Matthew 7:21 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.
Someone very close to me said this. "You have to believe it if you see it with your own eyes." Not really. Magicians deceive us all the time. People saw what the folks in the passage did, but it was not of God though it appeared to be godly and done in Jesus' name.
2 Th 2:8 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.
The Anti-Christ will do things that are so good in appearance that only the saved will be able to know it is not of God. Many Christians today are so easily deceived that it makes you question their salvation.
Exodus 7:10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.
Pharaoh's magicians conjured up serpents, but they were not able to stand against the truth.
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
If there was ever an age more open to be tossed, carried and deceived it is this one. We are like those at Mars Hill looking for some new thing. There are many "Christian" magicians these days able to conjure up some fairly entertaining phenomena by sleight of hand and cunning craftiness.
Don't trust your eyes. Just because you saw it and someone professing it doesn't mean it is of God. What you saw may well be a Matthew 7 manifestation. Ask for discernment! You are going to need it in this wicked and adulterous generation seeking signs more than Christ. If it doesn't match the Word and the works of Jesus and the Apostles, it is just smoke and mirrors or demonic manifestations.
Look to Jesus as that is the miracle that is the best one that we can look to Him for salvation and everything else we need. Stay away from gold dust, angel feathers and other sideshow stunts.
Maranatha!
