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How Is It Possible That Many Big Ministers Leading Millions Are Not Truly Born Again?

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Answered by True Bible Teachings AI on 8/1/2026

1) Direct answer
Yes. The Bible said it would be that way. Men can be anointed, do miracles, lead multitudes, and still not be born again. Gifts can operate without a changed nature, but the new birth is God’s life in the soul, loving and obeying the Word.

2) Scriptural explanation
- Jesus warned of the broad way with many on it, and the narrow way with few who find it (Matthew 7:13–14).
- He said many will say, “Lord, Lord… we prophesied, cast out devils, did many wonderful works,” and He will answer, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:21–23). That proves gifts are not the evidence of the new birth.
- False prophets can show great signs and wonders, insomuch that if it were possible they would deceive the very elect (Matthew 24:24).
- Satan transforms himself as an angel of light; his ministers as ministers of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:13–15).
- The gifts and calling of God are without repentance (Romans 11:29). You see, a man can be gifted and yet never have his soul changed.
- Hebrews 6:4–6 shows people can taste the heavenly gift and be made partakers of the Holy Ghost’s operations, yet fall away—tasting is not the sealing of the new birth.
- Balaam prophesied accurately and still was false (Numbers 22–24; 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11). Judas healed the sick and cast out devils, yet was called a devil (Matthew 10:1,8; John 6:70). Caiaphas prophesied and remained unbelieving (John 11:49–52). Signs do not equal sonship.
- Deuteronomy 13:1–3 says God even allows true signs to test whether we love Him and His Word.
- Those who receive not the love of the truth are given over to strong delusion, with all power, signs, and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9–12).
- The true evidence is the Word-life and fruit: “By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:15–20). The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–24). Being born again by the incorruptible Seed, the Word (1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18), a new creation that cannot continue in sin (1 John 3:9). He that is of God hears God’s Word (John 8:47; 1 John 4:6).

3) Simple clarifying logic
- Now notice: rain falls on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). The same anointing can move on a man’s spirit to preach, heal, or prophesy, while his soul remains unchanged. That’s why wheat and tares can grow together and look alike until harvest (Matthew 13:24–30).
- If miracles proved the new birth, why did Jesus reject miracle workers in Matthew 7? If crowds proved truth, why did Jesus say “few” find it? The test is not gifts, numbers, or fame—it is the Word believed, obeyed, and lived by the Spirit.
- The new birth is Christ, the Word, taking the throne of the heart by the Holy Ghost (John 3:3–6). Anything that denies, twists, or dodges the plain Word shows another spirit at work, no matter how big the platform.
- Therefore a man can be a “big minister,” and still be unconverted: gifted without repentance, active without obedience, anointed on the outside but not sealed on the inside.

4) Reinforcing statement
Stay with the Word, love the truth, and seek the new birth personally—repent, be baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and receive the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38). The Elect cannot be deceived because they hear His Voice in His Word and bear His fruit.

What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?

Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.

SermonRelevance 27

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57-0303A §13

Intellectuals have very little to do with it. I'm not trying to support illiteracy. But education has taken the place in the church of the Holy Spirit. Education's all right, but that is not God's program. If education was to take the place, Christ would've established schools when He was on earth. Christ never did establish a school. But Christ established a church, and not a church of intellectuals, but out of a bunch of illiterate fishermen who were willing to listen to the Holy Spirit and be led accordingly. No...

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SermonRelevance 27

God's provided way of healing

Monday afternoon, the 19th of July 1954 at the Lane Tech High School in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

54-0719A §36

I was preaching here sometime ago, somewhere, on Moses was a doctor, Doctor Moses. I don't know whether you believe it or not, but he was a doctor. The Bible said, "He was taught in all the wisdom of the Egyptians." Is that right? So they were boasting physicians. Oh, my. And so, Doctor Moses... And I'd imagine a lot of medics here of Chicago, would like to know how Moses kept two million people healthy and strong for forty years, and marched them out of the wilderness without a feeble one among them. Wouldn't that...

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Church Age BookRelevance 27Broader match

An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages

Chapter 4: The Smyrnaean Church Age

CAB 4:E-36

When they approached Samuel and asked for a king, Samuel was so dismayed that his heart almost failed him. God had been leading His people through this consecrated, Scripture-vindicated prophet and he felt that he had been rejected. He gathered the people and pleaded with them not to turn away from the God Who had carried them like children, and prospered them and blessed them. But they persisted. They said to Samuel. "You have never been wrong in your leading. You have never been dishonest in your financial dealin...

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SermonRelevance 27

The Second Coming

Sunday afternoon, the 20th of February 1955 at the Shriner Temple in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A.

55-0220A §8

And our meetings are not big ... great big where we have to have thousands a night. I don't have any radio broadcasts, television, any of these things, printing papers and so forth, so it don't take very much. And I can minister to the people, as many as I can, in the little meetings. And that's the way I'd just rather keep it like that. And so I can visit the people and do the best that I can to help. Knowing this, that each day I'm getting older. And someday I've got to stand in His presence to give an account fo...

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SermonRelevance 27

Leading of the Spirit of God

Sunday evening, the 7th of August of 1955 at the Methodist Campgrounds in Campbellsville, Kentucky, U.S.A.

55-0807E §6

But, in them days, the people had got away. As soon as education comes in, the phenomenon leaves the Church. Christ leaves. He can't stand it. They get so smart they know more than He does. So, the Scripture is not given by education; it's given by revelation; not education. Revelation. So, as soon as education takes your pulpit... Many of you people in selecting your ministers to come to your pulpit, you select the young fellow who's just out of school, who's smart and witty, a social mixer. God don't want a mixer...

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