'A wrong prophecy doesn't always make a prophet fake' - Apostle Nat

Founder and Senior Pastor of Dashen Ministries, Apostle Nat Opare Yeboah, has urged Christians to exercise discernment when evaluating prophecies, arguing that an inaccurate prophecy does not necessarily mean a prophet is fake.

The preacher said on Behind the Pulpit that the prophetic ministry is more complex than many believers appreciate, explaining that prophets must distinguish between different spiritual influences while ministering.

"Even if a prophet gets it wrong, it doesn't automatically make him fake," Apostle Nat said.

According to him, one of the greatest challenges in prophetic ministry is that multiple voices can compete for a prophet's attention at the same time.

"When a prophet is ministering, three voices are speaking simultaneously," he explained. "There is what God is saying, what your own spirit is saying and what the devil is saying."

He said accurately identifying the voice of God requires spiritual maturity developed over years of experience.

"You must grow to know which voice is God's voice," he said. "That comes with maturity in the prophetic office."

The pastor said this reality explains why even sincere prophets can occasionally make mistakes while ministering.

"It is possible to miss it," he noted, adding that believers should not be too quick to label every inaccurate prophecy as deception.

His comments come amid increasing public scrutiny of prophecies in Ghana, particularly those predicting deaths, elections and national events, many of which have failed to materialise.

While defending genuine prophets, Apostle Nat acknowledged that fake prophets also exist and warned that not everyone who demonstrates supernatural knowledge is operating by the Holy Spirit.

"There are prophets who use familiar spirits," he said.

According to him, distinguishing between genuine prophetic gifts and counterfeit manifestations is not always straightforward because of the similarities between the two.

"The difference is very small," he explained. "Someone using a familiar spirit can appear almost exactly like a true prophet."

He therefore advised Christians not to judge prophetic ministry based solely on dramatic manifestations or apparent accuracy.

Instead, he said believers should test prophetic utterances against Scripture and rely on spiritual discernment.

Apostle Nat also defended the role of respected Bible teachers in correcting excesses within prophetic ministry, saying prophets themselves are not beyond correction.

Responding to criticism directed at some senior ministers who have publicly questioned prophetic practices despite not identifying as prophets, he said teaching ministers have an important responsibility in safeguarding biblical standards.

"It doesn't take a prophet to understand the principles governing prophecy," he said. "Teachers establish the standard for the five-fold ministry."

He cautioned some prophets against elevating the prophetic office above other ministries within the church, saying such attitudes often produce pride and unnecessary controversy.

"We make it look as if the prophetic ministry is above all the other ministries," he said. "That is wrong."

Despite the controversies surrounding prophecy, Apostle Nat maintained that the prophetic ministry remains essential to the life of the church, stressing that believers should neither reject genuine prophetic gifts nor embrace every prophecy uncritically.

"The answer is balance," he said. "There are genuine prophets, there are fake prophets, and there are sincere prophets who can sometimes make mistakes. That is why every prophecy must be tested."

His remarks add a nuanced perspective to the ongoing national conversation about prophecy, accountability and spiritual discernment within Ghana's Christian community.

Watch the interview below