Just like in the days of the Bible, men had figured out how to harness spiritual forces to duplicate miracles outside of God’s power. Many in world religions claim to produce the supernatural—then and today. But when we also hear of thousands gathering around a TV preacher, we assume that same God is at work as well. These are a few of the many ways sin can express itself. Read on to see how you can discern the difference between man’s madness and the Messiah’s miracles.

The state of sin expresses itself in many different ways in the world and culture. Two of those are our temptations to replace God and to play God.

The end goal of the enemy was and is to replace God so he can play God. He wanted to ascend above Him, to showcase that He is dead, and to declare once and for all that there is no God.

The enemy articulates and weaves this fantasy in such a way that it is not only about proving there is no God, but also about how we can play God. Because of this aspect of deception, in may places the miracles and supernatural activities have become the core of today’s brand of Christianity. We attempt to control the supernatural for our own gain and also judge the degree to which someone can or has produced a miracle.

I come from India where the supernatural is very common for us, far more than in America. There, we have many spiritual gurus and “god-men” who do supernatural things. They raise the dead and heal the sick. Every New Testament miracle in the early church has also been duplicated in India. They have also happened in Africa.

But we must understand that reproducing the supernatural is, by itself, not evidence of true Christian spirituality. Remember, when Aaron’s staff became a snake, Pharaoh summoned his sorcerers who “also did the same things by their secret arts.” This certainly did not mean these magicians were producing miracles from God but simply that Satan was replicating them.

On the other side of this coin, filling a building with thousands of people every Sunday is not a sure sign that God is at work either. We have learned to do things, to “play God,” on our own. Whether modern-day miracles or mega-churches, we must learn to know the difference in the religion of Christianity and the relationship of Christianity. We must know the One True God, the One who told Moses He was the Great I Am. That Person is the only God through which we may have a relationship for all eternity and not simply a figurehead for our religion.

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:18-23 NIV)