Staying True to God’s Word
Let’s talk about something that’s been on my heart lately: the way some Christian leaders are misusing the gifts of the Spirit. I’m talking about those who claim to speak for God but are actually leading people astray with their teachings. You’ve probably seen or heard about these leaders who perform miracles, cast out demons, and speak in tongues—all in the name of Jesus. It’s easy to assume that because they’re doing these amazing things, they must be legit, right? But here’s the thing: not everything that glitters is gold, and not every miracle is from God.
We have to be careful not to get so caught up in the signs and wonders that we forget to test the spirits, as Scripture tells us (1 John 4:1).
Just because someone performs a miracle doesn’t mean they’re speaking the truth.
The Bible warns us that in the last days, even the elect could be deceived by false prophets who use signs and wonders to lead people astray (Matthew 24:24). These false teachers might even use the name of Jesus, but that doesn’t make their message true. Jesus Himself said that many would come to Him, claiming they performed miracles in His name, only to be told, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:22-23). That’s a sobering thought, isn’t it?
So, how do we tell the difference between a true messenger of God and a deceiver? Jesus gave us the answer: “By their fruits, you will know them” (Matthew 7:20). It’s not enough to see the outward displays of power. We need to look at the life and character of the person claiming to speak for God. Are they living a life of holiness, humility, and obedience to God’s Word? Or are they using their platform for personal gain, spreading messages that contradict Scripture? We have to be discerning, not just in what we see, but in what we believe. God’s Word is the ultimate authority, and if a message doesn’t line up with Scripture, it’s not from God, no matter how impressive the miracles may seem.
Deception in the Garden: A Lesson from Eve
This issue of deception isn’t new. It goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. Think about Eve’s encounter with the serpent. Satan didn’t come at her with obvious lies. He mixed truth with deception, making his words seem appealing and reasonable. He planted doubts in Eve’s mind about God’s goodness and honesty, saying, “Did God really say…?” and suggesting that God was holding something back from her (Genesis 3:1-5). The serpent’s words were a twisted version of the truth, designed to make Eve question God’s motives and ultimately disobey Him.
This is how deception often works. It doesn’t always come in the form of outright lies. Instead, it can be subtle, playing on our desires and doubts, making us think that we know better than God. Eve’s mistake was acting independently of God’s will, thinking she could determine what was best for herself. This same temptation is something we all face. Whether it’s through false teachings, cultural pressures, or our own pride, the enemy tries to get us to step outside of God’s boundaries, to act as though we are our own gods.
So, what’s the takeaway here? We have to be vigilant and stay grounded in God’s truth. Satan’s tactics haven’t changed much since the Garden of Eden. He’s still using deception to lead people away from God’s will, and he’s still trying to convince us that we can live independently of God. But as believers, we know better. We have God’s Word as our guide, and the Holy Spirit to help us discern truth from deception. We need to commit to daily obedience to God, recognizing that His ways are higher than ours and trusting that He knows what’s best for us.
Challenge
Here’s the challenge for all of us: let’s not be so dazzled by signs and wonders that we lose sight of the truth. Let’s be like the Bereans, who “examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11).
It’s our responsibility to test everything against the Word of God.
And when we encounter teachings that don’t line up with Scripture, let’s have the courage to reject them, no matter how popular or persuasive the messenger might be.
As you go through your week, I encourage you to spend time in the Word, asking God to give you discernment. Are there areas in your life where you’ve been swayed by what sounds good, rather than what is true? Are there voices you’ve been listening to that aren’t leading you closer to Christ? Let’s commit to staying grounded in God’s truth, so that we can stand firm against deception and live lives that honor Him.
FEEL FREE TO COMMENT AND SHARE