In Exodus 7, God had a plan to deliver Israel from slavery in Egypt, so He commanded Moses and his brother Aaron to confront the Pharaoh. God instructed them:
“When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Perform a miracle,’ then say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,’ and it will become a snake.”
So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. (Exodus 7:9-12 NIV)
The same also happened in the next two miracles that followed. God turned the waters of Egypt into blood, and covered the land with frogs. Both times Pharaoh called on his magicians, and they replicated what God did by their secret arts.
After, God turned the dust of Egypt into gnats but this time the magicians were unable to replicate this miracle with their secret arts.
Like magicians of Pharaoh, there are people today performing miracles or using spiritual gifts by a demonic power.
Such people are servants of satan but posing as followers of Christ, and without the discernment of the Holy Spirit, it can be very easy to believe they’re serving the Lord.
Some of those people try to mimic the gift of tongues, can “prophesy” accurately (Acts 16:16-18), preach impressively, are very knowledgeable about the Bible (Matthew 4:5-6), and have other “spiritual gifts” which can be misinterpreted as the gifts of The Holy Spirit.
For this reason, It’s so important for Christians to pray and ask God to show them the truth about any pastor or church they follow.
I encourage everyone reading this to go before the Lord, and ask Him to reveal any deception.
(Whether you have been following a ministry for just one month or all your life, it makes no difference.)
Also, any ministry that teaches a Christian can speak in tongues at will, or use the gift by “simply opening your mouth and speaking,” is in error.
That is a false teaching, because a person can only speak in tongues when the Holy Spirit gives them utterance. If your church or any ministry you follow shares that teaching, you should leave immediately.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15 NIV
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
Matthew 24:24 NIV
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
