deception - recognizing true and false ministries

8/16/2019 Deception - Recognizing True and False Ministries

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DECEPTION!Recognizing True

and False Ministries

by John Osteen


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Copyright © 1986 by John Osteen

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture

quotations in this boo are !ro" the King

James Version of the Bible.

#ll rights reser$ed%

&S'( )*91+61*+*-

.aewood Church

/%O% 'o0 ++9

2ouston, 34 ++8


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CONTENTS

Se$en 5ays to ecogni7e alse inistries%%%% 6

(o% 1: 3he !alse "inister usually will co"e as

an angel o! light, clai"ing to ha$e a special

re$elation !ro" ;od%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

(o% +: alse "inisters usually attac and

critici7e the spiritual leaders o! the local

church%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% 11

(o% : 3he !alse "inister usually has a

"essage o! doo", destruction, and death%%%%%%1

(o%


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no pastor who can $ouch !or the", no

reputation that can be $eri!ied%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

i$e Suggestions !or Church .eaders%%%%%%%%%%% <

>ight Suggestions !or Church e"bers%%%%%%% 6

y Con!ession !or ?ou%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%


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Seven Ways to Recognize False

Ministries

& do not belie$e anyone could doubt that we

are li$ing in the last days% #nd because we are,

Satan is waging all out war to try to decei$e

Christian belie$ers% 3here are "any !alse prophets, !alse teachers, !alse prophetesses,

and !alse Christs appearing throughout the

world, trying to lead ;od@s people astray%

3hat@s why we@$e got to be spiritually een%

5e "ust be !ull o! the 2oly Spirit and intouch with ;od% 5e "ust now the 5ord o!

;od and stand on it% 3he ti"e !or playing is

o$er%

&n the days ahead we@re going to see

supernatural "ani!estations in the world lie

we@$e ne$er seen be!ore% ;od is pouring out2is Spirit on all !lesh and the supernatural

gi!ts o! the 2oly Spirit are in operation% 'ut

right alongside are decepti$e "ani!estations

that appear to be e0actly the sa"e%

3hat@s why people are decei$ed% 3hey thinthat Aust because so"ething is supernatural it is

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o! ;od% 'ut that is not trueB Just because

so"ething is supernatural, strange, or

spectacular doesn@t "ean it@s o! ;od% 2ow canyou tell the di!!erence 2ow can you now

whether a person is a !alse prophet, a !alse

teacher, a !alse indi$idual who has been sent

by Satan to lead you astray &n this boo, &

want to discuss se$en ways to recogni7e andseparate these decei$ers !ro" the true

"inisters o! ;od% O! course, there "ay be

other ways, but these are se$en i"portant

guidelines%

&! you will learn these se$en rules and apply

the" to those who represent the"sel$es as

spiritual leaders, when the hour o! deception

co"es ;od will help you see these people !or

the decei$ers they are and pre$ent the" !ro"

leading you astray%

No " T#e $alse %inister usually &ill

co%e as an angel o$ lig#t' clai%ing to

#ave a s(ecial revelation $ro% )od

Second Corinthians 11:1*1- says, For such


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are false apostles, deceitful workers,

transforming themselves into the apostles of

hrist. !nd no marvel" for #atan himself istransformed into an angel of light. $herefore

it is no great thing if his ministers also be

transformed as the ministers of righteousness"

whose end shall be according to their works.

(otice care!ully that /aul says Satan istrans!or"ed into an angel o! light and that his

"inisters are trans!or"ed as the "inisters o!

righteousness% &t should not shoc us to reali7e

that Satan has "inisters Aust as the .ord Jesus

Christ has "inistersD but instead o! helping us,

Satan@s "inisters want to destroy our souls%

5hen these !alse "inisters co"e, they will

tell you that they ha$e a new, deeper

re$elation !ro" ;od% 3hey clai" to ha$e light

=spiritual insight and understanding=that

your pastor, church leaders, and teachers donot ha$e% 3hey say theirs is a special

re$elation that ;od has un$eiled to the" in

these last days, especially !or an elect !ew%

'eware o! anyone who clai"s to ha$e deep

and great re$elations about which none o! the

people o! your church ha$e any nowledge%

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3his is $irtually always a sure "ar o! a !alse

"inister, a decei$er% 3hese people appear as

angels o! light, but they are "inisters o! Satan%# wo"an once ca"e to "e in our church

and said, E'rother Osteen, ;od has gi$en "e a

re$elation so deep that e$en you won@t belie$e

it%E

ight in her !ace, $ery boldly, & said, F&t@s alieB &t@s a lieB &t@s not !ro" ;od% &t@s !ro" the

de$il because ;od nows that & will belie$e

anything 2is 5ord re$eals%G

She was so shoced by "y reply that she

dropped her de!enses, and & was able to help

her see that such a state"ent and attitude was

not !ro" ;od%

#lways re"e"ber that any re$elation can

and should be tested by your leaders%

e$elation can be tested by the 5ord o! ;od%

'eware o! !ar*out doctrines that twist theScriptures in order to ha$e so"ething biblical

to stand on%

# !ew years ago so"e people got a Enew

re$elation,E and went around casting de"ons

out o! Christians=ha$ing people $o"it up

e$il spirits% 3hey actually carried bags aroundB

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3hey !elt i! you didn@t $o"it up e$erything

inside your sto"ach that you weren@t getting

rid o! the de"ons%# !riend o! "ine got caught up in this

deception% 2e and his wi!e went around

carrying bags% 5e had other people in our

church who saw de"ons under e$ery tree and

between e$eryone@s toes%5e had to deal with these people% Sure, they

did EsupernaturalE things% 3hey taled to

de"ons and the de"ons taled bac% 'ut it

wasn@t o! ;od% 3hey were decei$ed% 3hey had

no Scriptures on which to stand% 5e are not to

tal to de"ons% 5e are called to cast the" out%

y 'ible tells "e that a Christian can@t ha$e

two "asters% >ither he belongs to ;od or to

the de$il Hsee atthew 6:+


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#lso, when you "eet in ho"es and s"all

groups, beware o! the bi7arre, the e0tre"e, the

unusual that sets you apart and "aes youdi!!erent !ro" the rest o! the body o! Christ%

5atch out when you start thining that your

little group has so"e new re$elation that e$en

the church leaders won@t accept because you@$e

tapped into so"ething special% ?ourEre$elationE will !i77le out, and you will be

hurt%

Stay balanced% .oo in the 'ible% id

anything lie you@re doing e$er happen to

people in the 'ible &s there e$en an indication

that they "ight ha$e done it &! your new

practice is !ar out and di!!erent, chec it out

care!ully% Satan "ay be decei$ing you%

No *" False %inisters usually attac+

and criticize t#e s(iritual leaders o$ t#e

local c#urc#

5hen !alse teachers co"e in to spoil the

!loc, they "ust !irst con$ince thecongregation that its leaders, elders, and pastor

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do not ha$e the biblical light that they ha$e%

3hey usually critici7e and conde"n those who

are watching o$er and !eeding the !loc=theones who !or years ha$e taen care o! the

congregation% 3hese !alse "inisters ha$e bad

things to say about the pastor or those in

authority%

5hy do they do this 3hey want to destroythe credibility o! the church leaders who stand

up against the"% 'ut the 'ible says, Obey

them that have the rule over you, and submit

yourselves% for they watch for your souls, as

they that must give account, that they may do

it with &oy, and not with grief H2ebrews

1:1I%

3he 'ible is $ery clear that we are to sub"it

oursel$es to the authority o! those who "ust

watch o$er our souls% 5hy 'ecause ;od has

put the" in authority o$er us and gi$en the"the wisdo" to protect us and care !or us Hsee

>phesians


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shepherd watches o$er the sheep% &! they didn@t

ha$e a shepherd, they would always ha$e to be

watching and guarding the"sel$es% 3heywouldn@t ha$e ti"e to eat the grass or lie down

beside the waters in peace% 3hey would always

be a!raid o! the wol$es, bears, and lions that

would co"e in to de$our the"%

'ut the sheep now that their shepherdlo$es and cares !or the", so they don@t ha$e to

be constantly on guard% 3hey don@t ha$e to be

a!raid% 3hey now the shepherd is watching

o$er the"% 2e wals around, watching, and i!

he sees a predator coining to destroy one o! his

sheep, he taes his sta!! and dri$es the ene"y

away%

&! the shepherd sees his whole !loc dri!ting

in the wrong direction="aybe toward a road

where they "ight get hit, or toward a cli!!

where they "ight !all, or close to the treeswhere wol$es and bears lur, or to any place

o! danger=he begins to guide the sheep away

!ro" danger and bac to sa!ety%

&! he sees one o! his sheep wandering o!!, he

goes o$er and tries to get that sheep bac to

the !loc% 2e tells the sheep, E;et bacB ;o on

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o$er there with the !loc%E 3hat shepherd is

trying to sa$e the sheep@s li!e%

So what does the sheep do &! he doesn@tunderstand the role o! the shepherd, he "ight

get "ad% 2e "ight thin, E& Aust don@t

understand that pastor% & wasn@t doing anything

wrong% &t see"ed lie good grass to "e% & don@t

understand why he would co"e and tell "e towatch out%E 'ut the pastor sees the danger%

2e@s trying to protect that sheep%

3he 'ible calls the pastor a bishop, which

"eans Eone who o$ersees%E 'astor "eans

Eshepherd%E 3o shepherd "eans Eto guard, to

!eed, to guide, to direct, to tae care o!, to be

responsible !or%E 5e need good pastors who

are constantly aware o! the needs o! their

!locs and will i""ediately go to their de!ense

and rescue the" out o! the hand o! the ene"y%

Se$eral years ago a "an ca"e dri!ting intoour town% 2e was one o! those who" the 'ible

tals about in + 3i"othy :6*, For of this sort

are they which creep into houses, and lead

captive silly women laden with sins, led away

with divers lusts, (ver learning, and never

able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

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3his "an taught all inds o! !alse doctrine,

and a!ter a while, he had gathered a group o!

wo"en who thought he was a prophet% (ot allthese ladies were Esilly wo"en laden with

sins%E So"e o! the" were wo"en !ro" our

church, good wo"en% 'ut they had been

decei$ed%

3he "an clai"ed he had a great re$elation,and he would teach this group about his

special light% 3hese wo"en got all ena"ored

with hi"% 3hey were taen away by his

see"ingly great and "ighty anointing o! ;od%

3hey were drawn to hi" as a person and

thought he was a special apostle, a great

teacher% 2e had re$elations that nobody else

had%

One o! these wo"en, a "e"ber o! our

church, told "e that this "an had been a guest

in her ho"e and had le!t a Aacet hanging inthe closet% 3he wo"en o! this group gathered

around his Aacet and touched it% 3hey thought

it was "ar$elous to ha$e this piece o! clothing

that had touched his body% &t was the "ost

sacred thing they had e$er touched% &t al"ost

beca"e idolatry%

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3he end result o! this "an@s deception was

that he wanted these wo"en to sell their

ho"es, gi$e hi" the "oney, and "o$e into aco""une he had started in another state%

& watched this going on and tried to counsel

and pray with this lady, but & wasn@t taing it

too seriously% 3hen early one "orning as & was

praying and seeing ;od, 2e put an alar" in"y heart% 2e said, E2ow long are you going to

put up with so"eone trying to steal one o!

your sheep 2ow long are you going to lea$e

this lady to the "outh o! the lion and the paw

o! the bear #re you going to let her be

decei$ed and sell e$erything and go to a

co""uneE

#!ter the .ord rebued "e, & Au"ped up and

called this lady and had a con!erence with her%

& e0pressed "y alar", rebued the de$il, and

brought the Scripture to bear on the situation% &ga$e her so"e o! the truths & a" sharing in this

boo% /raise ;od, the de$il@s hold on her was

broen, and she was deli$ered%

5hen she ca"e to hersel!, she told "e, E&

don@t now what ca"e o$er "e% 5hy, it is

unthinable what & was about to do% & can@t

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i"agine selling "y ho"e or being drawn into

such !alse doctrine% 3han ;od, 'rother

Osteen, that you cared enough to rescue "eBE3his wo"an is still a staunch and stable

"e"ber o! our church today%

3hat@s what pastors are !or% 5e church

leaders ought to rescue our sheep as part o! our

spiritual responsibility% 5hen we see thecongregation dri!ting in the wrong direction,

we "ust rise up and tae action% & personally

do% & warn our !loc when there is a !alse

teacher in their "idst% & strongly tae "y

stand% & don@t let any o! these decei$ers ha$e

sway in our church ser$ices because "y

responsibility is to guard the !loc ;od has

gi$en "e, to guide the", and to rescue the"

!ro" the ene"y%

5hen you hear these "inisters o! Satan

putting down your pastor or leaders, don@tlisten% 3hey are o! the de$il, and they will lead

you astray%

No ," T#e $alse %inister usually #as a

%essage o$ doo%' destruction' and

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deat#

& tell "y congregation that i! & had died

e$ery ti"e so"eone prophesied "y death, &

would ha$e had ten thousand !unerals% 5hen

!alse prophets and "inisters o! Satan co"e and

!ind & resist the" strongly, they start

prophesying "y doo"% 3heir "essage is, E&

pronounce upon you doo" and destruction%

3hus saith the .ord, @?ou shall surely die%E@

& Aust stand up to the" and say, E(o, that@s

not true% ?ou are decei$ed%E & rebue the

de"on !orce in the", turn the" away, and getthe" out o! the congregation%

& re"e"ber a !ellow who ca"e to our

church se$eral years ago% 2e tried to cause

disturbances in the ser$ices, but & wouldn@t let

hi"% 2e would try to stand up in a ser$ice, and

& would sit hi" down% 3his went on and on%

inally, he ca"e to "e and said, E& a" a

prophet to the nationsB 3hus saith the .ord,

@?ou shall die be!ore this building is !inished%E@

& said, E(o, you are not a prophet to the

nations% ?ou are not a prophet to anything%

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?ou are a poor decei$ed indi$idual !or who"

Christ died, but the de$il has gotten hold o!

you% & a" not going to die% & a" going to li$e,!or with long li!e 2e satis!ies "e and shows

"e 2is sal$ation%E

& rebued the de$il in that "an and turned

hi" loose, and he ne$er ca"e bac% & !inished

that building and another building and stillanother building a!ter that, and & still ha$en@t

died%

alse prophets and teachers o!ten ha$e

"essages o! doo" and destruction, especially

!or those who resist the"% 5e "ust recogni7e

that they the"sel$es are decei$ed% 3hey thin

they are prophets, but they don@t understand

the role o! a (ew 3esta"ent prophet% 3hey

thin it is lie that o! a prophet in the Old

3esta"ent, sent to bring the people a "essage

o! doo" and destruction% 'ut there is a bigdi!!erence between a "essage o! prophecy in

the Old 3esta"ent and in the (ew 3esta"ent%

&n the Old, the prophet was the "ediator

between ;od and the people% 2e spoe !or

;od in a $ery literal sense% 2is "essage was

o!ten one o! Audg"ent% 'ut in the (ew

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3esta"ent this is not true% 'ecause Christ died

!or us, we can all co"e boldly to the throne o!

grace% 5e do not need a priest or prophet tostand between us and ;od and spea to us !or

;od% 5e can go directly into 2is presence Hsee

2ebrews


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!inal word will always be, E?ou will !ind out

that & a" true% 3his church will be dissol$ed in

destruction, and the pastors and elders will die%;od will send the" quic destruction%E 3urn

away !ro" people lie that% 3heir $ery words

"ar the" as "inisters o! Satan%

No -" False (ro(#ets and deceivers

usually clai% t#at t#ey #ave .een sent

to you .y )od as /is s(ecial

%essengers' and t#ey usually co%e

$ro% a distant (lace

(ot all !alse "inisters co"e !ro" distant

places, but they do strongly declare that E;od

#l"ighty has sent "e to you with a "essage%E

(ow, we now ;od can send people to us

with "essages, and Aust because a person says

E;od sent "e to youE doesn@t always "ean he

is a "inister o! Satan% 'ut "ore o!ten than not

this is a $ery strong indication that such a

person is a decei$er%

5atch out when a EprophetE co"es !ro" a

+1


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!ar and distant place and says he has been sent

to you by ;od% Usually he doesn@t ha$e any

"oney, needs support, and ends up staying inthe ho"es o! people in the church% 5hen this

happens, people need to be spiritually strong

because this !alse "inister will try to decei$e

the"%

&n "any cases, these !alse "essengers dragchildren along% 3heir ho"es ha$e been broen

up because their husbands or wi$es wouldn@t

put up with their !alse doings% 3hese people

dri!t around without any support% 'ecause

indhearted church people ha$e sy"pathy !or

the" and their children, they tae these

decei$ers in and let the" use their ho"es as a

base% #nd "any ti"es these satanic "inisters

decei$e the people o! that ho"e% 3hey wor to

get the sy"pathy and understanding o! the

!a"ily, and then they begin to spread their!alse doctrine%

3he 'ible says, )f any would not work,

neither should he eat H+ 3hessalonians :1)I%

5hen these people co"e around "e, & tell

the", E;o get yoursel! a Aob% ae your own

"oney% 3ae care o! your children and your

++


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!a"ily% ;o bac to your husband or wi!e% ;o

bac to where you ca"e !ro"%E

'eware o! those who dri!t in, ha$e no "eanso! support, and want to stay in your ho"e%

'eware o! those who clai" they ha$e been

sent by ;od !ro" a !ar place to gi$e new light

to you and your church% 3hat is a sure "ar o!

a "inister o! Satan%.et "e also add a word o! warning about

"oney% Usually !alse "inisters tal a lot about

"oney% 3hey prophesy that you are to gi$e

the" "oney, or that you are to open your

ho"e, or that you are to sell such and such to

gi$e to the"% 3hey "ay get $ery angry i! you

re!use to support the" or gi$e the" "oney%

'eware o! these people% 3hey are not o! ;od,

and they will decei$e you i! you are not

care!ul%

No 0" False %inisters usually #ave a

re.ellious' unteac#a.le s(irit and &ill

recognize no aut#ority over t#e%

3he 'ible says, *ebellion is as the sin of

+


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witchcraft H1 Sa"uel 1-:+I% &t also says,

Obey them that have the rule over you, and

submit yourselves H2ebrews 1:1I% ;od has placed authority and go$ern"ents in the

Church% 3his does not "ean that your pastor or

elder has a right to direct e$ery detail o! your

li!e, but they do ha$e the right to watch o$er

and guide and protect you% 3hey ha$e the rightto co"e and warn you or instruct you when it

co"es to error%

alse teachers are so rebellious and

unteachable in their spirits that they will not

allow anyone to tell the" what to do% 3hey

ha$e stood up in "y congregation, and &@$e

had to say, E5ould you please sit down%E

(o, they wouldn@t sit down% E@5ill you

please be seated so we can go on with the

ser$ice%E (o, they wouldn@t% E5ill you please

be seated% & do not recogni7e that you ha$e a"essage !or this congregation%E (o, they

wouldn@t recogni7e "y authority% 3hese ind

o! people are o! Satan%

;od has gi$en "e a call to be a pastor% 3he

2oly ;host has set "e o$er "y congregation%

?et, these "inisters o! Satan would not

+


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recogni7e that & ha$e any authority to direct

the ser$ice at all% #t ti"es when this has

happened, &@$e si"ply had so"e o! "y peopletae the disturbers out o! the ser$ice% So"e o!

the" sti!!ened up lie a board, and we literally

had to carry the" out% 'ut carry the" out we

didB & will not allow "y ser$ices to be

disrupted by those who ha$e a rebellious andunteachable spirit%

(ow, in our congregation, we teach people

to stand i! they ha$e a "essage o! prophecy,

tongues, or any re$elation% &! so"eone stands

and it is not quite the right ti"e, & say, E5ill

you please sit down and hold that !or a !ew

"inutes, and & will call on you when & ha$e

!inished this thought% 3hen you can gi$e it%E

3hen, when & !eel the ti"e is right & point to

the" and say, E;o ahead and gi$e your

"essage%E&! & !eel the person is out o! order, & Aust stop

hi" and say, E(o, that is out o! order%E 'ut &

ha$en@t had to do that but once in !our or !i$e

years%

&@$e held a prophecy !or days% & ga$e a

prophecy two or three years ago, and & can still

+-


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gi$e it al"ost word !or word% &t burned in "y

heart% Just because ;od gi$es you a prophecy

or re$elation, that doesn@t necessarily "eanyou are to gi$e it at that "o"ent% irst

Corinthians 1


27/45

#ave t#e su(ernatural &it#out t#e $ruit

o$ t#e S(irit

3here are supernatural, "iraculous things

happening in the world today that are not o!

;od% >phesians 6:1+ H#"pli!iedI says, For we

are not wrestling with flesh and blood

contending only with physical opponentsbut

against the despotisms, against the powers,

against -the master spirits who are the world

rulers of this present darkness, against the

spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly

/supernatural0 sphere.# sure sign that a person is a "inister or a

tool o! Satan is that, e$en though he causes

supernatural things to happen, his li!e does not

de"onstrate the !ruit o! the Spirit% ;alatians

-:++*+ says, $he fruit of the #pirit is love, &oy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,

goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. One o!

the "ost i"portant tests you can apply to a

person to see i! he is o! ;od is to "easure his

li!e by these $erses%

Jesus said in atthew :1-*+), Beware of

+


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false prophets, which come to you in sheep1s

clothing, but inwardly they are ravening

wolves. 2e shall know them by their fruits. 3omen gather grapes of thorns, or figs of

thistles4 (ven so every good tree bringeth

forth good fruit" but a corrupt tree bringeth

forth evil fruit.

! good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good

fruit. (very tree that bringeth not forth good

fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

5herefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Jesus didn@t say you would now the good

!ro" the had by their wors or their "iracles

or their supernatural signs% 2e did not say you

would now the" by their prophecies which

co"e true or the supernatural things they now

and do, or e$en by the strange, supernatural

occurrences in their li$es% (o, Jesus said youwould now the" by their !ruits%

&n these last days we are going to see "ore

and "ore supernatural occurrences% Second

3hessalonians +:*1) says, For the mystery of

ini6uity doth already work% only he who now

letteth will let, until he be taken out of the

+8


29/45

way. !nd then shall that 5icked be revealed,

whom the 7ord shall consume with the spirit

of his mouth, and shall destroy with thebrightness of his coming% (ven him, whose

coming is after the working of #atan with all

power and signs and lying wonders, !nd with

all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them

that perish. 3his says that Satan has the powerto wor signs and lying wonders%

e$elation 1:1*1< tals about Satan and

the "inister o! Satan doing "iraculous things%

!nd he doeth great wonders, so that he

maketh fire come down from heaven on the

earth in the sight of men, !nd deceiveth them

that dwell on the earth by the means of those

miracles which he had power to do in the sight

of the beast. *evelation 89%8:;8< says, !nd )

saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out

of the mouth of the dragon, and out of themouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the

false prophet. For they are the spirits of

devils, working miracles. 3his is an a"a7ing

state"ent !ro" ;od% 2e is taling about things

that are going to happen%

Just because a person has the supernatural in

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his li!e does not "ean that he is o! ;od% 3hese

!alse teachers, !alse Christs, !alse apostles and

!alse prophets who co"e into the Church andshow supernatural signs decei$e "any people%

'ut we "ust beware% Satan hi"sel! is

trans!or"ed into an angel o! light, the 'ible

says, and his "inisters are trans!or"ed into

"inisters o! righteousness% 3hey can wor allsorts o! !alse, lying "iracles and wonders to

decei$e people% 3hese decei$ers de"onstrate

the supernatural, but they do not ha$e the !ruit

o! the Spirit%

& ha$e disco$ered during "y "any years in

the "inistry that it is easy to separate the !alse

!ro" the true si"ply on the basis o! their !ruit%

Jesus said, 5herefore by their fruits ye shall

know them.

5hat are the !ruits o! these !alse teachers

3hey "ay ha$e a !alse piety which bringssy"pathy !ro" your heart% #t !irst, they

see"ingly ha$e a hu"ble attitude that draws

people to the"% 'ut when it gets to the botto"

line, what are the results o! their being in your

congregation, your group, your town 5hat

!ruit do they cause to grow in those with

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who" they associate

&@ll tell you what !ruit they ha$e% & ha$e seen

it o$er and o$er again% 3heir !ruit is con!usion,di$ision, discord, deception, and destruction%

3heir !ruit is shearing and shearing the sheep

o! their "oney and goods% 5hen they !inally

lea$e, the pastor has to pic up the pieces, lo$e

the people bac into the 5ord o! ;od, "endtheir wounds, and get the" bac on the right

trac%

5e "ust be care!ul not to be taen in by

supernatural displays% Keep looing at the

!ruit% ?ou can@t go by the supernatural alone

because the !alse can loo Aust lie the real

thing% >0odus :1)*1+ says, !nd =oses and

!aron went in unto 'haraoh, and they did so

as the 7ord had commanded% and !aron cast

down his rod before 'haraoh, and before his

servants, and it became a serpent.$hen 'haraoh also called the wise men and

the sorcerers% now the magicians of (gypt,

they also did in like manner with their

enchantments. For they cast down every man

his rod, and they became serpents% but

!aron1s rod swallowed up their rods.

1


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3hese $erses tell us that /haraoh@s

"agicians per!or"ed the sa"e identical

"iracle that oses and #aron per!or"ed%#aron threw down his rod, and it beca"e a

serpent% 3he "agicians threw down their rods,

and they beca"e serpents, too, supernaturally%

'ut #aron@s serpent swallowed up all their

serpents, o$erco"ing the"% 3hese "en o! theoccult had the sa"e supernatural wors as

oses and #aron, but they weren@t o! ;od%

3hey didn@t ha$e the !ruit o! the Spirit in their

li$es%

oses was the "eeest "an on the earth%

/haraoh@s "agicians were arrogant% 3hey were

"inisters o! Satan e$en though they could

duplicate the "iracle o! ;od% &n the end,

howe$er, ;od o$erca"e the" all%

5hen these people co"e into our churches,

we need to test their !ruit% o they ha$egentleness #re they willing to yield to the

pastor or church leaders o they ha$e lo$e

o they lo$e the congregation #cts +):+9

says that these !alse "inisters are gre$ious

wol$es who enter into the Church, not sparing

the !loc% 3hey ha$e no lo$e !or the sheep%

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3hey ha$e no real concern !or the local

church% 3hey ha$e supernatural displays, but

by their lac o! spiritual !ruit you can tell thatthey are "inisters o! Satan%

No 2" T#e $alse %inisters o dri$t in

and out o$ c#urc# congregations #ave

no roots3no s(iritual ties' no a$$iliation

&it# a local c#urc#' no (astor o can

vouc# $or t#e%' no re(utation t#at can

.e veri$ied

3here are "any !alse teachers and "inisters

who dri!t around the country% &! you as,

E5here did you co"e !ro" o you ha$e a

pastor there # congregation &s there anyone

in that town who nows you Could & callwhere you ha$e been !or the last si0 "onths

and see what they thin about your "inistryE

they ha$e no answer% any ti"es they don@t

want anyone to now where they ca"e !ro"%

3hey don@t want anyone calling to chec on

the"% 3hey now not one person you call will


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gi$e the" a good report% >$erywhere they

ha$e been they ha$e caused discord, trouble,

and heartache% 3hey ha$e le!t the sheepwounded and decei$ed, and they ha$e done

nothing but har"%

3hese are se$eral ways you can recogni7e

the "inister o! Satan who co"es as a "inister

o! light% #s pastors, church leaders, andChristians, we ha$e a responsibility to be

care!ul who we listen to, who we let spea to

our congregations, who we in$ite into our

ho"es% 3he 'ible says, Believe not every

spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of

+od% because many false prophets are gone

out into the world H1 John


35/45

First , do "uch praying when so"eone you

!eel is a "inister o! Satan dri!ts into your

congregation and gets hold o! so"e o! your people% ;et alone and pray and see the "ind

o! ;od% /ray "uch in the Spirit, using your

prayer language%

#econd , re"e"ber that the battle is not a

legal battle% &t is a spiritual battle% ?ou are notwrestling against !lesh and blood but against

de"on !orces%

$hird , depend co"pletely on the 2oly

Spirit% 3rust ;od to "ani!est the gi!ts o! the

2oly Spirit and to i"part 2is wisdo" to the

situation%

Fourth, re"e"ber to lo$e the person or

persons in your congregation who ha$e been

decei$ed% 3hey are not the ene"y% ?ou are

!ighting a de"on !orce that has decei$ed the"%

Fifth, tae a bold stand against Satan% on@t be arrogant% 'e bold in the power and "ight o!

the 2oly Spirit% & urge you to protect your

!loc at all cost% are to be a true ser$ant o!

;od% o not allow the "inisters o! Satan to

sow discord in your congregation%

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36/45

Eig#t Suggestions $or C#urc# Me%.ers

.et "e also suggest se$eral things to you, as

a "e"ber o! a congregation who "ight co"e

up against these !alse "inisters%

First , re"e"ber that a !alse teacher, a

"inister o! Satan, "ay not be recogni7ed

i""ediately% So be on your guard% Keep

spiritually in tune with ;od so you can

recogni7e so"eone who does not ha$e the

Spirit o! ;od within%

&@$e been in "eetings where intellectually

e$erything was Aust !ine% 'ut so"ething insideo! "e didn@t lie it% & couldn@t put ray hands on

anything in particular that was wrong%

>$erything looed and sounded all right% ?et,

inside "e, so"ething ept telling "e,

E'ewareBE &t was not a real disturbance% &t was

Aust that still s"all $oice saying, Eon@t touch

itB &t@s not rightBE 3hat@s the 2oly Spirit% 5hen

you eep sensiti$e to the Spirit and listen to

2is leading, 2e will show you e$ery ti"e

whether so"ething is real or !alse%

#econd , eep this little boo handy% &! you

6


37/45

suspect so"eone to be a "inister o! Satan, as

yoursel!, Eoes this person re"ind "e o! the

se$en things 'rother Osteen "entionedE ;oo$er the se$en points care!ully and prayer!ully

and see how the indi$idual "easures up%

$hird , always hold your pastor and church

leaders in high regard% e"e"ber that ;od

has put the" in the positions they hold% /raydaily !or the"% .i!t up your pastor and his

wi!e, your elders, your deacons, and your

leaders in prayer to ;od%

Fourth, personally tae a stand against !alse

"inisters% &! you !ind that so"eone is a !alse

prophet or teacher and he is dri!ting around the

congregation, resist hi"% ;o to hi" and say,

E(o, 'rotherB 3his is not right% Stop decei$ing

these people%E Strongly tae your stand against

hi"% &! he insists on continuing, tell your

pastor or a church leader% Fifth, help your !riends who are being

decei$ed by these !alse "inisters o! Satan%

3ae it upon yoursel! to share this boolet

with the", and show the" the se$en ways they

can recogni7e the !alse !ro" the true% on@t

wait !or the situation to grow worse and worse


38/45

until it !inally co"es to your pastor@s attention%

'y that ti"e, too "any people will be

decei$ed and hurt%#i>th, stay in regular attendance in your

church% on@t let anybody drag you away !ro"

your regular church ser$ices to go to any

"eeting that would cause your !aith to be

weaened% 'e !aith!ul in attending churchwhere your pastor teaches the 5ord o! ;od so

that you will be strong and ready to resist

error%

#eventh, don@t let strangers stay in your

ho"e i! you suspect they "ight be "inisters o!

Satan% ?ou are putting yoursel! and your

!a"ily in unnecessary danger% &! they are in

your ho"e, and you recogni7e that they are

"inisters o! Satan, get rid o! the"

i""ediately%

?ou say, E'rother Osteen, shouldn@t &"inister to the"E ?es, you can "inister to

the", but it is better to "inister to the"

outside your ho"e% & now we are to entertain

strangers and those who "ay be angels o!

;od, but we do not want the angels o! the

de$il in our ho"es% So be care!ul who you

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39/45

entertain and who you let stay any length o!

ti"e in your ho"e%

(ighth, stay !ull o! the 2oly ;host% /ray"uch in tongues e$ery day% #nd stay in the

5ord o! ;od% eed on the 5ord and grow up

into "aturity% &! you are spiritually "ature,

you will now how to recogni7e and separate

the !alse !ro" the true%2ebrews -:1+*1< says, For when for the

time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that

one teach you again which be the first

principles of the oracles of +od" and are

become such as have need of milk, and not of

strong meat. For every one that useth milk is

unskilful in the word of righteousness% for he

is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them

that are of full age, even those who by reason

of use have their senses e>ercised to discern

both good and evil.&n other words, i! you are staying in the

5ord o! ;od and are strong in the 5ord, you

will now how to discern between good and

e$il, the !alse and the true% So stay !ull o! the

2oly ;host and !ull o! the 5ord o! ;od, and

;od will "ae you a strong pillar in the

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Church in these last days%


41/45

My Con$ession $or 5ou

inally, let "e say that & lo$e you% y

desire in this boolet is to help you% #s the

days grow darer, & want to "ae a bold

con!ession o$er you that you will not bedecei$ed% On the contrary, you will be able to

deli$er those who are being decei$ed% ?ou

will cast out de"ons, and they will go !orth

out o! people% ?ou will resist the de$il, and he

will !lee !ro" you%

& want you to "ae this con!ession with "e:

6I .oldly con$ess t#at I a% o$ )od I a%

.orn o$ t#e S(irit o$ )od I a% $illed &it#

t#e S(irit o$ )od I a% $ull o$ t#e Word o$

)od I a% strong in t#e 4ord and in t#e

(o&er o$ /is %ig#t I #ave .een delivered$ro% t#e (o&er o$ dar+ness and #ave .een

translated into t#e +ingdo% o$ )od7s dear

Son

6I a% in t#e lig#t I a% a c#ild o$ t#e lig#t

I do not &al+ in dar+ness' .ut I &al+ in t#elig#t o$ t#e 4ord 8esus C#rist


42/45

6I .oldly con$ess t#at I &ill not .e

deceived I .oldly con$ess t#at I &ill 9uic+ly

recognize t#e %inisters o$ Satan I .oldlycon$ess t#at not only &ill I not .e deceived

.ut I &ill deliver t#ose o are .eing

deceived I .oldly con$ess t#at I &ill .e a

(illar in %y local c#urc# I &ill .e strong in

t#e .ody o$ .elievers ere I attendregularly

6I .oldly declare t#at I &ill .e a strengt#

to %y (astor and #is &i$e and $a%ily and to

t#e leaders o$ %y c#urc# Satan &ill #ave

no (lace in %y li$e My c#ildren &ill not .e

deceived My %ate &ill not .e deceived We

&ill .e strong in t#ese last days' and &e &ill

.e a credit to t#e )os(el W#en t#e $inal

day conies and t#e 4ord calls us #o%e' /e

&ill .e a.le to say to %e' 7Well done' t#ou

good and $ait#$ul servant!76


43/45

'OOKS '? JO2( OS3>>(

# iracle or ?our arriage'elie$ing ;od or ?our .o$ed Ones

L2ealed o! Cancer by 3odie Osteen

L2ow 3o Clai" the 'ene!its o! the 5ill

2ow 3o e"onstrate Satan@s e!eat

2ow 3o low in the Super Supernatural

2ow 3o elease the /ower o! ;odO$erco"ing 2indrances to ecei$ing the 'aptis"

in the 2oly Spirit

O$erco"ing Opposition: 2ow 3o Succeed in oing

the 5ill o! ;od by 7isa omes

L/ulling own Strongholds

eigning in .i!e as a Kingi$ers o! .i$ing 5ater

LSi0 .ies the e$il Uses to estroy arriages by

7isa omes

3he 'elie$er@s M1 (eed

3he 'ible 5ay to Spiritual /ower

3he Con!essions o! a 'aptist /reacher L3he i$ine low

L3he 6th Sense%%%aith

3he 3ruth Shall Set ?ou ree

L3here is a iracle in ?our outh

3his #waening ;eneration

Unra$eling the ystery o! the 'lood Co$enant5hat 3o o 5hen the 3e"pter Co"es

?ou Can Change ?our estiny


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iniboos

# /lace Called 3here#'C@s o! aith

eceptionB ecogni7ing 3rue and alse inistries

our /rinciples in ecei$ing ro" ;od

2ow 3o inister 2ealing to the Sic

L2ow 3o ecei$e .i!e >ternal

Keep 5hat ;od ;i$es.o$e N arriage

Lecei$e the 2oly Spirit

Saturday@s Co"ing

Se$en acts #bout /re$ailing /rayer

Se$en ualities o! a an o! aith

Spiritual ood !or Pictorious .i$ingL5hat 3o o 5hen (othing See"s 3o 5or

LSelected titles also a$ailable in Spanish

or a co"plete listing o! "aterials by John Osteen

write to:

.aewood Church

/%O% 'o0 ++9

2ouston, 3e0as ++8


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deception - recognizing true and false ministries

Documents