How Do You Know if it’s a Genuine Move of God? Part 5

David W Palmer

How, in the outpouring and end-time ingathering, do we distinguish the genuine moving of God from the enemy’s deceptive diversions and counterfeits. This is particularly relevant as we are in this season already, and God is preparing people for Jesus’s appearing through the same spirit and power of Elijah that operated in John the Baptist. Even he struggled to know if Jesus was the move of God that he had been looking for (See: Mat. 11:2–6). This means that we too—even when anointed by the spirit and power of Elijah—need to be alert and vigilant, keep our love hot, stay out of deception, and know how to identify the real from the counterfeit.

Today, we look at the final two biblical ways of unmistakably identifying Jesus when he is at work in new and unfamiliar ways:

8. Receive the new birth

(John 3:1–7 NKJV) There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. {2} This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” {3} Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” {4} Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” {5} Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. {6} That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. {7} Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”

I know that it sounds almost too foundational and obvious to say “You must be born again.” However, this passage reveals that unless we have received God’s new birth, we will not be able to recognize Jesus’s new things. When we look closely at Jesus’s teaching here, we see that he elucidated two very significant benefits from the new birth:

Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Without the new birth, one cannot “see” or “enter” God’s kingdom. His kingdom is his rule, or the rule of his living word; God’s kingdom is where his will is done. Jesus said that it is impossible to see this or to get in on it unless you are born again.

When we are born physically is when we “come alive” to the earth’s natural realm. Therefore, when we are “born of the Spirit”—born again—is when we come alive to God’s spirit realm. God is spirit; his kingdom originates in the spirit realm. If you cannot see what he is up to in that realm, you cannot enter it and be involved with him in it. After all, Jesus said he only did what he “saw” with his Father (John 5:19 KJV). And that was obviously by seeing him in the spirit realm. Then after he heard and saw what his Father showed him, he imitated his Father by speaking or enacting them. The Holy Spirit then manifested them through him into the natural realm.

If you are born again, alive to God in the spirit, and in tune with him by walking in the spirit, then you will be able to do what Jesus did. You too will “know” things by revelation; you will see and know what is going on in God’s kingdom. This is the way we will fulfill what Jesus said:

(John 14:12 CSB) “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.”

In the light of this inner, spiritual connection with God, we can better understand the following verse:

(1 John 2:20 NKJV) But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

This is one of the ways you will be able to discern when God is genuinely at work in a “new” thing. He will reveal it to you by his Spirit. What’s even more exciting is that you can also be part of it by saying and doing what you hear and see with Father in the spirit.

9. Desire to do God’s will

(John 7:15–17 NKJV) And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” {16} Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. {17} If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.”

People do not always recognize the working and ministry of Jesus when he is at work through his chosen and gifted representatives. In this passage, they heard him teaching but didn’t think it was coming from God. Jesus clarified for them how to test if it is. He said, “if anyone …” Note, anyone can detect a genuine teaching from God if they meet the condition he is about to reveal: “if anyone wills to do God’s will, he will know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God.”

A simple saying based on this passage has helped me keep a right focus throughout my Christian walk:

“Pride leads to rebellion leads to deception leads to depravity.”

“Humility leads to submission leads to revelation leads to maturity.”

Do you desire his will? If so, he will reveal to you whether the teaching is from him.

Today, in learning how to distinguish a supernatural happening, euphoric event, or spiritual “move” is genuinely from God, we have two more tests directly from Scripture:

Are you born again with Jesus’s new birth? If so, you can not only enter the kingdom of God; but you can see it and have truth revealed to your [new creation] inner man from God.

Do you desire to do God’s will—sincerely and wholeheartedly? If so, you will “know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether” the person is speaking on their “own authority.”

Remember:

(1 John 2:20 AMP) But you have an anointing from the Holy One [you have been set apart, specially gifted and prepared by the Holy Spirit], and all of you know [the truth because He teaches us, illuminates our minds, and guards us from error].

(John 14:15–17 NLT) “If you love me, obey my commandments. {16} And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. {17} He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”