There is a troubling passage in Deuteronomy 13 that shows just how important it is to God that we only worship Him.
Moses told the Israelites that the time would come when prophets and dream interpreters announced their supernatural knowledge of future events, or they would perform deeds beyond normal human ability.
Just because these events happened didn’t mean that the prophet or dream interpreter was from God, Moses said.
In fact, the chapter says, God sometimes allowed false teachers to demonstrate supernatural power just so the hearts of the people could be tested.
This same warning is valid today because some segments of Christianity seemingly have valued the ability to do signs and wonders ahead of the fidelity for a humble, servanthearted faith before God.
Check out vv. 1-4 below:
“If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.”
Based on the passage above, it is entirely possible for us to see healings or predictive prophecy done by people who aren’t genuinely faithful to God.
This is tough to swallow, but that’s what the passage says.
Listen, remember that God tests our hearts and minds by allowing us sometimes to see people whose signs and wonders claims actually come true but whose motives appear to be more focused on worshipping and acquiring things than on humble, sacrificial worship of God.
Am I the only one who has noticed that a preponderance of the “health and wealth” proponents among Christianity — especially with televised ministries — are also associated with church movements emphasizing signs and wonders?
We should celebrate and worship when God provides a supernatural healing or a family is providentially delivered from a terrible financial situation. We should thank God for Christian servants that God used in those “signs and wonders” moments.
But if any of those servants subsequently focuses attention on material possessions as measures for faithfulness, ignore them for they are false prophets sent to test the humility and fidelity of our faith.
As always, I love you
Martin
