False Prophets & Spiritual Blackmail

False prophets will use spiritual blackmail — twisting Scripture, manipulating emotions, and claiming divine authority to control or coerce believers. They threaten curses for disobedience, promise blessings for loyalty, and present themselves as the only “voice of God.” But this is not the Spirit of Christ.

“They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity…” — 2 Peter 2:19

True shepherds point people to Jesus; false prophets point people to themselves. They trade in fear, not faith. They hold people hostage with guilt, claiming that to question them is to question God Himself.

The gospel offers freedom, not bondage. Christ’s voice calls us to trust, not terror; to surrender to His will, not to human manipulation. If a message binds you to a man rather than to the Savior, it is not from heaven.

Guard your heart. Test every spirit. Measure every message by the Word of God. The Lord never needs deceit or fear to lead His people — only truth and love.

Dear Lord, open open the eyes my people to discern truth from deception. Free them from any voice that seeks to control rather than to guide. Help them to follow You, the true Shepherd, who leads by grace and truth. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

In His love,

ray