Do Miracles Authenticate A Preacher?

I started looking through my sermons in progress and came across this one I started in 2018. Little did I know that six years later that I would be speaking often against false prophets marking them as the Word commands. Indeed, I had other issues to deal with for a long time and just shook my head when I heard of crazy stuff and moved on. Now, I have people close to me being deceived by a group that has become involved with seducing spirits and doctrines of devils so it is timely that I came across this.

Sadly, it is often like before 911 when the problem was over there so we did not think much of it. Heresy and false prophets I hoped were an oddity and my family would be immune to it as some were seminary trained, but they are a major danger and are destroying faith and souls. Hence, I can no longer just say “it’s somewhere else” and go about my way. Indeed, they are now in the city where I live.

Hopefully, these verses will help someone to avoid the trap of hyper-Charismatics and other cults. Just because you see what seems to be miracles and they use the name of Christ does not make it automatically valid. Jesus and Paul spoke of false apostles and miracles in the last days. We would do well to seek discernment.

II Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (KJV)

Even during the Apostles’ lifetime there were those who tried to destroy the faith even to writing or preaching like Paul, but they twisted the message. Paul personally signed his epistles to fight the forgeries. Paul says that the Wicked one or the Anti-Christ will come with power, signs and wonders powered by Satan, not the Holy Spirit. Those who refuse the truth will be deceived because God will cause them to have strong delusion. They will not have a second chance after the Rapture as some teach. (Gal 1:1-10, 2 Thess 3:17)

Matt 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (KJV)

So, these folks prophesied, cast out demons and did miracles/wonderful works in Jesus’ name or so they thought. There were of workers of lawlessness or doing things they had no authority to do by Christ. There were in league with Satan and yet could do some convincing things. Someone I love said, “But if you see it with your own eyes.” I referred her to this passage and the one in Thessalonians.

Rev 16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. (KJV)

Here we have false miracles performed by demonic spirits. Seeing is believing is a phrase that causes us to fall prey to deception. Many will see these wonders and it will lead to their damnation if they believe.

Rev 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.