Spot The Difference
Spotting the difference can be quite tricky. The hard work is like spotting the difference between two identical twins named Joana and Joanne.
The game is between the real and unreal, the complete and incomplete, the fake and original, miracles and magic, fake preachers and real preachers. It is fun, engaging and very interesting. For identical twins, you look for birthmarks on their faces or their dentition, but they must smile before you can decide. Till staff have pens to mark currencies to detect forged notes. They might miss a counterfeit by mere touch. Labels can also be of help, but most times they are hidden.
“So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares”? Matthew 13:27 KJV. The fakes are injurious and spiky. Tares does not respect colour, race, nation, tongue or tribe. As long as there is farmland, it will grow.
It takes experience, diligence, knowledge, and patience to differentiate tares from wheat. The former is spiky and poisonous. They kill zeal, quench anointing, destroy grace, lead one astray. They don’t allow the wheat to grow; they choke them up with poor examples, complaining and murmuring, fault-finding, lack of engagement, emptiness, worldliness, self-will, strive, ambition, showmanship. You get them in the high and in the low of every church community. Tares use magic for miracles, divinations for prophecies. They are in ministry for gain; they lead the church to licentiousness.
It takes discernment to spot them. Paul knew the damsel was possessed by a sprint of divination, and what she was saying was soothsaying and not prophecy. Acts 16:16-19 KJV.
Their fruits will eventually reveal them. We may be deceived at first, but the Holy Spirit in us will reveal.
“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them,” Matthew 7:20 KJV
They are very deceptive – “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matthew 24:24 KJV. So it is not about prophecy, but the life: an unbroken man cannot hold waters. This was said by Yeshua 2000 years ago. You can now imagine how wild these men are today. They grab you when you are greedy. You will fall for their charms.
They creep into the crowd, but they are spots in the feast of our charity, clouds without water as the Book of Jude describes them.
Their words sound like truth. Nehemiah discerned that the sweet words of Shemaiah were lies. They sounded protective, but in them are death and deception. He perceived God did not send him. Nehemiah 6:11-13 KJV.
Satan sows them at night while men are asleep. Matthew 13. Spiritually one can be said to be asleep when you are ignorant, and the word of God is not dwelling in you richly in all wisdom; the power of the Holy Spirit is not guiding you.
We should pray against their influence. Don’t imitate them, they are cankers. Don’t sow into them, they are hard grounds. Don’t let them into your life. Don’t be a part of their evil. Don’t fight them. It is a waste of time.
Premature rooting out will hurt the church. The zealous servants ask to gather them up, but the Lord said no, leave them to grow together.
Blasting them from every angle is hurting our Christian faith because the unbelievers will think everyone is like them.
“Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19 KJV.
