In an age of online platforms and countless ministries claiming to speak for God, how can we discern truth from deception? With so many voices—preachers, teachers, prophets, pastors, and more—often offering conflicting interpretations of Scripture, the question becomes critical: whom do we follow, and whom do we avoid?
To navigate this complex landscape, we turn to the timeless wisdom of the Bible and the clear instruction of Jesus. He employed familiar metaphors, such as wolves, sheep, and fruit, to help his followers recognize genuine spiritual authenticity. Through this lens, we will explore the scriptures to glean wisdom on how to identify both good and bad ministers, enabling us to discern with greater certainty whom to listen to and follow, and whom to avoid.
As we open the Scriptures and consider Jesus’ own words about how to recognize false prophets and faithful shepherds. We’ll examine the spiritual “fruit” that reveals the true nature of a minister and learn how to stay anchored in the truth amidst the noise of deception.