When we meet flattery and threats, it has an effect on us. We will be inclined to lose some of our critical faculties and to be less alert, and then we may lose the ability to discern. In fact, we get into bondage. This will be especially likely when the message contains things that we know are true, and things that we thought no one else could possibly know. The Bible says that false prophecy makes the heart of the righteous sad and strengthens the hands of the wicked (Ezekiel 13:22).
False prophecies lead one away from the simplicity of Christ (II Corinthians 11:3). A person who was formerly taken in by flattering prophecies has described how that led her into occultism; and she says that the “prophetical word” to her was just the fulfilment of her own spiritual longings. She was told in this personal message that “she would lay hands on the sick and they would be healed and that she would get direct messages from God to people and they would believe her words because of the miracles.”
When you get into contact with the supernatural in this way, you take it for granted that it is God you are in touch with. In between the times of feeling good, you may sense that something is not quite right. But if you are not fully certain, you tend to be enticed in the times of weakness by the great promises and the pleasant feelings that accompany them.
However, idealism and longing for more of God are not the only things that may attract you to this kind of thing. No, such messages appeal to our ego and our longing to be somebody important. When you are told that you are going to play a major part that will be in the public eye, it is a more exciting prospect than your previous, perhaps fairly low-profile, existence.
The first step into a wrong spiritual dimension may trigger some stronger qualms of conscience. But as you travel further down that road, one thing follows another almost automatically.
It is natural and right for a Christian to long for the supernatural. However, if you allow this longing to take the upper hand, so that you quench your spiritual discernment, then you may end up in serious trouble. Our greatest problem in these matters is not the devil, but, rather our own selfishness, and this is so often the reason we allow ourselves to be led astray. The greatest problem is that we are often not willing to see the deception, because it appeals to our longing for honour and power.
