TB Joshua and the Test of True ministry .
This post is not about whether TB Joshua is true or false . It will distract from the intent of it . I just observed that the methodology of determining who a false prophet or teacher is as presented by a lot of anointed preachers seemed a bit cumbersome .
How do you “discern “ that a man is a false preacher or prophet in a way that isn’t “peculiar “ and isn’t subjective .
Many have presented a rather subjective way of knowing which has a lot of limitations . When what we have to say is “My spirit doesn’t agree with him “ as proof that a man is false then we are going to have problems .
There are several people who say Baba Adeboye is false . According to them their “spirit “ doesn’t agree with him . The same can be said of Bishop Oyedepo and Papa Oyakhilome.
Our methodology of determining false prophets and teachers must be based on the word in this TB Joshua matter so that as a standard and rule it is applicable to all .
Now the scriptures are very clear in the New Testament on how we can determine these things .
1 John 4:1-3
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
We are to “TRY” spirits .
The word “try” is the Greek “dokimazo “ and it means to examine or proof something . It is like testing for starch . When we try spirits we are testing for GOD .
John tells us plainly that we can try spirits and know what sort they are by their WORDS.
Their message must agree with the GOSPEL message .
During this time there was a viral agnostic movement which stated that Jesus didn’t come in the flesh but seemed to do so . John is saying that a false spirit was sponsoring it and false teachers where teaching it under the influence of these spirits .
Their words and their message .
The next thing is to look at the way the prophet lives.
2 Pet 2:1-3
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
So the false prophet will bring damnable heresies ( the message will be false), deny the Lord .
Then one major sign that a man is a false prophet is COVETOUSNESS. He will live covetously.
The false prophets goal is to milk his audience for Cash. He will preach messages that deny the Lord Jesus , heretic messages that are a departure from apostolic doctrine . Greed and avarice will be a strong theme of his conduct .
He is ruled by money and love of this world !
You will see the love of money and an insatiable lust for sex .
False prophets will operate with signs and wonders to attract the elect and deceive them but the most potent way to test the spirit at work is via the message and lifestyle !
There is one other way that we can know but it is subjective. It is dependent on the operation of the gift of discerning of spirits .
In this way you are able to pick up via revelation that an unclean spirit is at work .
This happened with Paul .
Act 16:16-19
And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the