How can we Differentiate Between True Men of God and False Teachers?

HOW CAN WE DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN TRUE MEN OF GOD AND FALSE PROPHETS?

By Ezekiel Kimosop

INTRODUCTION

Someone sent this question to me in my WhatsApp teaching forum. I appreciate the confusion we are witnessing in sections of charismatic circles where all manner of miracle claims are made by self appointed prophets.

Are miracle claims evidence of a preacher's calling to ministry?

My view is that God alone performs miracles at His divine pleasure. Miracles are not necessarily a mark of the true Gospel today.

The word of God is the exclusive tool that God has chosen to use in revealing His mind to us through the Holy Spirit. Scripture attests to its efficacy in proclaiming the Gospel. Hebrews 4:12 says " For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

Any person who exclusively uses miracles claims to draw followers and is not faithful to the truths of Scripture is decidedly a false prophet! This issue boils down to the biblical identity of a true prophet or servant of God.

BIBLICAL FOUNDATION

The Bible does not teach that we are to determine the authenticity of a preacher by miracle claims but by the fruit of his moral life and the attestation of his ministry by the word of God and by credible witnesses.

2 Timothy 2:2 says "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."

No preacher serves in a vacuum. There must be some "paper trail" that authenticates his calling in Christ and his training and approval in ministry.

Unfortunately, many people today who claim to have a calling are phonies who use the cover of church ministry to hide their ravenous greed!

The Bible reveals that Satan can masquerade as an angel of light. He can perform signs and wonders with the hope of deceiving many and drawing them into the wide path that leads to destruction.

2 Cor. 11:13-15 says "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works."

It is the responsibility of every child of God to test and prove any claim to prophetic or apostolic calling.

1 John 4:1-3 says "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world."

Jesus also warned that we should identify true men of God by their fruit.

Matthew 7:15-20 says "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."

CONCLUSION

Let me conclude by stating that we need the prudence of the people of Berea who diligently examined the preaching of Paul and his associates in order to determine if they were consistent with the teachings of the Old Testament Scripture.

We therefore need to consistently rely on the word of God to determine the moral and spiritual substance of any person who claims to speak the mind of God. Do not be deceiving by the flamboyance and the verbosity and voratory skills of a preacher...dig deeper...

The following questions would perhaps be useful for our evaluation:

1) Is the preacher's moral life consistent with the truths of the word of God? How is his family life? Does he have a good moral testimony within and outside the Christian community?

2) Does the preacher have a true calling to church ministry? When and how did he get into ministry? Does he have any biblical training and if not, what is his attitude to it.

3) Does he have a credible reference on his past ministry life including where he was raised in ministry and by who? Where did he serve before going independent in ministry?

4) Are his teachings, doctrines and traditions consistent with the truths of Scripture? Is he faithful to the balanced teaching of biblical truth?

5) What is his attitude towards money, earthly riches and the pleasures of this life?

These questions, among others, should guide the reader in determining if the preacher is a man of substance who has the calling and the prudence of a servant of God.