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

False ministries often claim to be somebody (Mt. 24:5; John 5:43). They can make all kinds of claims for themselves which cannot always be substantiated by reality or their ministry fruit. Jesus said many will come in His name claiming, “ I am the Christ,” and many will be deceived by their claims (Mt. 24:5). They are not claiming to be “The Christ,” but they are claiming to be anointed like Christ.

You might ask, “ What kind of claims might they make? ” Here are a few things that they may claim.

• They may claim to have answers that your elders do not have.

• They may claim to hear directly from God.

• They may claim that God has given them a key that only the very spiritual can understand.

In addition, false ministries can superficially heal people with a message of peace (Jer. 6:13-15). False ministries speak of peace and safety (Ezek. 13:10, 16). God warns false ministries through the mouth of Ezekiel. I will raise My fist against all the prophets who see false visions and make lying predictions , and they will be banished from the community of Israel. I will blot their names from Israel's record books, and they will never again set foot in their own land. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD. This will happen because these evil prophets deceive My people by saying, 'All is peaceful' when there is no peace at all! Ezekiel 13:9-10a, New Living Translation They speak peace and safety because to speak what people really need to heal them to the core would not always be popular and would not always return to them tangibly (Jer. 8:10-12).

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