Test the spirits...

As supernatural occurrences increase, we need to be willing to be instruments for the power gifts -- but also to keep our focus on the full counsel of God

by Helen Gardiner

WE ARE living in a time of tremendous spiritual activity: God is moving by His Holy Spirit like never before -- but so is the enemy. People, not least of all Christians, are getting excited about supernatural phenomena, healings and deliverances. But we need to be very careful and to test the spirit at all times. It is also very important to discern fruit in lives: if the fruit is good, then what is imparted will be good, but if the fruit is bad, we need to watch out for mixture and excess baggage being imparted...

An interesting phenomenon which we have been noticing of late is that the Lord is doing the miraculous (especially healing) just sovereignly during praise and worship, and the preaching of the Word, without the laying on of hands... as if to confirm that worship and teaching and preaching which is in Spirit and truth.

As the supernatural continues to increase, we need to rejoice and be willing to be instruments for the power gifts, but also to keep our focus on the full counsel of God as reflected in all the Scriptures and quickened to us by the Holy Spirit.

Personally, I love ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit. However, I remain constantly reminded that: "A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign (Matthew 16: 7)" and "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)" and I am also very aware that one can perform wonders in the name of Jesus Christ and yet He will still say to some such ones: "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practise lawlessness (see Matthew 7:15-23)."

In the light of all this, it would seem timely for us to study carefully a prophetic word brought by the late Stanley Frodsham. This prophecy was given at the Elim Bible Institute Summer Camp Meeting in 1965. Stanley Frodsham was a recognised prophet and teacher in the Body of Christ whose life and ministry spanned the pentecostal revival, the great healing revival and the early days of the charismatic movement. He also authored the well-known book, <I>Smith Wigglesworth: Apostle of Faith<I>:

"When I visit My people in mighty revival power, it is to prepare them for the darkness ahead. With the glory shall come great darkness, for the glory is to prepare My people for the darkness. I will enable My people to go through because of the visitation of My Spirit. Take heed to yourselves lest you be puffed up and think that you have arrived. Many shall be puffed up as in the olden days, for many then received My message but they continued not in it.

"Did I not anoint Jehu? Yet the things I desired were not accomplished in his life. Listen to the messengers, but do not hold men's persons in admiration. For many whom I shall anoint mightily, with signs and miracles, shall be lifted up and shall fall away by the wayside. I do not do this willingly; I have made provision that they might stand. I call many into this ministry and equip them; but remember that many shall fall. They shall be like bright lights and people shall delight in them. But they shall be taken over by deceiving spirits and shall lead many of My people away.

"Hearken diligently concerning these things, for in the last days will come seducing spirits that shall turn many of My anointed ones away. Many shall fall through various lusts and because of sin abounding. But if you will seek Me diligently, I will put My Spirit within you. When one shall turn to the right hand or to the left you shall not turn with them, but keep your eyes wholly on the Lord.

"The coming days are most dangerous, difficult and dark, but there shall be a mighty outpouring of My Spirit upon many cities. My people must be diligently warned concerning the days that are ahead. Many shall turn after seducing spirits; many are already seducing My people. It is those who do righteousness that are righteous. Many cover their sins by theological words. But I warn you of seducing spirits who instruct My people in an evil way.

"Many shall come with seducing spirits and hold out lustful enticements. You will find that after I have visited My people again, the way shall become more and more narrow, and fewer shall walk therein. But be not deceived, the ways of righteousness are My ways. For though satan comes as an angel of light, hearken not to him; for those who perform miracles and speak not righteousness are not of Me. I warn you with great intensity that I am going to judge My house and have a church without spot or wrinkle when I come.

"I desire to open your eyes and give you spiritual understanding, that you may not be deceived but may walk in uprightness of heart before Me, loving righteousness and hating every evil way. Look to Me, and I will make you to perceive with eyes of the Spirit the things that lurk in darkness that are not visible to the human eye. Let me lead you in this way that you may perceive the powers of darkness and battle against them. It is not a battle against flesh and blood; for if you battle in that way, you accomplish nothing. But if you let Me take over and battle against the powers of darkness, then they are defeated, and then liberation is brought to My people.

"I warn you to search the Scriptures diligently concerning these last days. For the things that are written shall indeed be made manifest. There shall come deceivers among My people in increasing numbers who shall claim to speak for the truth and shall gain the favour of the people. For the people shall examine the Scriptures and say, 'What these men say is true.' Then when they have gained the hearts of the people, then and only then shall satan enter into My people. Watch for seducers.

"Do you think a seducer will brandish a new heresy and flaunt it before the people? He will speak the words of righteousness and truth, and will appear as a minister of light declaring the Word. The people's hearts shall be won. Then, when the hearts are won, they will bring out their doctrines, and the people shall be deceived. The people shall say, 'Did he not speak thus and thus? And did we not examine it from the Word? Therefore he is a minister of righteousness. This which he has spoken we do not see in the Word, but it must be right, for the other things he spoke were true.'

"Be not deceived. For the deceiver will first work to gain the hearts of many, and then shall bring forth his insidious doctrines. You cannot discern those who are of Me and those who are not of Me when they start to preach. But seek Me constantly, and then when these doctrines are brought out you shall have a witness in your heart that these are not of Me. Fear not, for I have warned you.

"Many will be deceived. But if you walk in holiness and uprightness before the Lord, your eyes shall be open and the Lord will protect you. If you will constantly look to the Lord, you will know when the doctrine changes and will not be brought into it. If your heart is right I will keep you; and if you will constantly look to Me, I will uphold you.

"The life of the minister of righteousness shall agree with the Word and his lips shall give forth that which is wholly true, and it will be no mixture. When the mixture appears, then you will know he is not a minister of righteousness. The deceivers speak first the truth then error, to cover their own sins which they love. Therefore, I exhort and command you to study the Scriptures relative to seducing spirits, for this is one of the great dangers of these last days.

"I desire you to firmly be established in My Word and not in the personalities of men that you will not be moved as so many shall be moved. Take heed to yourselves and follow not the seducing spirits that are already manifesting themselves. Diligently inquire of Me when you hear something that you have not seen in My Word, and do not hold people's persons in admiration -- for it is by this very method satan will destroy many of My people."

Finally, we encountered this prophetic word the other day on a New Zealand prophetic website and we believe it is really a word from the Lord at this time:

"I have hesitated a long time to say anything, but perhaps now is the time. I have not heard any 'woeful judgment' prophecies. Instead, I have heard only to pray that God's intercessors become active/more active.

"Now is <I>not<I> the time for judgement to be poured on the nations. The judgement of God is still ongoing within the church, which comes first.

"The judgement of God against the church is many faceted. Not only is God judging institutions, like the traditional church; God is also judging any ministries that are called by his name -- including "new" ones. Also, God is judging the wayward Christians who claim to be his, but are not. And, and lastly, God is judging 'the faithful' and refining them into gold or silver, iron or dust.

"We, the church, are all under judgment -- the difference being that some will be judged to be faithful. Sadly, some will be judged to be unfaithful, as well. Birthrights are being gained or lost. Assignments, given before the age of understanding, are being solidified through maturity -- or reassigned to someone who can fulfill them. The army is being readied.

"All this must occur before the nations are judged. And the time for our judgement is now, in the quiet of our hearts, where no man sees but Jesus.

"The rest is for later, and does not yet concern us, except for those few who have been called to intercede regarding the interplay of nations or the conduct of our own country's officials, on an hourly basis. (I am not talking about the injunction for all Christians to generally pray for these things -- I am speaking of the actual hour-by-hour prayer assignment that God has given to hand-picked intercessors who are willing and able to do this powerful job.)

"As for the rest, insofar as it concerns you: Wake up and do your individual assignment, while there is still time to accomplish it. Or, suffer loss."