“For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” (2 Corinthians 11:4)
How astounding that supposedly Spirit filled believers were dismissive of Paul’s ministry while receptive to charlatans. Paul went so far as to say: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ” (2 Cor. 11:13).
Even while their relationship with Jesus was waning, the Ephesians still “tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars” (Rev. 2:2). How many self-appointed apostles are currently roaming among the people of God? Peter warned the church: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you” (2 Pet. 2:1). Where is the discernment?
Paul patiently bore the contempt and rejection of the Corinthians. But he could only marvel that self-exalting spirits, unsent by God, were readily embraced: “For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face” (2 Cor. 11:19,20).
The truly anointed will always point to Jesus. The falsely anointed will always point to themselves – what they know, what they’re doing, what they’re bringing “their” people into. They don’t have the focus of Paul. They don’t exalt the person and work of Christ. They speak of themselves and “draw away disciples after themselves.” (Acts 20:30) But all the time, they appear as “ministers of righteousness,” seemingly in love with Jesus.
Ironically, the spiritual gift that is most missing in many Spirit-filled churches is the discerning of spirits. Who will spot Satan when he transforms himself into an angel of light? Beware church. It is possible to receive one who comes in his own name, and reject the one who has been sent to you in the Name of the Lord. It has happened before, and will happen again.
“I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” (John 5:43)