IDENTIFYING FALSE PROPHETS PART 2

By Gavin Aleogho

What’s their Priority?

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matthew 24:24.

Another important aspect to consider in identifying false prophets, teachers, pastors or whatever they call themselves is to look at their priority in ministry? I mean, their ultimate agenda in ministry.

When the ministry of a supposed man of God is only gears towards satisfying the body and mentality of his congregations with no values placed on holiness and the salvation of man, then that is something to be wary about.

The ultimate priority of a genuine minster of God is to see to the total salvation of the spirit, soul and body of his or her congregation while he or she prepares them for eternity. Because, what eternal value is it when all the enemies of a man died, if he gets the entire breakthrough or if he gets the healing and he ends up in hell? That is why Jesus asked: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36.

Be wary of any “man of God” whose emphasis is only on:

1. Acquisition of materialism than growth in spirituality.
2. Miracles more than the salvation of the soul.
3. Breakthroughs, deliverance with no emphases on living the holy life.
4. Earthly conscious than eternity conscious.
5. Enemies’ consciousness rather than helping men to build a relationship with Jesus which invariably takes care of the former (Proverbs 16:7)

I am writing this because I see today, a lot of supposed Christian who after leaving church, they only come out to tell how their pastor healed someone, cast out devils, gave someone money and many more; but they themselves are yet to have salvation encounter with Christ Jesus. They are being carried away with the frivolities in their churches. They returned from Church and still remained whom they were before going to the Church; no desire to seek the Lord and no desire to change their lifestyles.

Let me make it clear, I believe in healing, breakthrough, deliverance, miracles and in the supernatural. But one thing I know is that, these are not the main essence of the ministry that Christ gave to us.

Jesus Christ did a lot of miracles while He walked the earth. But if you observed very well, His core mission was not just to feed the 5000 people, neither was it to heal the sick or raise the dead who will eventually die one day. No! Christ’s mission was beyond that. He came to make all (not some) His children have power and authority over all demons. He came to save that which was lost. He came to restore us back to the Father. He came so that we can have relationship and fellowship with God the Father with the life of holiness.

Jesus made a striking statement in this regards when He says: “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” John 6:27.

Apostle Paul made a statement which can be applied to this context. He said: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” 1 Corinthians 15:19. Paul seems to be saying if all there is in Christianity is just what we can get and consume here on earth, then we are the most miserable people on earth.

The Christian life is beyond bread and butter. It is beyond meeting needs. So, when you see a ‘man of God’, and his only emphasis is just bread, butter, miracle, healing etc.without any deep regard for the afterlife, be careful!

The prosperity of the soul is God’s priority. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 2.

Check it out in the book of Acts of the Apostles, the apostles’ priority in their ministry can be described in these words, “repentance from sins”. It was not an emphasis on problem solving, mind building or the show of miracles or the miraculous but on restoring men to God the Father.

The highest priority of any man of God should be the salvation of souls. Working of miracles, deliverance and healing should all gears towards bringing men to God, it should not just draw men to a church or to an individual.

When a so called minister’s priority is just to heal the sick, perform miracles or build the mind of men without eternal agenda, then be careful of such.

Materialism and prosperity are not the sole aim of Christianity. It should be noted that wealth and prosperity can be gotten without one becoming a Christian.

As a matter of fact, non-Christian are also very rich in material possession.

If miracle is the essences of Christianity, what should we say about the herbalists and the devil who also perform miracles?

If mind development is the essence of Christianity, it should be noted that you can still get your mind developed in our educational institution.

The essence of true Christianity is her emphases on eternity and eternal values.

When you follow a so called man of God who doesn’t have eternity as his or her priority, be careful. It doesn’t matter if he or she shares money or whatever to people. It doesn’t matter if he performs miracle or great signs. It is very important that you check to see if all he or she does has any eternity agenda.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Does the ministry tends to draw men to the personality of Jesus?
• Does the ministry seems to be building me up for eternity?
• Does the ministry makes me more worldly and materialist?
• Does the ministry seems to be more concerned about the now, the world, the earth, and the earthly achievements?

…to be continued