Men of God or men of god?

FAKE is not written on the foreheads of some pastors but there are obvious signs as to whether that pastor is a man of God or man of god. 

Sometime ago someone sent me some pictures of some church banners that got me laughing: "El-Shaddai Shall Not Die ministries, Devil's Hunter ministries, Fire for Fire Deliverance ministries, Mountain of Swallowing Problems Interdenomination Prayer ministry".

As funny as it sounds, it's sad. These ministries exist and people patronize them. Matt 7:15 says, "Beware!" That's a note of caution, a warning. 

"BEWARE of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves, " says Jesus. He knew they will come. 

-They tell you to do things that are unscriptural
Recently, the story of a woman whose pastor asked her to sleep with him as a criteria for her deliverance, went viral. You know the end of that story, right? It was a sham. Beware of men of god who coerce you to something sinful to receive something that's already yours in Christ Jesus. 

Jesus said, "And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray." (Matt 24:11) Astray from what? From God and His Truth certainly. That's their motive. 

The Bible says that "the name of the Lord is blasphemed among the gentiles because of you" (Rom 2:24) These men of god give Jesus and His Church a bad name. That's why you often hear someone say, "If this is the way Christianity is, I don't want to be a Christian."

-They are money-minded
Or maybe you've had an experience like this: A friend invited you to go see this powerful MOG. So you head to the pastor's office for a one on one. See queue! As if that isn't enough they say you have to buy form for 5000 Naira and fill first before you see the pastor-prophet. Sweetheart, that's not a pastor. He is a con-business man! 

Or you go to meet this pastor for deliverance and he tells you you have to pay so and so amount of money for the deliverance to be conducted coupled with a list of things to be purchased for the 'deliverance'. Oh dear! Sadly, people fall for this.

Listen, you don't have to pay money or sow a seed to get what Jesus has already paid for on the cross. He said, "Freely you have received; freely give." (Matt 10:8) 

 Not only are these pastors money minded, Jesus also left us a clue to as to how to know them, "By their fruits you shall know them." (Matt 5:17-20) Their fruits is the product of their lives. Does it coincide with what Jesus would do? Do they actually bear the fruit of the Spirit? Or is he one of those pastors that as he arrives you roll out a red carpet for him to walk on?


- They operate by familiar spirits: Take note, not every manifestation is from God. So don't be deceived. Familiar spirits can tell you the history of your past, present and future, and very often these pastors work with them and make you think it's God at work. 

1John 4:1 instructs, "...do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

- They want you to depend on them: They want to control your life, your money etc. Before you do anything, you must consult pastor. If you want to travel, pastor. If you want to eat, pastor. To invest, pastor. They don't teach or encourage you to study the Word of God for yourself. 

- They draw attention to themselves and not to Jesus: It's always pastor did this, pastor did that." I was going through a church leaflet one day, and I read something like this: "Pastor so and so prayed for me and in one week I was healed." So it's not Jesus who did it, it's the powerful MOG. Smh. In other words he glorifies himself and not Christ. Every genuine man of God points people to Jesus not to himself.

-By they teach half-truths or error: I heard of a church who organized koboko night to flog the living daylight out of the devil. Whaat?! 2 Pet 2:1-3 says, "...there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies..." Beware! 
 
-They emphasize on prophecy, signs and wonders and not on the Word of God: Like every good business man, they know what sells. People love signs. They want miracles and prophecy and thus they pursue the shadow and neglect the Substance (Jesus). Pursuing signs makes people vulnerable and perfect candidates for deception. 

Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27. In the midst of all these confusion, when you know Jesus personally, you can't mistake His voice and that means you will save yourself from these false MOGs. 

Do you have a one on one relationship with Jesus? If you do, then dust that Bible and start digging! The deliverance you seek is in the Word of God. Get that Word into your system, believe it and pray it into your situation.

Jesus conducted your deliverance over 2000 years ago when He died on the cross for you.

God loves you.