Manifestations Of Power Devoid Of Godly Character(A Recipe For Spiritual Disaster).

Manifestations Of Power Devoid Of Godly Character (Recipe For Spiritual Disaster).

True spiritual measure & value is not in manifestations of power, glory and influence but in the development of christian character; conformity to the image of God's Son(Christ) ie. growth unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ(Christlikeness).

Satan can manifest power & glory, appear as an angel of light; spirits of devils can work miracles, command breakthroughs & testimonies, gather a mammoth crowd of people to a crusade or meeting ground, such that those who judge by outward appearance will most assuredly say 'this is revival'!

2 Corinthians 11:14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Revelation 16:13-14
And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 

We should not marvel when we see manifestations of power, glory and influence. Simon the sorcerer was able to bewitch the Samaritans whom Jesus had earlier encountered & evangelized, simply by wowing them with manifestations of power; he dazzled, dazed & amazed them with spiritual razzmatazz to the point that they declared: "This, is the Power of God, which is called Great"(Acts 8:10).

To them, what was happening in Samaria, courtesy of Simon's ministry, was a great move of the mighty power of God.

If many professing christians today were in Samaria in the days of the great & influential ministry of Simon, they would most spontaneously declare that a great revival had hit the city.

Satan's imitation of the demonstration of divine power in miracles and mighty works, is so close that it cannot be detected or discerned by those who are moved by miracles and testimonies of breakthrough. 
When a minister's obsession in ministry is to flow in manifestations of power, he won't be able to discern when there is an infiltration of his ministry by devils working miracles, he won't be able to sense a switch in powers operating & imitating the power of God/operations of the Spirit.

If there's one thing satan cannot produce or imitate it's godly character. Jesus said it's impossible for a bad or worthless tree to bear good fruits(Mathew 7:17-18); thua earlier in verse 16 he said "by their fruits you shall know them" this he said concerning false prophets who come in sheep's clothing, but are ravening wolves within.

They can only be discerned and detected by their fruits(character) because satan cannot imitate or produce godly character, there is no truth in him to produce godly virtues.

This is why a man whose core value is godly character and not manifestations of power, can easily discern false ministers who operate in manifestions of power but are destitute of divine verities and virtues.

God's greatest value in dealing with his sons, is character formation. 
He will go to any length to put his true sons in situations & conditions that will precipitate character formation, passing us through the crucible to refine & purify us, even chastising us to the end that we may be partakers of his holiness - Hebrews 12:10.

Scripture in 1st Peter 1:7 says that the trial of our faith is a lot more precious to God than gold which perishes and in James 1:3-4 it says that the trial of our faith produces endurance(patience), which is a fruit of the Spirit known as long-suffering.
It goes on to say that we should let endurance have her perfect work, that we may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

You might be going through what seems like a hellish experience yet the fruit of endurance & long-suffering God is developing & gaining in you through that discomforting experience, is of great value to Him, much more valuable than gold.

In the epistle of Paul to saints in Corinth,where he speaks of the signs of an apostle, we hear him say: "The signs indeed of an apostle were wrought among you in all endurance, signs, and wonders, and works of power"(2nd Corinthians 12:12).

You see how the core value & sign is  character(endurance, long-suffering) & not power? 
Works of power and manifestions are secondary. Where godly character has been first wrought in the apostle, he will be safe in the operation & manifestation of power; patient & careful enough to only speak & act as driven by the Holy Spirit.

Even in the old testament, we see that the greater value with God and to God is godly character and not power, dominion or influence 👇🏽

Proverbs 16:32 "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."

Proverbs 25:28 "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls."

In conclusion, manifestations of power, glory & influence devoid of true christian virtues & character(Christlikeness), is a recipe for spiritual disaster.