The Bible says in 1 John 4:1, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world".
Here are practical ways to judge if a "man/woman of God" is genuine or fake:
1. Is he/she born again as defined by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself in John 3:3-6?
2. What is the person's testimony regarding his/her salvation?
3. What is the person's spiritual antecedent after salvation?
E.g., Did the person serve under another ministry? Which Bible School or Seminary did he/she attend? Who is the person's mentor?
4. How and when was the person called by God into ministry?
5. Are ALL the person's teachings Bible-based?
6. Does the person teach extra-Biblical "revelations"?
7. If miracles manifest in the person's ministry, are they independently verifiable medically?
8. Are the "miracles" bizarre, repulsive, weird, spooky, odd, fear-inducing and/or leave a strange, uneasy and inexplicable feeling?
9. Is God glorified? Or does credit go to the "man of God"?
10. Does the person practise syncretism (the combination of Christianity with other religions)?
This check-list is not exhaustive. The Ultimate Test is the Witness of the Holy Spirit in the heart of a believer who is truly walking intimately with God in holiness and obedience.
"But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man." ..... 1 Corinthians 2:15
Deception is a choice when knowledge is available.
Here are practical ways to judge if a "man/woman of God" is genuine or fake:
1. Is he/she born again as defined by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself in John 3:3-6?
2. What is the person's testimony regarding his/her salvation?
3. What is the person's spiritual antecedent after salvation?
E.g., Did the person serve under another ministry? Which Bible School or Seminary did he/she attend? Who is the person's mentor?
4. How and when was the person called by God into ministry?
5. Are ALL the person's teachings Bible-based?
6. Does the person teach extra-Biblical "revelations"?
7. If miracles manifest in the person's ministry, are they independently verifiable medically?
8. Are the "miracles" bizarre, repulsive, weird, spooky, odd, fear-inducing and/or leave a strange, uneasy and inexplicable feeling?
9. Is God glorified? Or does credit go to the "man of God"?
10. Does the person practise syncretism (the combination of Christianity with other religions)?
This check-list is not exhaustive. The Ultimate Test is the Witness of the Holy Spirit in the heart of a believer who is truly walking intimately with God in holiness and obedience.
"But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man." ..... 1 Corinthians 2:15
Deception is a choice when knowledge is available.
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