1Jonh4:1 Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. NLT
A lady told a pastor that God told her to tell him that he should shave his moustache, the man told her he won't shave it because she was only prophesying her personal opinion not God's. Besides, it is only his wife that has the right to tell him such. From personal experience, some people have given me a word of direction by using the name of God whereas it was their personal opinion.
I remember when I was presiding over a fellowship,a brother told me that my successor's name would be Kola. Amongst the thousands of details we had with us, we didn't have a single brother then by the name Kola. I knew he was wrong from the on-set when he gave the prophecy but I confirmed his lies by searching for that name amongst thousands and there was none. In the new testament, a prophet is meant to confirm what God has spoken to you not to give you a direction you can't check from within.
Do not be quick to act on every word of prophecy. If the bible doesn't corroborate it, if it causes confusion, division and fear discard it. Also, you must watch the life of the fellow prophesying to you, if he/she isn't living the christ life, that prophecy maybe demon-inspired even if it is accurate. The accuracy of a prophecy doesn't mean that it is from God.
Let everything you hear pass through the litmus test of the word.
- Father, I will not fall victim of deceit In Jesus name. Amen