Video link: Why Are False Ministers Increasing Today?
Why Are False Ministers Increasing Today?
(Gift of prophecy or spirit of divination?)
Main scripture: Matthew 24:24-25 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.
But the question the Spirit of God is asking today is this: **WHY ARE FALSE MINISTERS INCREASING SO RAPIDLY?**
1: IT WAS PROPHESIED—DECEPTION IS PART OF THE LAST DAYS
Jesus said in Matthew 24:24-25 that false prophets would rise and show **GREAT SIGNS AND WONDERS**. Notice that—they are not just talking; they are performing!
The Apostle John warns us in 1 John 4:1 *"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
And in Revelation 13:13-14, we see the ultimate deception: "He performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs."
But THE ELECT SHALL NOT BE DECEIVED! Because we know the Truth! Because we test the spirits! Because we are not impressed by signs and wonders—we are anchored in the Word of God!
2. THE LIE THAT WORKING DIMINISHES THE ANOINTING
The Apostle Paul—one of the most powerfully used servants of God in history—worked with his own hands! He was a tentmaker!
1 Thessalonians 2:9 declares: "For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God."
But today, we have ministers who refuse to work—not because they are praying day and night, but because they are watching television dramas, chatting, socializing, and sleeping in broad daylight!
Even the Lord Jesus was supported by people who had the anointing and calling to minister to Him out of their own resources. Luke 8:1-3 tells us: "And also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases... These women were helping to support them out of their own means."
When a minister is truly called of God, GOD WILL RAISE UP PEOPLE to finance the work!
Matthew 10:8 commands us: "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely you have received, freely give."
3. ENTERING MINISTRY WITHOUT DELIVERANCE
Before the Lord Jesus sent out His apostles, He first called them to BE WITH HIM! Mark 3:14-15 says: "He appointed twelve that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons."
1 Corinthians 9:27 says: "But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified."
How can you be content ministering to others while harboring illicit lusts yourself? GET HEALED FIRST! Let the fire of God purify you before you stand in the pulpit to purify others!
4. ENTERING MINISTRY FOR INCOME, NOT FOR SOULS
God's plan is not to keep adding believers just to increase offerings while those believers continue to live with their burdens! Jude 1:23 says: "Save others by snatching them from the fire; and show mercy to others with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh."
But today, we have ministers who value money more than people's souls! If you send financial contributions, they regard you as an active member—even if you never attend church! They do not care about low-income believers because they have nothing to give!
Acts 26:18 declares our true mandate: "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God; that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me."
Instead of simply counting how many believers we have, we ought to ask: HOW MANY OF THEM ARE TRULY FREE? How many are no longer enslaved by Satan?
5. PLUNGING INTO THE SPIRITUAL REALM WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING
2 Timothy 3:13 warns: "But evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived."
When a person does not clearly understand the spiritual realm yet plunges into it headlong, they may believe the devil's lies, thinking it is God speaking to them!
Some ministers believe they possess the gift of prophecy, when in reality it is a SPIRIT OF DIVINATION—one that knows people's lives just as fortune-tellers and witches do!
1 Corinthians 2:13-14 says: "This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit."
6. SERVING UNDER A DENOMINATION ESTABLISHED BY SATAN
1 Timothy 4:1-3 declares: "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving."
When Satan establishes his church, he ensures that **SACRIFICES ARE BURIED BENEATH ITS ALTAR!** If you stand at such an altar, you cannot preach against it, for the prevailing inspiration is satanic!
This is why it is unwise to simply ask "which is your church?" when you are on a spiritual journey! A pastor from another church does not necessarily have to be like yours, even if they serve within the same denomination!
7. A SERVANT TRYING TO BECOME A FATHER PREMATURELY
Even in ordinary circumstances, not everyone can be a father, even if they desire to be! A ten-year-old child may possess great maturity, yet he cannot be a father! Likewise, if a servant is not careful, he may attempt to assume the role of a father prematurely, thereby endangering his own life!
This is why a servant often faces immense difficulty when deciding to minister without a spiritual and ministerial father! What happens is that he resorts to MANIPULATION to keep the ministry running.
Philippians 2:22 says: "But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel."
A servant must understand the journey of his ministry! He should not mistake ministry for a church signboard, a title or position, or government registration! A servant must ensure that the anointing flows down upon him from above so that he may experience a true breakthrough in his ministry!
Psalm 133:1-3 declares: "Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down to the edge of his garments."
8. LACK OF PATIENCE AND ENDURANCE
Luke 21:19 says: "By your patience you will possess your souls."
James 5:11 declares: "Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful."
The godly people who went before us were patient! But some people today have made poor choices because they failed to wait!
Because we are unwilling to examine ourselves and prepare for the blessings God has promised, we seek out prophets who will tell us what we want to hear!
The Apostle Paul once prayed earnestly for God to remove a "thorn" from him. God's answer was not to remove the thorn, but to let him know that he had been given sufficient grace to live with it without suffering any harm! 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
THE CALL TO DISCERNMENT
We must not be like those with itching ears who heap up for themselves teachers who tell them what they want to hear!
1 John 4:1 commands us: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
How do we test the spirits?
FIRST, we test them by the WORD OF GOD!
SECOND, we test them by their FRUIT!
THIRD, we test them by their MOTIVE!
Dr Lawi Mshana, +255712924234, Tanzania
