Test the Spirits
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1John4:1 "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."
People who seek after signs & wonders as evidence of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit are easily led astray. Jesus Himself warned about this very thing in the Gospels. Luke11:29-32 Crowds gathered to see a ‘miracle’, Jesus told them:
"This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the Prophet!"
Jonah the Prophet was sent by God to the city of Nineveh to give them an ultimatum. "Repent or perish!" That’s the ‘sign’ Jesus was talking about. Seeking out miracles merely for the sake of witnessing the miraculous is NOT the purpose of the Gospel of Christ.
Probably the most frightening warning Jesus issued concerning false signs and wonders is in Matt7:21-22, where He tells us that not everyone who says to Me Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The curious thing about this passage is in verse 22 where He says they will come to Him, claiming that they not only ‘preached’ in His name, but also ‘Cast’ out demons and did many ‘signs & wonders’ as well, and He doesn’t deny any of these things! He merely tells them, "I never knew you, depart of me you who work lawlessness."No wonder the Apostle John told us to test the spirits! Jesus taught that it is possible for men to perform ‘signs & wonders’ in His name, but NOT be of His Spirit. What then is the source of this ‘different’ spirit they are talking about?
The Apostle Paul sheds some light on the subject in 2Cor11:4,
"For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a ‘different’ spirit which you have not received (from us) or a different Gospel which you have not accepted, you put up with it."These charlatans Paul was warning the Corinthians about can imitate the real thing! That’s why it’s so important to KNOW the difference between them. The remainder of his warning is absolutely astounding. 1Cor11:13-15
"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works."
The important thing to understand from these warning is that men can come preaching Jesus, casting out demons, healing the sick and prophesying, and still be false prophets leading souls to hell. You must be able to protect yourself from these deceivers so you are not led astray in the error of the wicked. (2Pet3:17)
HOW?
The ‘acid’ test is the Word of God. If you measure every ‘spirit’ by the
authority of God’s written Word, you will NOT be deceived. The nature of every
miraculous act performed by the Holy Spirit is for the purpose of bringing man
to the saving knowledge of Christ in humble repentance and faith. If you are
witnessing signs and wonders and no one present is falling under the conviction
of the godly sorrow that worketh repentance unto salvation not to be ‘repented’
of, 2Cor7:10, Flee! You are in the presence
of false prophets and risk losing your soul.
When the Holy Spirit is manifest you can expect certain things to happen that are evident throughout the Scriptures.
We see ALL three dynamics at work in Acts2:1-47
Pentecost! The outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit on
mankind.
The Power was manifested by the Preaching of Repentance & Faith (in the
native language of every nationality present) And the result was ‘Conviction’
of sin and the subsequent salvation of many present.
Afterwards the new converts ‘Continued daily’ with one accord, praising God, evangelizing and building themselves up in their most Holy Faith. Certainly the Apostles performed signs & wonders and people were healed and even raised from the dead. But the emphasis was preaching Christ crucified, risen and calling men to repentance & faith. (1Cor1:21-25)
In fact those who sought only the ‘sign’, were rebuked sharply by the Apostles.
Acts8:21-25 In this chapter, Simon the sorcerer believed and was baptized by Philip and then ‘continued’ in the faith. But when he witnessed the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit by the lying on of hands, he wanted to ‘buy’ the power from Peter! Even as a ‘believer’ he sought the ‘power’ with wrong intentions and nearly lost his soul!
"For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity." Peter told him in verse 23. Undeniably he had committed sin that would have separated him from God unless he repented of it.
The danger of seeking ‘spirits’ with wrong motives is ‘receiving’ a spirit that is NOT of God as Paul told us in 2Cor11:1 Satan loves to imitate the work of God and he knows that people are easily fooled. Especially the younger converts. Those who operate on the emotional level are asking for trouble.
The scriptures reveal to us exactly what we can expect where the Holy Spirit is manifest. When people start babbling incoherently, swooning prostrate to the ground and standing in long lines seeking a miracle, something is wrong. If no one is convicted of their sin and asking God’s forgiveness, deceiving spirits are working their magic!
Another incident of ‘different’ spirits is in Acts19:11-30 The Holy Spirit was using the Apostle Paul to work many unusual miracles of healing and casting out demons. The local Jewish exorcists witnessed these acts and thought they would
get in on the act. They called upon the name of Jesus against evil spirits and suffered a rude awakening. The demon spirits attacked them because they had no Divine authority to cast them out!These were probably the same type of men who accused Jesus of casting out demons with the power of Beelzebub. Matt12:24
They understood the Powers of Darkness and had seen the workings of demon spirits in the lives of men. That someone had ‘authority’ over these spirits fascinated them. But being men of evil intentions, they ‘coveted’ the power for themselves and blasphemed against the Holy Spirit by accusing Jesus of using the powers of Satan to cast out demons, as they themselves were doing!
That’s why it’s so important for us, as believers, to measure the things we see by the Word of God. The incident in Acts19, if you read the remainder of the chapter, resulted in ‘Repentance & Faith.
Verses 17-18 clearly explains: "The fear of the Lord fell on all the people and the name of Christ Jesus was magnified! AND MANY Believed confessed their sins and were saved!
PEOPLE WERE SAVED FROM SIN! That’s the key. In every instance where miraculous signs and wonders were witnessed, people were brought to Repentance and Faith. You will find this pattern apparent throughout scripture. There is no excuse for the true believer to be drawn away by the ‘deceivers’ if he relies on the Written Word of God.
In light of these important truths form the Word of God it is all the more vital for us, being in what scripture refers to as the 'Latter' days, to be extremely diligent and watchful least we are drawn into deception by deceiving spirits. Paul warned:
"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come. Evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived!" 2Tim3:1,13
In his time, he had seen it all; the Sorcerers, the charlatans, the false prophets and deceiving spirits. His final admonition to young Timothy (and to us) was to: "Continue in the things you have learned, being assured of knowing from whom you have LEARNED them! and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work!" 2Tim3:14-17
Again the emphasis is placed on 'Continuing' in the Word of God, as it is throughout the Bible. Everything, including our final inheritance in the Kingdom of God, is contingent upon our willingness to 'Continue' in the Faith. Thus, salvation is therefore 'Conditional'. Those who teach once saved always saved, OSAS, are among the 'false' teachers Paul warned us about. 1Tim1:19-20, 4:1-5, 2Tim2:16-17
Indeed any person who would leave people with the impression that Grace is a license to sin is NOT of God and denies the Lord Jesus Christ, as 1John4:1-6 explains. Taken in complete Context the message of John is summed up in Chapter 5:13
"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know you have eternal life and that you may CONTINUE to believe in the name of the Son of God." (The KJV Bible conveniently eliminates the word 'continue' but it is Clearly present in the original language.)
But the Gospel of OSAS teaches that a person can have a 'single' moment of genuine faith and then inherit the eternal life even if they live like the devil afterwards! They can even go as far as to commit suicide and still be assured of heaven because the sin is ALREADY forgiven in Christ's sacrifice on the Cross. Such teaching has allowed sexual immorality to spread inside the churches like gangrene and has 'shipwrecked' the faith of many. If deceiving spirits aren't a part of this massive overhaul of God's Truth, I don't know what else you could call it! Whole communities have been led astray by this awful teaching and 'Strong Delusion' has come upon those who would 'believe' a lie and NOT receive the 'love of the truth' that they might be saved. 2Thess2:10-11
The Child of God needs to carefully consider who they would support with their financial tithes & offerings. For Scripture warns that you can easily become a 'partaker' in another man's evil deeds by merely welcoming that person into your fellowship! 2John 7-11
John warns that 'many deceivers' have gone out into the world who do NOT abide in the DOCTRINE of Christ. If they come to you and DO NOT bring that 'Doctrine', DO NOT receive them into your house or greet them. For he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
These men of a 'different' spirit, may not outright deny the Deity of Christ, His death & resurrection, as they did in John's time, because unlike our 1st Century counterparts, we have the 'Completed' Word of God written in our language readily available to anyone who would seek it out. As a result of our increased knowledge, the 'Deceptions' of Satan have taken on a more sinister form. Appealing to base nature of man's carnality, he has sent his 'deceiving spirits' to twist the Word of God and lead people astray by 'convincing' them Grace is license to sin!
The Apostle Peter touched on this saying, "Those who are untaught and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of scripture. You therefore, beloved, since you know these things beforehand, BEWARE lest you also fall from your own steadfastness being led away with the error of the wicked." 2Pet3:16-17
He also called these teachings, "Destructive heresies", in 2Pet2:1 and warned that the 'false teachers' will be among you, concurring with the Apostle Paul in Acts20:30, where he warned the church at Ephesus that, "From among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after themselves!"
Although the teaching of OSAS does not deny Christ as God it very deceptively twists the Gospel message and leaves people with the 'impression' they can 'continue' in sin and inherit the Kingdom of heaven. When scripture clearly says in a number of passages, "DO NOT be deceived. Neither fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, thieves, covetous, drunkards, or revilers will inherit the Kingdom of God!" 1Cor6:9-10
In Galatians Paul repeats this warning to the church, adding, "Just as I told you before as I told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God." Gal5:21
And again in Ephesians, "For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man who is an idolater has any inheritance in the kingdom of God. LET NO ONE Deceive you with empty words." Eph5:5-6
Grace is given to each of us in Full Measure as Christ's gift. Eph4:7 But that grace does not nullify God's righteous decrees. "Behold I have sit before you this day LIFE & DEATH, Blessings & Cursing, CHOOSE Life!" Deut30:11-19
"Be not deceived, God is NOT Mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Gal6:7-9
Deceitfully the OSAS teachers have eliminated these warnings from the Gospel and in doing so, have destroyed it's Power to save souls! The Apostles are constantly referring to 'Scripture' as being profitable for reproof, correction in error, instruction in righteousness, able to make you wise for salvation through faith. As being Spoken by the very Breath of God unto holy men and recorded for our benefit. 2Tim3:15-17, 2Pet1:20-21
To WHAT Scripture are they referring? Certainly NOT the New Testament, It hadn't been written yet! They were relying on the prophetic declarations of Old Testament Scriptures. This is an undeniable FACT of their ministry. Salvation comes by Faith from Genesis to Revelation, whether it's in the promise fulfilled or YET to be fulfilled! The Righteous Decrees of God are still in effect!
"When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits sin, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall NOT be remembered, because of the sin he has committed, he shall die." Ezk18:24
"When a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and does what is right, he will live. Because he turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live!" Ezk18:27-28
Every OSAS teacher on earth will wholeheartedly agree with the second half of this passage, about the 'Wicked' man. If he turns, from his wickedness, he will live. BUT not a SINGLE one of them will agree with the first part. 'IF the Righteous man turns from his righteousness, he will die.' WHY? Because They have been CONVINCED by 'deceiving' spirits that under Grace we can SIN our way into the Kingdom! What could be a more 'perfect' deception?
While people chase after false signs and wonders, speak in other 'tongues' and experience 'healings', a Gospel of sin is preached among them that is sending souls to hell as fast as time will take them! Satan never imagined that OSAS would be so successful, but like gangrene it has spread worldwide and polluted the Glorious Gospel of our Lord into theological non-sense.
Scripture warns, "He who covers his sins shall NOT prosper. But he who confesses and forsakes them shall find mercy." Prov28:13
Many of you reading this are under the 'impression' of deceiving spirits and think that 'Nothing' can separate you from God including gross sexual immorality, based on a false understanding of: Rom8:38-39 & John10:26-27, but you are sadly mistaken. Nothing could be more crystal clear throughout the Bible. You either forsake your sins or DIE in them. If Grace is NOT sufficient to Purify your heart and give you Victory over the corrupting influence of sin, why brother to profess Christianity in the first place? There's enough hypocrites in the world already.
But if you sincerely want to remove the 'scales' from your eyes, the SPIRIT is waiting. The Holy Spirit of God will not be mocked by the deceiving spirits of deception. Mercy awaits for those who come in humble repentance to Christ and seek His Truth. Come today and find Life!