This is a continuation of last week’s article on “Judgment in the House of God!” under a different title. For emphasis, let me repeat part of what was earlier stated in the previous write up; “....There are too many Oppressors, Manipulators, Conspirators and Pretenders masquerading as apostles, prophets, as G.Os or Bishops (etc) in the name of the LORD. They are secretly conniving with some of the forces that are obstructing our journey towards transformation and greatness as a nation. They are obviously in league with some of the most corrupt and crooked elements in our polity....They must be promptly exposed to stop them from deceiving and exploiting the people any further.....”
Are there proofs and scriptural basis for the above assertions? Indeed, there are many! Before I proceed to highlight some of the attributes, characteristics, ways and the deeds of these masquerades, let me first and foremost quote from the word of God as the source of supreme authority in all matters of faith. In the epistle to the Corinthian Church, which also applies to us today (since part of the rule of the holy scriptures is that whatever is written are for ensamples to us to whom the end of the age has come) the apostle stated:
“....But what I doing, I will continue to do, that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising or masquerading themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.” (2Cor. 11:12-15)
The above passage brings some realities to light thereby making them very clear! Paul, a genuine apostle of Christ, made it very clear that there are servants of Satan who are masquerading themselves as ministers of righteousness because as part of their trickery, they often mouth issues relating to righteousness and integrity without any compelling and corresponding lifestyle to back up their talk. They seek opportunities to present themselves and boast that they are apostles in the class of Paul and Peter. Therefore, Paul was determined to continue to cut off every opportunity they attempt to use as he was already doing.
The question we need to ask here before we continue is to say “Who are these servants of Satan seeking to present themselves and boasting as apostles of Christ and Ministers of righteousness? By implication, these are people who claim to be serving God or Christ, while they are actually serving themselves and indirectly the devil! They were described in some previous verses of the above Scripture as those who preach another Jesus and another gospel which are different from what Paul preached. They also make the people receive another spirit which is totally different from the true Spirit of Christ. (2Cor. 11:2-5) For instance, whereas Paul preached nothing but Christ, His cross, His death and His resurrection, that is not the case with these Masquerades and false apostles.
They come in different forms, shapes and sizes. Some claim that they are only sent to Preach Success, Prosperity, Money or Financial empowerment, Healing, Marital bliss, Miracles, Signs and wonders etc. They are not like Paul who told the elders of the Church in Ephesus that He did not hold back from teaching them anything that was helpful for their faith. He said He taught them both publicly and from house to house the whole counsel of God. What a great contrast Paul’s standard and pattern were in comparison with these false apostles! Many of them will not preached except as hired Speakers to a sizable or a very rich audience where they can be paid some specified huge amount of money. They will equally need to manipulatively raise some extra funds in hundreds of thousands or millions!
Remember the Bible says they equally make people receive different spirits which are not of Christ. Some make their congregants receive the spirit of wickedness in the name of ‘spiritual warfare’ which causes them to pray that certain people die to enable them make progress in life! Others release to their listeners satanic spirits of pride, arrogance, mammon or love of money, covetousness, greed, falsehood, immorality, violence, embezzlement etc. You can actually see some of these false apostles claiming to release some spirits to people by blowing air into their public address equipments or by waving their hands, jackets and other tools at their audience even over the electronic media! May God have mercy and save the gullible masses from these deceivers!
Apart from the fact that they are motives, when critically examined, are self centred, fraudulent and very exploitative (though they claim to be very benevolent and philanthropic) the Bible further describe them in Philippians 3:17-19 with the following scary phrases: “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite or their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, and who set their minds on earthly things!” (To be continued)
• (By Abraham Sam. Aiyedogbon, the Presiding Pastor of Realm of Glory Int'l Churches; Okota - Isolo, Lagos)
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