False Ministers and Miracles
1 John 4:1
(1) Beloved, BELIEVE NOT EVERY SPIRIT, BUT TRY THE SPIRITS WHETHER THEY ARE OF GOD: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Deuteronomy 13:1-5
(1) If there ARISE AMONG YOU A PROPHET, OR A DREAMER OF DREAMS, AND GIVETH THEE A SIGN OR A WONDER,
(2) And THE SIGN OR THE WONDER COME TO PASS, whereof he spoke unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
(3) Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD PROVETH YOU, TO KNOW WHETHER YE LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL.
(4) Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
(5) And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.
Proverbs 14:15
(15) The simple believeth every word: but THE PRUDENT MAN LOOKETH WELL TO HIS GOING.
2 Corinthians 11:12-15
(12) But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
(13) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
(14) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
(15) Therefore IT IS NO GREAT THING IF HIS MINISTERS ALSO BE TRANSFORMED AS THE MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; whose end shall be according to their works.
Isaiah 66:4
(4) I ALSO WILL CHOOSE THEIR DELUSIONS, and will bring their fears upon them; BECAUSE WHEN I CALLED, NONE DID ANSWER; WHEN I SPAKE, THEY DID NOT HEAR: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
2 Thessalonians 2:7-13
(7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
(8) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
(9) EVEN HIM, WHOSE COMING IS AFTER THE WORKING OF SATAN WITH ALL POWER AND SIGNS AND LYING WONDERS,
(10) And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED NOT THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH, THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED.
(11) AND FOR THIS CAUSE GOD SHALL SEND THEM STRONG DELUSION, THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE A LIE:
(12) THAT THEY ALL MIGHT BE DAMNED WHO BELIEVED NOT THE TRUTH, BUT HAD PLEASURE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.
(13) But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
There is a difference between a truthful statement and one that is biblical Truth. One could say that a preacher “fell in adultery,” and be correct. That would then be a “truthful” statement. Another could say that the Bible teaches against adultery. That would be “biblical Truth.” Deception occurs when biblical Truth is perverted by false teachings or human behavior that’s contrary to Jesus' New Covenant message. When this occurs, biblical Truth is obscured. That was the problem with Simon the Sorcerer. He saw the power of God and wanted to preach it to his own gain. That meant he wanted to preach “biblical Truth” in a
perverted way. The apostles rebuked him for his “wickedness.” They called him to repent...and even wrote of his sin (
Acts 8).
The Apostles called sin, “sin.” They openly rebuked false prophets, ministers, and even sorcerers for the wickedness of their doctrine. Their rebuke was followed by a call for repentance. That was the apostolic way then, why should it be any different today? To see why such a stance is still “apostolic,” look at these:
1 Tim 5:19-21;
Mat 18:15-20;
Rom 16:17-18;
1 Cor 5:3-5;
2 The 3:6, 14-15;
1 Tim 6:5;
2 Joh 1:10-11. But if ever such as stance is deemed necessary, it should only be done through the love of Christ.
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