Quote:
Originally Posted by Timmy
Can you tell when a sign is real (from God) or fake (either just fake, or from the devil)?
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Test the spirits whether they be of God. Don't believe every spirit. Many false prophets have gone out into the world. (
I John 4).
I would say does it give glory to God or does it promote "the prophet" the one who has the gift? I have people in my life who are really led by the Spirit but you wouldn't know it because they don't make a show of it. They are discreet. They are humble vessels. There are others who I see clamor for attention, thrive on the spotlight, are really motivated by the praise of men.
And I think that some miraculous things occur in spite of the individual not being right. God gives gifts and callings without repentance. God responds to the faith of recipients, to the prayers of mothers and fathers for their children, to the hunger He sees in a desperate person. Saul laid before the prophets and prophesied all night while chasing David to murder him.
Discerning of spirits is a gift of the Spirit that would be helpful in these situations. The devil knows we all have a spiritual hunger. The danger is when we crave ANYTHING spiritual or that even hints at being of God and flippantly accept everything that comes down the pike. That's why Jesus said it's evil to seek after signs for validation. We seek after God! Jesus and His cross validate me!
Many times I believe the gifts are at work and many times the people God is using aren't even aware that He is using them. It's an overflow of their walk and personal relationship with Jesus that opens the door for the Spirit to work through them.