Man has the power to melt your ears with all his bellyaching and whining.”
–J. Lee Butts (Bad Blood)
“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”
“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”
–2 Timothy 1:7 (NASB)
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How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World
Key Verse: “We know [for a fact] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] lies in the power of the evil one [opposing God and His precepts].” –1 John 5:19 (Amplified)
Let’s take another look at 1 John 4:1:
“Beloved, do not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world.” (Amplified)
There are many self-proclaimed prophets with loud voices. Many of them are so-called believers, but there are others who have a loud voice and proclaim their form of truth. Watch and beware of them. We are to try the spirits; in other words look at the truth and see how they proclaim the message of Jesus Christ. If you are not aware of it, and I surely trust that you are, there are false prophets, there are evil spirits, and there is a devil.
Some people sort of sluff off this verse. In fact many in the church do not believe that there is a devil. They do not want to concede to the fact that there is evil out there trying to pull them down to hell. Listen, if we were confronted by the Holy Spirit only there would be no need to test the spirits. The very name “Holy Spirit” suggests that there are other spirits.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the power, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
–Ephesians 6:12(NASB)
“No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.”
–2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (NASB)
Havoc has often come to the Church because people would not test the spirits. False teachings have crept in because of one of Satan’s servants, or a human deceived by the wicked one. Some rely only upon their experiences. It is so wonderful they feel that they must be right. Now, I am not against experiences. They are vital, meaningful, and important. Let no one question their salvation of a miracle or a healing or the Holy Spirit working in their lives. However, be aware of putting an experience in front of God’s Word. I have had several people tell me over the years that God told them to do such-and-such which was totally contrary to the Bible. They did not test the spirits. They wanted to go their own way, or listen to the spirits of evil.
“It is the duty and the business of everyone claiming the name of ‘Christian’ to be in a position to try and examine and test the spirits.”
–D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Remember when you are trying to live in this mad, mad world the words of Paul, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.” (1 Corinthians 2:12, NASB) Do not judge in terms of phenomena–the Lord warned His followers that spirits would be able to do marvelous works. Do not judge in terms of fervor–great excitement and great energy is not proof of the Holy Spirit. Keep this in mind, experiences can be counterfeited by the enemy.
How then do we test the spirits? There are three quick tests:
1) Does the teaching conform to Scripture?
2) Is it conformed to the apostolic message?
3) Is the teacher willing to submit to it?
The readiness to list to scriptural teaching and to abide by it is always a characteristic of the true prophet. He is willing to listen and to abide by the Word of God. This “prophet” is the man or woman who always manifests balance in their life. They are not some spiritual pendulum swinging back and forth looking for the newest spiritual fad. The true spirit always glorifies Christ. I recently heard a teaching saying that the Son and the Father are not equal; that the Son is subservient to the Father denying the doctrine of the Trinity (a form of Arianism)–false teaching. Also look closely, the cross always first then followed by signs and wonders, never the other way around.
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity–of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear–but [He has give us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”
–2 Timothy 1:7 (Amplified)
“The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of order, not of disorder. Doctrine and love are required; experience and power, intellect and mind–the whole person is involved and functions as this perfectly balanced body with no schism, with no rivalry and competition, but with the whole manifesting and ministering unto the glory of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
–D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
So do not be afraid of living in this mad, mad, mad world with all the voices coming at you. The Holy Spirit will use the Word of God to direct your lives. He will guide your steps and He will be with you though pestilence, storms, plagues, and terror are all around you.
————————————————-
How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World
Key Verse: “We know [for a fact] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] lies in the power of the evil one [opposing God and His precepts].” –1 John 5:19 (Amplified)
Let’s take another look at 1 John 4:1:
“Beloved, do not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world.” (Amplified)
There are many self-proclaimed prophets with loud voices. Many of them are so-called believers, but there are others who have a loud voice and proclaim their form of truth. Watch and beware of them. We are to try the spirits; in other words look at the truth and see how they proclaim the message of Jesus Christ. If you are not aware of it, and I surely trust that you are, there are false prophets, there are evil spirits, and there is a devil.
Some people sort of sluff off this verse. In fact many in the church do not believe that there is a devil. They do not want to concede to the fact that there is evil out there trying to pull them down to hell. Listen, if we were confronted by the Holy Spirit only there would be no need to test the spirits. The very name “Holy Spirit” suggests that there are other spirits.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the power, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
–Ephesians 6:12(NASB)
“No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.”
–2 Corinthians 11:14-15 (NASB)
Havoc has often come to the Church because people would not test the spirits. False teachings have crept in because of one of Satan’s servants, or a human deceived by the wicked one. Some rely only upon their experiences. It is so wonderful they feel that they must be right. Now, I am not against experiences. They are vital, meaningful, and important. Let no one question their salvation of a miracle or a healing or the Holy Spirit working in their lives. However, be aware of putting an experience in front of God’s Word. I have had several people tell me over the years that God told them to do such-and-such which was totally contrary to the Bible. They did not test the spirits. They wanted to go their own way, or listen to the spirits of evil.
“It is the duty and the business of everyone claiming the name of ‘Christian’ to be in a position to try and examine and test the spirits.”
–D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Remember when you are trying to live in this mad, mad world the words of Paul, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.” (1 Corinthians 2:12, NASB) Do not judge in terms of phenomena–the Lord warned His followers that spirits would be able to do marvelous works. Do not judge in terms of fervor–great excitement and great energy is not proof of the Holy Spirit. Keep this in mind, experiences can be counterfeited by the enemy.
How then do we test the spirits? There are three quick tests:
1) Does the teaching conform to Scripture?
2) Is it conformed to the apostolic message?
3) Is the teacher willing to submit to it?
The readiness to list to scriptural teaching and to abide by it is always a characteristic of the true prophet. He is willing to listen and to abide by the Word of God. This “prophet” is the man or woman who always manifests balance in their life. They are not some spiritual pendulum swinging back and forth looking for the newest spiritual fad. The true spirit always glorifies Christ. I recently heard a teaching saying that the Son and the Father are not equal; that the Son is subservient to the Father denying the doctrine of the Trinity (a form of Arianism)–false teaching. Also look closely, the cross always first then followed by signs and wonders, never the other way around.
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity–of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear–but [He has give us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”
–2 Timothy 1:7 (Amplified)
“The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of order, not of disorder. Doctrine and love are required; experience and power, intellect and mind–the whole person is involved and functions as this perfectly balanced body with no schism, with no rivalry and competition, but with the whole manifesting and ministering unto the glory of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
–D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
So do not be afraid of living in this mad, mad, mad world with all the voices coming at you. The Holy Spirit will use the Word of God to direct your lives. He will guide your steps and He will be with you though pestilence, storms, plagues, and terror are all around you.