I agree with Vektek. Refreshed also brought up something that I believe was hitting the nail on the head.
How can we discern and not be deceived?
Definitely we need to examine everything with the Word of God and prayer. We test the spirits. Also, discerning of spirits is one of the gifts of the Spirit. "To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:"
I Corinthians 12:10
I try to speak against error in teaching and leave the manifestations to God as I do not claim the gift of discernment. Some so called manifestations are so blatantly fake I may say something. An example would be the time I saw a minister pushing a person trying to make her fall while praying for her. At the same time his wife was pulling her from the waist trying to help her husband push her down. The poor lady just stood there and backed up as they worked at pushing and pulling her. She struggled to stay on her feet determined not to fall under the fakery. Praise God she won the struggle. I believe with God's help she stood the whole time, walking backwards of course. :)
Also, remember the gifts and callings of God are without repentance. This means it is possible to manifest true gifts of the Spirit in a backslidden or even an agnostic state. So, maybe a minister who started out right, received gifts from God and somehow became deceived along the way, may still be having true manifestations flowing from him. He may be ministering false teachings to his flock, but is still operating in the true Gifts of the Spirit. Likewise remember the opposite is true. A minister of satan may be claiming to operate in the true gifts of the Spirit, however, he is operating from the occult (satan's counterfeit) right from the pulpit in church! We really need to seek the gift of discernment for this day and age. The Bible tells us to seek the gifts of the Spirit. "But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way."
I Corinthians 12:31 KJV
Remember the Bible says, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity". Matthew 7:22-23
These verses clearly show that receiving the gifts of the Spirit is no guarantee of salvation. I believe many people that can speak in tongues, and yes, I mean have the true gift of tongues from God, will go to hell. Of course, many who speak in satan's counterfeit tongue will be in hell too. Why will some who speak in real tongues from God go to hell? They did not endure to the end. They did not maintain an intimacy with God. Maybe they became deceived and started worshiping another Jesus. Maybe they became an agnostic as the sin of doubt filled their minds when spiritual laziness overtook them. This is what happened to me in the past. Remember Jesus said he will vomit the lukewarm out of His body someday. Do you really think those who our Lord pukes out will go the heaven? Of course not. Intimacy with God is so very important. If we are intimate with Him, He will be intimate with us. "I never knew you" means He was saying He was not intimate with them.
I know this is bringing up the whole Calvinism verses Arminianism debate. I have read some of the posts debating the issue on this forum. I never jumped in because I really don't have time for the debate. I will just say on the matter that I believe in the whole Bible. I believe the verses that both sides bring up are equally true. I believe the issue is really beyond our comprehension. When God inspired the verses for the Calvinistic view He was seeing the end from the beginning. This is something we humans are not capable of. I don't intend to debate it further. I just don't have time.
"But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way." I Corinthians 12:31