Dear Friends, Do Not Believe Everyone Who Claims To Speak By The Spirit
Do Not Be Deceived
1 JOHN 4:1-3
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
”I John 4:1-3 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/1jn.4.1-3.NKJ
V
We shouldn't believe everything we hear just because someone says its a message from God.
There are many false prophets and we must test and approve everything by running it past the Holy Spirit to see that the spirit they have comes from is of God.
Notice, the Word tells us to test the spirit, not the message. If one is Spirit filled, the holy Spirit joins with his spirit and is made perfect (ROMANS 8:16-39). Therefore, what the Spirit speaks is true and its fruits are seen. But that of the flesh is sinful, often influenced and manipulated by evil spirits, and its fruits are seen (GALATIANS 5:16-26). You will know them by their fruits (MATHEW 7:16).
Furthermore, since we believers are all part of one body and one Spirit, it shouldn’t be too difficult to walk in unity (1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-31).
There are many ways to test teachers to see if their message is truly from the Lord. One way is to see if their words match what God tells us in the bible. To do that you must know your Bible and that can only come from regular study and revelation from God.
Other tests include their commitment to the body of believers (2:19), their lifestyles (3:23-24), and the fruit of their ministries (4:6). But John says, the most important test of all is what they believe about Christ. Do they teach that Jesus is fully God and fully man?
“Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.“
I John 2:23 NKJV
In every instance, we need to ask the Holy Spirit in us for discernment and confirmation.
False teachings grieve the Holy Spirit in us and that grief is felt as a gut feeling and the red flag rises within.
Our world is filled with voices claiming to speak to God, but do they stand up to these test?
They may sound right, but we must be certain that they are indeed speaking God's truth.
But what about the voice you hear in prayer, or the dreams and visions you have, or the instructions you receive in your heart? They may seem as they have come from God, but have they?
We must ask for discernment and confirmation in every case.
The truth is that their are thousands of people all around the world who think they are Spirit filled, but are not. Their are many who do have the Holy Spirit, but also house unclean spirits too, “he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
James 1:8 NKJV
As individuals we must sought cleansing by the blood (HEBREWS 9:14) and a renewed mind (ROMANS 12:1-2).
My beloved, not one of us is blameless, if that was the case, we wouldn’t of needed a Saviour.
Are you caught up in repetitive sin; are you continuing to face the same troubles like you are going round and round on a never ending merry go round; are you hearing voices or having sleeplessness or nightmares? These are signs that you may be demonised or possessed.
Possession is not ownership by the way; if one steals a car, he takes possession, but he doesn’t own it; but when the thief is caught he must return that which he has stolen. When squatters enter a house, they possess it, but they don’t own it and can be evicted.
To evict demons, just like squatters who have moved in to someone’s house, one must obtain a court from the Judge to evict them.
Sin let them in, often the sin of one’s ancestors, and repentance ticks the boxes before the judge to authorise eviction.
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.“
James 4:7 NKJV
Submit to God-repent; rebuke the devil-call him out, and he shall flee from you.
Another sign of a false Christian is prosperity preaching, manipulation and control.
They make promises on Gods behalf that they have no authority to make, saying such as “whatever you put in the offering basket today, God will bless you more,” God said, “you must give me this or that,” usually after false words of encouragement. They place unnecessary rules and restrictions on the congregation and run church as a business. They covert to steal one’s money, belongings or even home.
We see God’s Word twisted for the purpose of manipulation and personal gain.
These are not of God, but from devising men who are usually demonised.
But the Prophet Micah tells us, ”Woe to those who devise iniquity, And work out evil on their beds! At morning light they practice it, Because it is in the power of their hand. They covet fields and take them by violence, Also houses, and seize them. So they oppress a man and his house, A man and his inheritance. Therefore thus says the Lord: “Behold, against this family I am devising disaster, From which you cannot remove your necks; Nor shall you walk haughtily, For this is an evil time.“
Micah 2:1-3 NKJV
My brethren, don’t be deceived by false Prophets or indeed, by the demonic in you; like David, call out to our Father in heaven “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalms 139:23-24 NKJV
Don’t be one of those Jesus spoke of when He said, ““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV
My brethren, you do not have to live in torment, ask God to direct you to the right place; a Spirit filled church operating in the five fold ministry of Christ with the seen signs and wonders and be delivered from the evil one.
It is encouraging to know that we are living in the time of Joel’s prophetic message: ”“And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.“
Joel 2:28-32 NKJV
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
