Our role & goal as Christians is to bring people to Jesus and make DISCIPLES. (Matthew 28:19-20). We are called AS disciples TO make disciples. (An ongoing process.)
We are to DEVELOP people to full maturity, enabling them to be able to stand on their own two feet in Spiritual Maturity so that they can live PRODUCTIVE, PRACTICAL lives as they are INFUSED by the Spirit of God until the coming of Jesus.
Nowhere, in Scripture, are we called to flock to self-proclaimed "POPCORN PROPHETS" who are seeking to make a name for themselves through showmanship, circus environments or extreme emotionalism...while playing on the emotions of the spiritually immature and the emotionally weak.
Mature believers are wise and discerning to these bags of tricks and keep that foolery at an arm's length.
We must beware of this spirit that is loose, even in "the church" that it doesn't infect the earnest. Pastors must warn against the charlatan spirit (a person who falsely claims to have special knowledge or skill; a fraud) that is manipulative & seeking to make a name for themselves at the expense of the Kingdom of God.
I see more and more of this today; people swept away with emotionalism...caught up in a conjured up atmosphere of so called "spiritual gifts & prophetic utterances" that are nothing more than hyped up emotionalism & feelings that are worked up into a frenzy.
I believe God moves in many ways. He has the power to manifest in thunder, lightning, earthquakes & a still small voice. He's God all by Himself and He can manifest as He so chooses. I'm thankful for the manifestation of the Spirit & I practice & promote the Gifts of the Spirit as outlined in Scripture in my personal life & in corporate gatherings...with the guidelines of edification. (Every gift must edify Jesus or else it's just a noise maker & an attention getter for the one demonstrating.)
However, as a Pastor, and someone who's been raised in Pentecost, I have become keenly aware of those in the body of Christ who seek to Capitalize on Conjurings. Sadly, they have a following of misguided & unlearned folks who are looking for a reed shaking in the wind. (Matthew 11:7)
Why does the church exist? Is it to have services & meetings where we all give each other words, work ourselves up into emotional frenzies & see who can scream the loudest?
I say no. The church exists to produce CHRIST FOLLOWERS. We must WIN them & PREPARE them for their MINISTRY in the church & life MISSION in the world! We must teach people how to live GOOD, HONEST, CLEAN, WHOLESOME, PRACTICAL lives. We must teach people how to OVERCOME in spiritual & practical ways...even in their finances, relationships, career, education, etc.
How silly is it to see people swept up in emotionalism, screaming, prophesying, running after signs & wonders...when they can't even balance their checkbook or keep the oil changed in their car. I know that sounds silly...but we CANNOT sit by and allow people to be "taken advantage" of by PEDDLERS of DECEPTION.
Pastors: Protect your flocks from wolves in sheeps clothing. Warn them of this type of spirit. Challenge them to stay in the Scriptures & not to be moved by emotionalism & ego driven eccentrics.
Hebrews 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Philippians 3:17-19 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
