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

liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 2 Peter 2:18-19

The FRUIT of False Ministries

The word “fruit” speaks of t he consequence or result of any action. It refers to any outcome, effect, result; aftermath, the product or production of something. What kind of fruit do these false ministries produce? What is the result of their ministry? What remains when they are done? What do they leave in their wake? Jesus warned us in Matthew that good trees bear good fruit, but bad trees cannot produce good, long lasting fruit. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Matthew 7:15-20 The Bible speaks to the subject of fruit when it comes to false ministries. I have identified some of the things that could fall into this category. The first negative fruit of false ministry is that they do not lead people to true repentance. God addressed this through His prophet Jeremiah. He spoke of the ministries as living in compromise themselves and never really challenging their listeners to change their lives and repent (Jer. 23:14, 21-22). I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and

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