Gifted Wolf or True Shepherd?  Who are You Following?

In a time when spiritual gifts are flowing, and charismatic leaders are rising to prominence, how can we be sure we’re following godly shepherds instead of gifted wolves? And does it really matter? It’s easy to be impressed by signs and wonders, to be swayed by persuasive personalities, and to overlook the essential ingredient of love. The true nature of a leader’s character is often hidden behind their polished persona.

It is entirely possible to be spiritually gifted and miss the point of being a Christian. A person may deliver the most anointed sermons and prophesy with stunning accuracy, establish world-changing ministries, work tirelessly, and give sacrificially—yet not have love in their heart. God describes those who excel in these good works but who are devoid of love as “clanging cymbals.”

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 says, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”

It is astonishing to think that it is possible for someone to be extremely gifted in ministry and do amazing spiritual works but have no value by heaven’s standards. This perspective is contrary to how many people judge the spirituality of their leaders, which is often based on visible achievements, gifts and charismatic personalities. However, true spirituality in the Bible is measured by the depth of love we have for God and others.

God’s greatest commandment for humanity is to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Furthermore, if we claim to love God but fail to love others, we miss the heart of His command, and we become liars, as we cannot truly love God if we do not love those around us. The Bible says, "If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:20-21, ESV).

Failing to love others means we are walking in darkness. It’s possible to possess a strong prophetic gift, have deep insight into God’s Word, walk by faith, and give sacrificially—yet still remain in darkness. This is sobering! We can be deceived into thinking someone is endorsed by God simply because they do good work in His Kingdom. Leaders can fall into self-deception, and their followers can be misled as well. This self-deception leads to living in a false reality, which is a serious judgement in itself. It allows a person to continue living in a lie unchallenged until Christ's judgement day, by which time it is too late for repentance. Consider this sobering Scripture:

“On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Matthew 7:22-23).

This indicates that it is possible to practice spiritual gifts that come from God without being connected to Christ. 

It is also possible to practice gifts in a way that elevates one’s own agenda and not the agenda of Christ. This is where a person can step into operating from an occultic spirit.  In fact, a person can start off very well in the Spirit and lose their way. Paul said to the Galatian church, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?…Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1, 3). This is a serious reminder to examine our own hearts. 

We can easily deceive ourselves into believing we’re following the Holy Spirit because spiritual gifts are still in operation. In reality, we might be led by an occultic spirit instead. It’s crucial that we strive every day to remain aligned with Christ and His teachings.

Our Christian walk is like climbing up a downward-moving escalator; if we don’t consistently work to keep our connection with Jesus strong, we will naturally drift away from Him. Therefore, it’s essential to stay vigilant and rooted in our relationship with Him, ensuring that our faith is anchored in His love rather than in past experiences or gifts.

When we follow leaders who lack a foundational connection with Christ, the consequences can be severe—not just for us individually, but for the Body of Christ as a whole. Jesus made a powerful statement: “If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:14). This verse reminds us we have a responsibility to exercise discernment in choosing whom we follow. Even those who love God and sincerely intend to follow Him can become ensnared and end up in a pit because of their leaders. Cults, like the People’s Temple led by Jim Jones, is a good example of this phenomenon.

A charismatic personality and impressive gifts do not guarantee a leader’s alignment with God’s heart. One of the significant deceptions in the end times is the tendency to gravitate toward leaders who teach what we want to hear, rather than proclaiming God’s truth.

So, how can we safeguard ourselves?  Click here to read Part 2 of this series, in which I provide practical steps.

Related Resources

• How to Discern a False Shepherd from a Real One. [Read]
• Why Narcissists Love Religion: 10 Ways they Use It to Serve their Own Purpose. [Watch]
• Can You Be A Narcissist and Follow God? What Does the Bible Teach? [Watch]
• Malignant Narcissists in Ministry: How to Spot Their Covert Tactics [Watch] [Read]
• Can God Speak Through a Narcissist? How to Tell and How to Safeguard Yourself Against Deception [Read] [Watch]
• 10 Subtle Signs of Spiritual Abuse: How to Spot a Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. [Read] [Watch]
• 7 Steps to Leave a Toxic Church Unscathed [Read] [Watch] 

Downloadable Resources 

• Checklist: Signs of Spiritual Abuse or Cultish Environments
• Checklist: 20 Signs that You Might Be Experiencing Narcissistic Abuse
• Guide: How to Pray for a Narcissist
• Prayer: Healing from Gaslighting
• E-book: 7 Steps to Spot a Narcissist