There is a lot of attention being drawn to sexual predators in the church these days, and rightly so. But even as these horrendous sins are coming to the forefront, the Lord has alerted me to another danger that is just as destructive, if not far more detrimental to the Body of Christ than just sexual immorality and spiritual abuse. This may take a bit to unpack…but it will be worth the read:-).
Many of these predators are now being exposed as false messengers who have used their spiritual gifts to deceive and defraud their followers. But many who are decrying them are assuming that the signs and wonders they produce are simply fake. They aren’t real. All the healings were staged. All the words were false. The deliverance never took place. But is that really true? Is that what “counterfeit” actually means? Or is it something worse?
In Matthew 24:24, the writer points to a time when false prophets will arise and perform “great signs and wonders” that are so miraculous, they will deceive even the elect. I believe that’s because not all of these “wonders” are fake. In fact, some are very real. In 2 Thessalonians 2:9, it states, “…the coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false (lying) signs and wonders.” What makes the signs and wonders “false” is the fact that their source is not from the Holy Spirit, but a demonic one. They produce real results, but with deceptive and even destructive consequences.
I believe that many of the counterfeit signs and wonders being performed by these false messengers are actually healings and deliverances that are demonically-driven. They are very real, but coming from a place of darkness, not light. What’s just as alarming is the fact that some of these false messengers are so deceived themselves, they don’t even realize what they’re producing. They have become so enamored with their own press, they have no clue that they have become puppets of the enemy. This should raise even more red flags as to why these fraudsters must be removed from any stage or platform. This is not just a matter of shutting down misrepresentation of the gifts, falsifying works and miracles, or even predatorial activities, but shutting the door to demonic activity within the Church.
The prophet Samuel stated that rebelling against God is the same thing as divination/witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23). John said that when someone “makes a practice of sinning,” that person is “of the devil” (1 John 3:8). This means that when a spiritual leader is intentionally rebelling against God and continuing to practice sin, that person is opening the door to – and potentially operating in – witchcraft and deception. THIS is what these false prophets, apostles, and teachers unleash upon the flock. By operating in rebellion to authority and persistently doing their own thing, they are releasing spirits of deception and destruction upon all whom they minister to.
As I have been considering the seriousness of this issue, the Lord took me to Matthew 10:28 where it states “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” I felt the Holy Spirit calling us to account. Have we been so desperate for a prophecy, a deliverance, or even a healing, that we have traded our very souls for a temporary fix? Have we given greater priority to our physical health and happiness at the cost of our spiritual condition before God? Perhaps this scripture could just as easily say, “And do not pursue those who can heal the body – but kill your soul!” Have we blindly allowed these frauds to pray over us, not realizing the kind of spirit they are operating from?
This truth is not meant to spread unnecessary fear or cause undue anxiety, because those whose hearts are fixed on the Lord will be kept safe (1 John 5:18-19). But this should be an alert to those still sitting on the fence. It should actually put the fear of the Lord upon us. We are not just dealing with compromised leaders who are causing physical and emotional harm to innocent victims. We are dealing with demonic powers that are working through compromised vessels in hopes of bringing great deception and darkness into the middle of our congregations and fellowships. The reason we are being warned is because signs, wonders, and miracles are very real. This is why Satan tries to copy them. And this is why we must look beyond the sign itself, and consider the direction it points us.
“If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he 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.” (Deuteronomy 13:1-3)
The ultimate test of discernment is not whether we are healed, delivered, or get an impressive word. The test is how we will respond with our time, our attention, our money, and our worship. Those who are led by the Spirit of God and produce HIS signs, wonders, and miracles, will cause us to pray more fervently, worship Him more deeply, and study His Word more passionately. The fruit and character of Christ will become our goal and righteousness will be our desire. This should be the true test of which Spirit is at work.
If any messenger fails to point us in that direction, it’s time to cut off their mic and remove them from their platform. There’s too much at stake. Toxic deception is being spread in the name of signs and wonders. Let’s place greater value on our spiritual condition and the fruit of our lives than on any desperation for miracles. Perhaps then we’ll be positioned to recognize and receive the real thing that will far outlast any false messenger.
Wanda has been in ministry for over 35 years as a worship leader, teacher, author, deliverance counselor, and speaker.
26 Responses
This echo’s the cry of my heart, and while reading this, I started to weep before God, to grant us to live in His Holy Spirit, to live in constant encounter with Him, to be aware what we were saved from and how very expensive our free gift of salvation really is! God have mercy!
How do we know for sure that what we sense is discernment concerning a church leader is truly from the Lord?
This is an excellent word! I think of the book written by Hal Lindsey’s sister, name Beautiful Side of Evil and the healings that took place appeared real were actually healings and false from the demonic realm. Discernment is so critical in his day so the desire for the supernatural. We must be grounded in God’s Word. Satan always will masquerade as an angel of light.
Thank you again Wanda, on tract with God’s warning with truth.
Yes, and amen, amen, amen, Wanda! God is bringing His body and creation into His divine order, so that we can manesfest His glory and bring heaven to earth. Let’s believe for the greater relationship and greater thing.
I remember years ago I went to a Kenneth Copeland crusade. From our far-away seat, it looked like everyone that went forward was slain in the Spirit, but when we got close up, everyone were faking it. It was expected that they would fall, so they did. I was so disappointed.
This has concerned me for many years.
In 2017 the Lord gave me 6 headings and told me to fill out the details (HE declined to dictate them to me.) The topic was Marriage, Divorce, Re-marriage. The final heading was ‘Sin Unto Death.’ That portrays the jist of the note; a couple of which one or both are divorced and a spouse from a previous marriage remains alive, are living in sin that will lead to their spiritual death unless rectified. [The note is 4 pages long and I’m happy to provide it to anyone who wants it.]
My concern is how authentic is the ministry coming from such a comprised person (not just a leader) who is habitually living in sin and how is this impacting the Body at large from both within it and outside it.
Hello I am very intrested to recieve the copy of your notes, Thank you so much in advance. My email is nidavallejo@gmail.com
this is so true , Wanda. It spells it out in Hebrews that some die twice; they tasted and then were deceived and thought they were blessed but their hearts were deceived. Humility is key , my nephew who is prophetic never takes glory for himself; he says its God not me. God is faithful to those who faithfully serve Him and speak truth.
So, so right on Wanda. Such wisdom and insight that you express in the Lord!
Wanda – this is such a current word for the church. There is such a lack of true discernment – as Matt 24 warns about the deception being the #1 need of this hour. I’m fervently praying for the True church to become more convicted and willing to be corrected by the Holy Spirit in this hour.
Wanda, I SOOO appreciate your solid teaching. THANK YOU. ❤️
Yes Wanda. Love to see this tied in with Rom. 11:29.
Excellent exhortation Wanda. Thank you
This is so good Wanda. Thank you so much. We need to reinforce this and keep her eyes focused, but most importantly we need to stay on our knees and be able to hear God‘s voice.
YES! YES! YES! YES! As I went outside to do chores the other day, I looked up and had the thought “Are these clouds real?” (concerned about solar geo-engineering). Then I thought “well, of course they’re real.” The question is “are they natural and from God, or man-made and manipulated?” Are they of the truth, or of a lie?
It was like a parable of “signs and wonders”, and the “prophetic gifts”…they also can be of the truth…OR NOT! Yet be very REAL. WE NEED DISCERNMENT!!
Thank you Wanda!
This is a really good article with a lot of thought and preparation. Thank you!
I would like to add a question of something I’ve considered recently but cannot find an exact answer. While the Bible does speak of false signs and wonders, I haven’t been able to find any example of a time the devil was able to actually heal anyone of disease or illness.
Even with all of his Jezebels and other false prophets, to my knowledge there wasn’t a time he performed counterfeit healing miracles.
I’m asking only because I cannot find an example (and this topic has been on my mind for weeks now) of the devil healing or even pretending to heal someone.
We know things like making objects appear or something appearing showy could be part of his evil tricks to deceive. But I have been trying to find a a scriptural reference where he was actually able to heal the sick, but have been unable to locate one. Some say that the miracles we see nowadays are all false and of the enemy, and even though I disagree, I’ve wondered how much power the devil actually has when the Bible mentions his fake signs and wonders.
Even if possibly deceiving the elect, can he actually bring sight to the blind and restore a body? We know that the Bible says by the stripes of Jesus we are healed. Because of that, I didn’t think that the enemy held any of that specific power.
Your article was posted at a timely moment. Thank you for your insight and devotion. God bless you.
Remember when God had Moses throw down his staff and it turned into a serpent? Then Pharaoh had his sorcerers throw down their rods and they turned into serpents. That’s in Exodus 7.
I was only thinking about healings miracles. I understand that there were other examples as you mentioned about fake signs and wonders. That’s why I asked in the question about the Bible mentioning anything about a time the enemy actually healed someone because I haven’t ever found an example. This has been on my mind for some time now.
I’m thinking if the enemy actually caused the blindness or other illness, he could reverse it.
Hi Kathy,
Thank you for the reply. It does seem that it’s possible for the enemy to remove an affliction caused by him. But I was trying to find examples where it happened in the Bible. I know that doesn’t mean it cannot happen. There is so much confusion in this world. Looking forward to heaven and not having these burdens any longer.
Thank you for this. There is a fine line, and discernment is crucial, but our desire for the fruit of God and humility before God
is so important. His Kingdom and His ways are known by being grounded in God’s Word, allowing Holy Spirit conviction will give n edge over the enemy.
The Church is so much into a ‘celebrity’ mindset…the latest and greatest, who is trending. When that is the mindset, hearts are no longer set on our HOLY GOD, but on man.
Little thought is given to what is ‘behind the curtain’ as long as the performance satisfies the craving for the supernatural…signs, wonders, words.
Thank you Wanda…always a good, well thought out word from you. Might be hard for some to swallow, but I say more…keep admonishing, keep exhorting, keep laying out the truth, keep being thought provoking! Those who have eyes to see will see and those with ears to hear will hear. And for the others, HOLY SPIRIT, open their eyes and ears to the condition of their hearts that are so willing to settle for less than GOD’s best, His Truth, His Righteousness, His Holiness, His way of being and doing; who are so ready to ‘buy’ wood, hay and stubble for a momentary fix.
Praying for you – GOD BLESS YOU!
This is really dangerous ground you are treading on. Attributing healings to the devil rather than Holy Spirit. Without naming names.
The real danger is the church not performing miracles.
As Paul Crouch recounted several times of his first generation Pentecostal grandmother “before she would pray for us she would always kick the doctor out of the house”.
Or Smith Wigglesworth colleague confession to him, “I have preached divine healing for 30 years and ended up in a hospital. Sobbing. What will I tell my people?” HT Smith Wigglesworth Apostle of Faith by Frodsham.
There’s the real danger to warn the church about.
We have been too preoccupied with signs, wonders, and miracles. They must be in their proper place and fueled by Holy Spirit, alone. Some of these false messengers have brought a mixture into the Church. Thankfully, it is His goodness and mercy that can override man’s sins and reach through a compromised vessel to bring healing and deliverance to a hungry, faith-filled heart. I’ve experienced this myself. Even so, we need to discern much more carefully who we give a platform to – and why. Ultimately, I believe this is all in preparation for a true outpouring of signs, wonders, and MIRACLES like we’ve never seen. So, to your point – yes. God is preparing us for a demonstration of His glory that will be truly miraculous.
But preparing us how when all of today’s healers are not radical like the pioneers? Add Gordon Lindsay to the radicals also.
The only giant I’m familiar with was Ruth Heflin who rejected treatment for her breast cancer. Using the hospital more like a hospice.
Or Rees Howell shocking Norman Grubb when he accepted some medicine. Grubb writes he probably knew he was dying and normally wouldn’t have accepted pills.
These pioneers weren’t waiting for God to act in the future.
Do Not Overcorrect
htt ps://media.presencepioneers.org/p/dont-overcorrect-the-us-prayer-movement
https://media.presencepioneers.org/p/dont-overcorrect-the-us-prayer-movement