels; Let now the astrologers, Those who prophesy by the stars, Those who predict by the new moons, Stand up and save you from what will come upon you.
More Verses on Divination
“When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. read more.
Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a woman who is a medium at En-dor.”
Then they made their sons and their daughters pass through the fire, and practiced divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him.
When they say to you, “Consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter,” should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?
“Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be demoralized within them; And I will confound their strategy, So that they will resort to idols and ghosts of the dead And to mediums and spiritists.
The princes of Zoan are mere fools; The advice of Pharaoh’s wisest advisers has become stupid How can you men say to Pharaoh, “I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings”? Well then, where are your wise men? Please let them tell you, And let them understand what the LORD of hosts Has purposed against Egypt.
Thus says the LORD, “Do not learn the way of the nations, And do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens Although the nations are terrified by them;
Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying falsehood in My name I have neither sent them nor commanded them nor spoken to them; they are prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility and the deception of their own minds.
“But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers or your sorcerers who speak to you, saying, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’
“For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream. ‘For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them,’ declares the LORD.
“For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.
“They see falsehood and lying divination who are saying, ‘The LORD declares,’ when the LORD has not sent them; yet they hope for the fulfillment of their word. “Did you not see a false vision and speak a lying divination when you said, ‘The LORD declares,’ but it is not I who have spoken?”‘”
“For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination; he shakes the arrows, he consults the household idols, he looks at the liver. “Into his right hand came the divination, ‘Jerusalem,’ to set battering rams, to open the mouth for slaughter, to lift up the voice with a battle cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up ramps, to build a siege wall. “And it will be to them like a false divination in their eyes; they have sworn solemn oaths But he brings iniquity to remembrance, that they may be seized.
“Her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken.
Then the king gave orders to call in the magicians, the conjurers, the sorcerers and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who could declare the matter for the king, inasmuch as no great king or ruler has ever asked anything like this of any magician, conjurer or Chaldean.
Therefore it will be night for you–without vision, And darkness for you–without divination The sun will go down on the prophets, And the day will become dark over them. The seers will be ashamed And the diviners will be embarrassed Indeed, they will all cover their mouths Because there is no answer from God.
For the teraphim speak iniquity, And the diviners see lying visions And tell false dreams; They comfort in vain Therefore the people wander like sheep, They are afflicted, because there is no shepherd.
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me,” says the LORD of hosts.
It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling.