Many, many people are easily influenced by associating the ability to cast out demons or prophesy correctly as an indicator that they belong to God (Yahuah). We are warned in Deuteronomy 13 that we are not to listen to someone just because they are able to prophesy or “give a sign or a wonder.”
Let it be a reminder to us all that one of the characteristics of the antichrist is the ability to deceive people with lying signs and wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
We see in the Book of Exodus that the magicians of Egypt were able to turn their rods into serpents, just like Moses and Aaron did.
Surely the Scriptures speak to this.
“When there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer or dreams, and he shall give you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder shall come true...do not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer of dreams, for Yahuah your Elohim is testing you to know whether you love Yahuah your Elohim with all your heart and with all your being.”
Deuteronomy 13:1-3
How do we know that we love Him?
The very next verse tells us.
“Walk after Yahuah your Elohim and fear Him, and guard His commands and obey His voice, and serve Him and cling to Him.”
Deuteronomy 13:4
The New Testament confirms this.
Again, how do we know we love Him?
“If you love me, keep my commandments.”
John 14:15
“This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not burdensome.”
1 John 5:3
Considering Deuteronomy 13, it’s interesting to note how Yahusha said in Matthew 7:22 that many people will say to Him, “Master, Master, didn’t we prophesy in your name? Didn’t we drive out demons in your name? Didn’t we do many wonderful works in your name?”
“And then I will profess to them, ‘I never knew you: depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
Matthew 7:23
Being able to heal, prophesy or cast out demons does not indicate your fruit or that you know Him. His indictment was against their lacking of knowing Him. One day, many people will be found guilty for a lack of knowledge and being a lawless people.
Do you know what it means to “know Him?”
“We do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that says, ‘I know Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
1 John 2:3-4
Our Messiah said “you will know them by their fruit.”
A false spirit/teacher will never call you to follow the Father’s commandments, and that’s how you discern the difference between a true sheep and a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
The fruit will speak for itself in action and obedience, as it will be demonstrated as one who has a love, desire and reverence toward guarding the Father’s commands.
That’s how you test the fruit.
For deeper study, see Season 3, Episode 42: "Testing the Fruit" on The Promise Perspective Podcast