Watchout For WOLVES: Keys To Discerning Authentic Ministries & Evaluating Doctrinal Trends

your God, is driving these nations out before you. Be completely loyal to GOD, your God. Deuteronomy 18:9-13, Msg To the mature believer these ministries are usually fairly easy to discern. Although often when they are accompanied by signs and wonders, even mature Christians can let their guard down (Acts 8:9-11). We have an example of this in the Book of Acts with a man called Simon Magnus who had been a sorcerer. Because he astonished the people with the miraculous, he was able to dupe them into believing that he was operating as God’s agent. But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power o f God.” And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. Acts 8:9-11 The second category of false ministries are people who function from within or from inside the church (Mt. 7:15; Acts 20:30; 1 John 2:19). These come in sheep’s clothing and are more difficult to spot. Both Jesus and Paul warned of these false ministries (Mt. 7:15; Acts 20:29-31). Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. Matthew 7:15 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. Acts 20:29-31

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