Different Mission and Motivation

John 4:17-18

New International Version

“I have no husband,” she replied.

Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

For Meditation

It is a common phenomenon in so many places worldwide.

A prophet in Ghana called a woman’s name in a worship service and described her down to the color of the underwear and the type and color of the car she was driving. This poor woman walked up to the podium trembling, happy that God had called her by name. Her message from the Lord?

She would die in an accident if she drove her Mercedes sports car home that night. She must, therefore, donate it to the man of God, to which she readily consented. Her husband, however, did not fall for that. He sent her back to claim her car, promising to give her the best burial ever if she drove the car and died in an accident.

Such people claim their abilities come from the Lord Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, but nothing is farther from the truth than that.

In John chapter four, Jesus met the Samaritan woman at a well when nobody was around. The meeting focused on salvation for the woman and the town folks later on. The way to the woman’s heart was a long winding conversation into some very personal territory in the woman’s life (John 4:17-18). Jesus never intended to shame or defraud the woman as those false prophets carefully plan their meetings to deceive and exploit the ignorant. Their victims are those who do not make time to read and study the word for themselves to meet the Lord and know Him personally.

Jesus was about the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 10:6; 15:24), but also for the recovery of the one sheep that had strayed from His sheepfold—Gentiles (Luke 15:1-7). He detoured that day for that reason through the Samaritan territory for the appointment with that woman at the well.

Unlike the false prophets of today, Jesus is God. He is Omniscient and Omnipresent (Psalm 139:1-9). He speaks from Himself and on His authority. He is the Truth, so there is no deceit about Him. Decency marked His earthly ministry, for He is holy. Embarrassing people was not part of His plan, as the false prophets do, therefore, know the difference.

Anytime you meet somebody who claims to be speaking from God in such a deceitful way as the so-called man of God in the Accra story, run from them. Flee before they exhaust you and your resources to satisfy their ungodly appetites. The best way to know the difference is to stay in the word and let God speak to you through the pages of His book of life.