Dear Mary Okpe,
Your concern on how to recognise a true man of God, is very timely most especially now that we approach the end of time and all that Jesus said about the end are all happening.
The Book of Matthew 24: 5 and 24: 11 says: For many shall come in my name saying I am Christ and shall deceive many and verse 11 says and many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. If I am right, the reasons for your concern are not to be in the number of the deceived. But I have to say here that the answer is there with you!.
1) You need to depend absolutely on the Holy-Spirit of God for discernment and to reveal to you who is a Prophet of God and who is not. This is the dispensation of God
(the Holy Spirit) and He is very active within us and with us. The time that Joel 2:24-27 was talking about, concerning outpouring of the Holy-Spirit of God is now and the purpose is not far fetched but to discern the false Prophets, the demons and familiar spirits. On the other hand, to handpick and directly say a Man of God is a false Prophet without Holy-Spirit pointing an accusing finger is a grievous offence against the Holy-Spirit Himself with damnable punishment of hell without forgiveness.
2) Beware of any Prophet that preaches only Prosperity and do not believe that Jesus came in the Flesh, died for our sins and resurrected the third day, and also ascended to heaven, and now alive at the right hand of God. Beware of those money conscious prophets that would not care even if their members has to go borrowing, on loan or even sell his or her properties as they raise an offering and making it compulsory for members to redeem. This is not of God, as God is able to finance any project He has Commission. Beware of those that doesn't believe in Holy- Communion, Holy-Living, Righteous living, a life void of sin, consecration, speaking in tongues, tithing, forgiveness etc Beware of Prophet that requires sacrifice of you and also request for materials like goats, clothes, candles palm fronts etc. Your Sacrifice was completed when once Jesus entered the holy of holies making Himself a sacrifice for the world.
3) Miracles wonders and signs are good, it makes men approved of God and draws the unbelievers to fellowship but it is not the ultimate, believing in the eternal word of God is better. Acts 2:22, Isa 40:8, Miracles will seize but the infallible word of God abides for ever. At times One may come to fellowship and receive a miracle and not genuine salvation and this cannot assure the person of eternal kingdom with God. Meditate on Rev 13:14, Rev 16:14 & 19:20. The working of miracles is supposed to be one of the Spiritual gifts from the Holy- Spirit to edify the Church and not to make noise about. I Cor 12:9-11 Today some false Prophets are selling what has been freely given to them, so beware of those Prophets, Some have now turned themselves into baby factories and collect money, beware of them, they may not belong to God. Do you know what it takes to become a Prophet of God?
(3a) Personal Spiritual Development after you have been called. But some are lazy to wait on God, meditating in the word of God, and Praying without season even at Night Vigils at times, real life of Spiritual Commitment, but instead would rather prefer a short cut that the devil may suggest to them, by fetish means and application, by use of mediums and enchantments, washing their faces with water that come from the eyes of a dog and others for them to see into the future. Some join fetish occultic clubs and meet at night etc. Under this category words are inexhaustible to describe what the do and their expectations, but run away from them!
4) By their Fruits You Shall know them. Watch the disciples they were able to produce, watch them from their Crown to the feet. The type of hair cuts, hair do etc. Are their women modest as in 1 Timothy 2:9-15 and their men, do they appear in jerry Curls as women or wear garments that belong to women? As It is therefore impossible for a mango tree to produce an orange fruit, so is it impossible for these set of ungodly men to produce genuinely born-again, Spirit filled, Kingdom minded disciples. God is not moved by multitude, but God is moved by the number of disciples. Remember God instructed Gideon to re-direct the people to the water and as many that can lap the water by the tongue are the armies (Disciples) and those are the one fit for the battle. Judges 7:1-6 The fruits of many false Prophet's Church are multitude, but you envy them in thousands and very few or none of them are heading towards the narrow gate, that leeds to heaven.
5) Do they meditate in the word & Break it Accordingly. The devil also know the verses of the Bible and even quote it a times. Remember the encounter of Jesus after fasting for 40 days and nights. Some of them do not use the Bible often but now we have got modern day devil that even understands the Bible and quote, so here you need to depend on the holy-Spirit.
Rev Yomi Adeyemi,
CFM UK
