In 2 Thess. 2: 9,10 we read that the Antichrist will deceive the world through "lying signs and wonders and the deception of wickedness". Supernatural miracles have a great capacity to deceive people. We have seen many instances of heathen religious leaders who have built up a following for themselves through doing miracles by Satanic power.

Supernatural miracles and healings however, are also a part of the equipment that God has given to His church, to fulfill its task on earth. Jesus, Peter and Paul did miracles of such magnitude, such as are not even heard of today. This was because of their faith. The accounts in the 'Acts of the Apostles' are a standing rebuke to the smallness of our own faith today. A church without the gifts of the Spirit is like a man, who though alive, is yet blind, dumb, deaf and paralysed, according to 1 Cor. 12 (where the gifts are compared to the eyes, ear, hand, etc). We do not want to be like those unbelieving believers who say that the age of miracles has passed. That age has certainly passed for them, because of their unbelief! - but not for those who believe.

However, this does not mean that everyone who does miracles in the name of Jesus can be followed blindly. There are many who do such miracles, who will finally be rejected and cast out by the Lord Himself! (Matt. 7:22,23). Why then does God allow such people to do miracles in Jesus' name? The answer is given us clearly in Deut. 13:1-5. God allows it in order to test us to see whether we will be led astray by signs and wonders, or whether we will follow the plain commands of Scripture. It is important therefore to make sure that your spiritual leader is not one who will himself be cast out by the Lord in the final day. (Read Rev. 13:13,14 carefully at this point to see how the false prophet - who looks like a lamb (Rev. 13:11), a disciple of Jesus - deceives people through signs and wonders!). How then shall we keep ourselves from being deceived? Ask yourself the following questions and you will get the answer:

1. Is his life and ministry leading people to be free from sin's power, or only to the forgiveness of sins? Does he emphasise purity of heart and life?

2. Is he a humble, self-effacing man, like Jesus and the apostles were? Or is he interested in projecting himself, making you dependent on him, his advice and his prophecies, so that you cannot be connected to Christ as your Head? Does he have the spirit of a servant or of a boss who gives orders to others around him?

3. Have you found an honesty and a sincerity in his life - an uprightness and straightforwardness - particularly in money matters? (Beware of those who are always interested in your tithes and offerings).

Jesus, Peter and Paul would pass the test, but not many preachers and so-called "healers" today. Through the spirit of the Antichrist, Satan has polluted Christendom. May God raise up many with the power of the apostles to drive out this spirit from the churches.