Ezekiel 13:2-3, 22-23:

“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy from their own hearts: ‘Hear the word of the Lord!’ Thus says the Lord GOD, Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!… Because you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have not grieved him, and you have encouraged the wicked, that he should not turn from his evil way to save his life, therefore you shall no more see false visions nor practice divination.  I will deliver my people out of your hand.  And you shall know that I am the LORD.”

Chapter 13 of Ezekiel is one of many chapters where God condemns the work of false prophets.  We learn here that a false prophet fails to do the two-fold work of a true minister of God.  True ministers of God: 1.  Encourage those who are trusting and following God not to loose heart. 2.  Rebuke the wicked so that they may turn to God in repentance and faith, and so be spared the judgment of God. False prophets do precisely the opposite, discouraging the true Christian and encouraging those that are going astray.

The true Christian minister must stay ever so near to the scriptures in his declaration of the mind of God.  The minister of the Word must accurately paint a picture of the kind of heart that God is pleased with, as well as painting a picture of the kind of heart that God is displeased with.  This is no easy task and must be done with much care, for by doing this, God’s sheep will be helped in seeing the fruit of the Spirit in their life, giving evidence to the genuine work of God.  Not only this, but those who are not yet in the fold of God will see the diseased state of their heart before God, and being unable to find a cure outside of the work of Christ they will, by grace alone, joyfully find refuge in him.  False prophets and teachers are enemies of this gospel work – they are wolves to be routed and sent packing before the faithful declaration of the Word of God.