Topic: Discernment and testing the spirits

Question

Brother Branham, can Satan use the gift of tongues or prophecy in a person who has the Holy Ghost?

Answer

That’s a good one, isn’t it? Yes, sir! If…It must be watched very, very close. If you’ll notice in First Corinthians 14:29, you who wants to put it down…See? The—the person who wrote this never signed their name; they just said, “God bless you.” See? In First Corinthians 14:29 we find out that any g...

Question

How can you tell whether what a prophet or a seer says is from God?

Answer

Now, God has spoken His Word to us. Just believe Him and watch what happens. Now, when He speaks something…This is His Word initially first, and any other word that’s contrary to This is not God’s Word, it has to come from this Bible. Now, this is His Word to the nations. Now, He sets after that, in...

Question

Why did Jesus ask the Samaritan woman at the well for a drink?

Answer

But now what did He do to the woman at the well? Let’s just look at His ministry. He said, “Bring Me a drink.” Wonder why? She said, “It’s not customary for you Jews to ask us Samaritans such.” He said, “But if you knew Who you were talking to, you’d ask Me for a drink, and I’d bring you water, or g...

Question

How can you tell a true angel from a false one?

Answer

Look the Isle, over on the isle of Patmos, the whole Book of Revelations was revealed by an Angel. “I, Jesus has sent My Angel to show you things that’ll shortly come to pass.” Is that right? The whole…And John started to worship the Angel. But a true Angel will never stand to be worshipped. No, sir...

Question

How can you tell a fortune-teller or mind reader from a genuine gift of God?

Answer

Not one of these mind readers out here, of this devil’s work. The devil has got a pattern for everything God has got. Do you believe that? If you see an old bogus dollar, you know there’s a real dollar, made off of it. But watch, you don’t see mind readers, and so forth, healing the sick, and preach...

Question

What should a person do when a preacher or prophet tells them something contrary to what God has told them?

Answer

I say this with reverence brother, if you want to get in trouble, just mess with a preacher. You sure get in trouble. So that’s right. Now, they’re God’s servants. They have to be a little suspicious and things. But, brother, I’ve had more trouble of preachers getting me out of the will of God then...

Question

Why did Jesus ask the Samaritan woman at the well for a drink?

Answer

I suppose, lady, that you and I are strangers. Are we? We don’t know each other. I, at least, I don’t know you. You don’t know me? All right. Now, won’t you stand out here? So I, just single you from people. See, you got spirit all around, above, and around; and every human being is a spirit. Now, I...

Question

What should be done with a vision or a message that contradicts the Bible?

Answer

Now, the way that I have faith in God is first by His Word. And if any vision, or any person, would speak anything that was contrary to the Word, then don’t hear it. This is the fundamental foundation of all God has said to His Church. And every person’s faith must be built sovereignly upon the Bibl...

Question

Why are some people unable to get healed when they come to be prayed for?

Answer

Usually it’s in a line of discernment. I never try to cast out a spirit, unless first I realize what I’m doing, ’cause that’s a dangerous thing. Did you know that? Very dangerous unless you understand what you’re doing. If you’ll notice on the platform after the anointing comes, you never hear me ch...

Question

How can a person tell a gift of God from the devil's counterfeit?

Answer

The Urim and Thummim was something that the lights flashed on a—on a breastplate of Aaron here over the twelve stones as the Urim and Thummim was over it. Now, the devil went and got a crystal ball to look into. See? The devil’s got a pattern of everything God has got. The Bible says so. Yes, sir. S...

Question

How can you tell whether a gift a man claims is really from God?

Answer

Now, a gift has to first be recognized to be in the Bible. And then if it’s in the Bible, and the man claims it, then if God confirms that gift, that it’s the truth, then he ought to believe that the man is true. But if God—God doesn’t testify of that gift…Hebrews 11:2 said, “God testifies of His gi...

Question

How can a dream or a prophecy be tested to know whether it is true?

Answer

And when a prophet had give a prophecy, and they spoke, and wanted to see if that prophecy was true, they put it before the Urim and Thummim. And if the Voice of God throwed the lights on the Urim and Thummim, then it was absolute, the Truth. And if a man gives an interpretation, gives a dream, give...

Question

Did Jesus tell the woman at the well everything she ever did?

Answer

Now, look. One time He seen a woman coming. He sent His disciples away. And He found a woman coming from a well, or to a well to get some water: Saint John the 4th chapter. And He seen this woman coming and she was a Samaritan. There’s a well there, near Samaria—Samari. So He…They all came to get wa...

Question

Why did Jesus ask the woman at the well for a drink?

Answer

Now, if our Lord Jesus was here tonight in a body of flesh, wearing clothes like we wear, He would do just what the Father would show Him to do. God was in Him, made Him Emmanuel. And whatever God would speak or reveal to Him, that He’d know. But now, when it come to the people, when He begin to spe...

Question

Did Jesus read people's minds?

Answer

Someone said the other day, said, “Brother Branham, do you say Jesus was a mind-reader?” Sure. He perceived their thoughts. Call it whatever you want to. I don’t mean one of these here, setting out here, or what the devil has made a pattern of setting out yonder, with her hand out, reading down alon...

Question

If a man says God sent him to heal the sick, how can people know whether that is true?

Answer

Now, if I come here and tell you that God told me to come down and to—and to heal the sick, and to open the eyes of the blind, to unstop the deaf ears, and…Well, that’s good. You…“Well, all right now, Brother Branham. If God told you to do that, I’ll—I’m going to look at your meetings. If He told yo...

Question

How can you tell whether a gift or an angel is from God?

Answer

Now, sin is unbelief. Is that right? The first sin was committed by Eve, because she disbelieved God’s Word. Is that right? There’s where the whole thing lays tonight—disbelieving God’s Word. You believe God’s Word as It’s written here, you don’t need nothing else. But to stimulate people’s faith, G...