“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:15-20; all Scripture quotations are from the English Standard Version).

A cult of personality infects modern Christianity. Many of us admire beloved or popular Christian celebrities. They may be television evangelists/preachers, musicians (performing either religious or secular music), actors, politicians, etc. They usually have a certain charisma that makes them look “spiritual” or, in some way, appealing. They say the “right things,” or at least, the things we think are right. They say things and promote ideals that appeal to us.

Jesus warned His disciples that there would be false prophets. People would speak, often in His name, saying things that sound good to us. How can we recognize a true servant of God from a false one?

The primary indication that someone is a servant of God will be the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “You will recognize them by their fruits.”

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:19-23).

You can use this as a checklist to discern who to admire as a man or woman of God. Begin with yourself: Which list best describes you? Do you manifest more of the works of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit? If the works of the flesh are more apparent in your life than the fruit of the Spirit, you may want to take steps to grow in your walk with Christ. Perhaps a mature brother or sister in Christ can help you see where there are kinks in your spiritual armor so that you can take steps to draw closer to Jesus.

Now, take a look at your “faith heroes.” This will include the preachers, politicians, and other Christian celebrities you admire. It will also include your pastor or other spiritual leaders in your local congregation. (Although they are probably not famous, they exert a powerful influence over the spiritual lives of the people they serve.) How do their lives measure up? Do not demand that they be perfect. All of us—even the most anointed preacher of the Gospel—have room to grow. Are they bearing the fruit of the Spirit, or do the works of the flesh manifest in their lives? Scandals have rocked numerous Christian ministries, as prominent preachers and worship leaders have fallen into sexual immorality or had their reputations tarnished by other personal shortcomings.

This does not mean that we should ignore their faithfulness to biblical truth. What a preacher says matters. Is he or she consistent with the Word of God? Are they speaking biblical truth in love or compromising biblical teaching to be popular?

Jesus described false prophets as ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing. They appear to be followers of Christ, but instead, they seek to use God’s people for personal gain. They lack the fruit of the Spirit necessary for a disciple of Jesus.

Let us each measure our faith by examining the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. To grow that fruit, we should seek out Christian leaders who also bear the fruit of the Spirit. When their lives reflect God’s character, divine truth will follow.

Lord, grow your fruit in our lives. Make us more like You. Give us discernment to recognize true men and women of faith, who bear the fruit of the Spirit, that they may influence us to follow you faithfully. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

How do you see the fruit of the Spirit working in the lives of Christian leaders? Are there any other ways that you can try to discern true and false teachers of God’s Word?

Copyright © 2024 Michael E. Lynch. All rights reserved.