There are many gone out into the world to deceive…and they would deceive the very elect if they could…and some do. I have seen so many things within the walls of what many people call “church,” and some of it is pretty ugly. I’ve seen
…pastors cooing like doves…preachers stirring the air with imaginary wands to bring in “the river,” an idea that does not exist in the Bible and is satanic in origin…making people “fall backward in the spirit” by convincing them that they need to fall backward- when in reality, they believe that must be what they have to do when under the power of God’s spirit; it is a culturally learned phenomenon, and in the Bible where there were instances of people falling backward from the power of God it was when God overpowered an enemy…worship “enhanced” by filtering in aromas, fog, and surreal special effects while the faithful flop around like rag dolls in entertainment that becomes unfocused and unhinged until people sing and chant lyrics contrary to the Word of God…preachers mesmerizing the crowd with the right words, only to deceive them with a haughty spirit of “healing virtue” that is nothing less than crowd control and emotional manipulation, not done in humility and awe of God…and prophetic messages that are spoken over people in a whipped up emotional fervor, devoid of God’s spirit, damaging those who are ministered to….and more…
So…why aren’t people stopping this- throwing up red flags of concern everywhere these things happen? Why? Because they have no discernment.
Discernment is the ability to decide between two choices…and spiritually, the ability- through God’s presence in you- to tell when something is of God and when it is not of God.
Let me give you an example:
You are in the crowd of a large congregation and a minister has come out and is praying for people- laying hands on people. STOP. DISCERNMENT TIME. #1- Don’t let anybody lay hands on you unless you know for certain what spirit is within them. You can tell this from their fruit= the fruit of the spirit. The fruit of the spirit does not include pride, arrogance, or a lack of self-control (it’s in the Bible, look it up if you don’t agree).
So, Minister so and so goes on about his or her work, praying for this person and that person. STOP. DISCERNMENT TIME # 2. before you get out of your seat and run up front for prayer…you better pray yourself. It states in the Bible that spiritual things are discerned spiritually. Ask God in prayer if you should go up. AND Listen to what is happening. If you see anything out of line with what the Bible says…DO NOT GO UP FRONT.
Why? Because you could be in line for what evil or spiritual sickness they have…it can pass on to you if they lay hands on you. The Biblical thing to do if you are sick is call for the elders of the church…they can pray for you. Notice I said “can.” You have a choice.
God’s answer in the Bible tells us to get alone with Him and pray directly. So why is it so many Charismatics, Pentecostals, and Protestants are imitating Catholicism, as if the priest or “minister” (priest) is the only one that can make things happen? Power? Control? Jealousy?
It is a dangerous thing to fall into the hands of an angry God. Pray for discernment. test the spirits if you are right with God. Do not be deceived.