“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world” 1 John 4:1-3
Two days ago, I had the familiar visit from two ladies at my front door, who I managed to disarm right away, before they gave all their false views on the Bible. They were, of course, JW's and most Christians can tell them before they even open their mouths! With false teachers like the JW's and Mormans, it is very easy to discern, it's seems to be written all over them!
Not all false spirits are that simple to recognize. The Apostle John warns us in the above verses, of the importance of TESTING THE SPIRITS. Notice how John carefully words his warning. He talks initially of SPIRITS, and then makes the point that “many false prophets are gone out into the world” By this, we gather that FALSE PROPHETS indeed have a FALSE SPIRIT that can be discerned.
One of the great bench marks of the cults is the fact that they do not recognize JESUS as the SON OF GOD, GOD IN HUMAN FLESH, hence the point made that “ every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God” this is the SPIRITOF ANTICHRIST. (Against Christ – In the place of Christ)
The devil is cunning. He is the DECEIVER. Not every false teacher, or false belief system, wears an obvious badge stating 'FALSE''. Many FALSE TEACHERS and HERETICS are much more subtle than that. In fact, many SOUND CHRISTIAN, and LOOK CHRISTIAN, and make all the right CHRISTIAN NOISES. Remember the parable Jesus told of the WHEAT AND THETARES? Whilst growing in the field, wheat and tares look identical. They quote the SCRIPTURES and have very convincing arguments that have you agreeing with them if you are not very careful.
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
When you come up against this ANGEL OF LIGHT and his MINISTERS OFRIGHTEOUSNESS, it is very easy to find yourself deceived. The only weapons we have against them are SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT, and TESTING THE SPIRITS against God's precious word, THE BIBLE.
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal......to another discerning of spirits” 1 Corinthians 12:7+10
Years ago, soon after I was saved, my love for end time teaching, and my eagerness to learn more about our Lord's second coming, actually led me away from the TRUTH I sought, and into error, proclaimed so convincingly, by a FALSE TEACHER. I sent for all his books and literature, and I got in quite deep. I was convinced it was BIBLICAL TRUTH. This went on for some time, then I started to see what it was doing to me. I lost my JOY in Christ. When I read the Bible, I was in effect saying to myself, “It doesn't mean that (the obvious meaning) it means this (what this false teacher was saying).
God finally pulled me up. I felt Him say to my heart “What are you doing? Where are you going?” I saw that I needed to REPENT of my error and get back to the TRUTH through which I was SAVED. I burnt all those books and literature, and came back to the TRUTH.
That's why I am passionate about the TRUTH. I know, first hand, how easy it is to fall into error and what it eventually does to your Christian life. So if I can help just one TRUEBELIEVER to avoid going into error, then all my effort in writing this would have been worth while. So, I say again to you all......
TEST THE SPIRITS TO SEE WHETHER THEY ARE OF GOD!
Brotherly love.....Pastor Keith
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