By R. Michel Lankford
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 (NASB)
This Blog Will Discuss:
- We are expressly told not to believe every spirit, but instead we are to test every spirit (1 John 4:1)
- Truth is not merely a belief, truth is a Person (John 14:6)
- Not everything done in Jesus’ name bears His approval, so we must put what we hear to the tests to make sure it is of God (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21).
- Scripture provides at least 8 Biblical tests we can use to discern truth from error, but it is our responsibility to practice and use them.
- Supplementary Information: The Rehearsals which Almighty God instituted in order to commemorate Christ's death, burial, resurrection, as well as to prepare for the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.
Key Scriptures: John 18:38; 1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 Matthew 7:15-20;
Very soon, we will be entering the season of Unleavened Bread, the Passover and First Fruits. These are the authentic festivals or rehearsals for the wedding supper of the lamb which Almighty God instituted to point to what Messiah would accomplish through His death, burial and resurrection. If you wish to learn more about these things, look at some of the links which are included at the end of this study.
In the process of Christ's trials, There were a couple of interchanges between Governor Pontius Pilate and the Messiah. Pontius Pilate is trying to be astute and avoid a political firestorm that could ignite a riot. So he asks Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus answers his question with another question. Basically, are you asking because you're curious or did someone put you up to it? Jesus goes on to describe the idea that his kingdom is Not an earthly political one but an eternal heavenly one. We pick up this exchange at John 18:36:
John 18:36-37 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
Then Pontius Pilate asks what I consider to be one of the greatest questions:
What is truth (John 18:38)?
There are countless people in our world today who are asking the same question. Some are walking in darkness; others are truly seeking after the light. Those of us who have crossed the line of faith and have come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior have come to realize that the truth is not a belief. The truth is not an idea. It's not a concept. Truth is a person. His name is Jesus Christ. Those of us who have accepted Jesus who is the Christ as Lord and Savior understand that he is the way the truth and the life and that the only way we can be in right Fellowship with God the Father is through Him (John 14:6). Truth is a person. His name is Jesus the Christ. Well, that was easy… not quite.
Oh, I wish I could tell you that with the understanding of the great truths of Who Jesus Is, and what He did, every question and confusion is erased, but unfortunately that is not the case. Yes, Jesus Is the Truth, but unfortunately not everything that is done in His name honestly reflects His desires, His teachings, or His character.
I wish that I could sincerely tell you that you can go into any church, and that aside from very rare exceptions, everyone there authentically wants to please God, is rightly dividing Scripture, where everyone is using their spiritual gifts with cautious respect for God, and the unselfish desire to see their neighbor built up until they succeed. That's the way it's supposed to be, and I wish I could tell you that that's the way it is, but it's not. The truth is that in my experience there is an overwhelming lack of maturity and discipline in the church at large.
The truth is that sometimes sermons and messages are given with the manipulation motive, a financial motive or control motives. Sometimes words of knowledge are filtered through our own emotional or mental garbage, and sometimes what we feel lead to say and do in Christ's name, may not be Christ centered or approved. Since only about a third of Americans claiming to be born again actually read their Bible on a regular basis, our theological basis for believing we've heard from God can be way off the mark sometimes.
Unfortunately, one of the difficulties of living in the last days is that both preachers and congregations are facing a greater temptation than ever to let go of sound doctrine, but Scripture warned that this is what would happen (2 Timothy 4:3). That’s why we are told not to believe every spirit, but to thoroughly put everything to the test, hold on firmly to what is good and abstain from every form of evil (1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22).
Unfortunately, not everything we are told in God or Christ's name is truly the word of God. Not every sermon, prophecy, word of knowledge or teaching we are presented with will be a true reflection of God's heart or God's truth and character. Knowing that is all well and good, but it left me with a struggle.
How do I know what to accept and what not to accept? It's good to know that I have the right and responsibility to test everything and hold fast to that which is good (1Thessalonians 5:20-21), but that statement presumes that I will know and perceive what is good when I see it. Let's face it, in a world where we are presented with all kinds of ungodly ideas, how do I keep from getting good and evil confused? How do I make sure that I don't believe every spirit, but I do believe and obey the Holy Spirit? How do I make sure in a practical way that I do hold fast to that which is good, but successfully abstain from every form of evil?
8 Biblical Tests to Discern Truth vs. Error
Since Almighty God requires us not to believe every spirit , but to test the spirits to see if they are of God, then it obviously stands to reason that God would provide some secure methods by which we could fulfill such a command. In other words, God does not make a command without giving us the method by which we can obey Him . I believe that Scripture provides eight Biblically solid tests to help us to properly assess what we hear, and to evaluate it correctly. They are as follows:
The Fruit Test- (Genesis 1:11; Matthew 7:15-20; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; John 16:9) - The fruit test is the one that I use most often. The reason is that it applies one of the oldest spiritual laws in Scripture. "Then God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation , plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in Them"; and it was so. (Genesis 1:11). Now, there is no doubt that this is talking about physical plants in creation. You don't plant seeds from oranges and get Apple trees. You don't plant peaches and get lemons. The same is true about character. If God is really working or talking through someone by way of a sermon, teaching, prophecy, or word of knowledge, it will never violate God's character, His nature, His commands or His promises. If you hear someone speaking in God's name saying anything that violates any of these characteristics, he or she is not speaking from God, period! The other reason that I use this test most often is because it is the test that Jesus Christ Himself said we should use:
Matthew 7:15-16 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves."You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
The bottom line is that it any sermon, presentation, teaching, prophecy or word of knowledge is not consistent with the fruit of God's character; then it is not Him. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 So, we must question: Is what I’m hearing agreeable with the fruit of the Holy Spirit and the character of God’s love? Is it spurring me and empowering me to turn away from sin and to pursue love and holiness before God? If it is, then it is sound and reliable. If it’s not then don’t follow it.
The Jesus Character Test- (1 John 4:2-3; John 14:6,21; Matthew 7:24-25)-Is what I am being taught or presented truly consistent with who Jesus is, what Jesus did, what Jesus said, taught, or commanded? If so, you can take it to the bank. If not, then you are proceeding on dangerous presumption.
The Commandments Test (Deut.6:5,10:12; Matthew 7:12, 22:35-40)- Is what I’m being told or taught directing me to love and put God first with all my heart soul mind and strength, and to treat others with the kind of love and consideration that I would like for myself?
The Weight of Biblical Evidence Test (Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15, Matthew 18:16 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 10:26-28) Scripture tells us that out of two or three witnesses every truth or fact is established. This test simply means that the more number of biblical writers God used to say the same thing, the stronger and more secure and solid your doctrinal position. Let’s take just the principle we’re addressing right now for example. God used Moses, Matthew, Jesus, Paul, and the writer of Hebrews to tell us that every fact needs to be established through multiple witnesses. With this many proofs, the weight of biblical evidence supports that position. All Scripture is good and profitable (2 Timothy 3:16-17), you are simply much less likely to get the wrong idea, or draw the wrong conclusions if you can confirm a particular position from multiple sources in Scripture.
The True Wisdom Test- (James 3:13-18) Is what I’m being taught or presented unquestioningly and obviously pure, then peaceable & gentle? Is it easy to be entreated? In this case that means is it persuading me to seek and pursue godliness? Is it full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and without hypocrisy? If what I'm being taught misses any of these things it's not from heaven above.
The Ambitions Test- (James 3:17; Philippians 2:3)-Most people who fall into teaching falsely do so because they have an ulterior motive or agenda. Sometimes they’re even unaware of it themselves. Sometimes they have so convinced themselves that they’re acting for the greater good, that they have compromised truth along the way. When you hear something that sounds a little off, ask yourself, “is there ambition here? Is there competition, combativeness or strife, an I’ve just got to win attitude? Is there bitterness here? Is there confusion in this teaching or presentation? When you see any of these things, be extremely leery and cautious of what you’ve been told. Scripture says that every other evil enters through these gateways. It’s demonic.
The Balance & Moderation Test- (2 Timothy 4:5; Titus 2:2, 2:5-6; 1 Peter 1:13, 4:7, 5:8).-If you look at these references in the Greek, they all urge us to be “sober minded” i.e. moderate, temperate, balanced, and self-controlled. So important is this idea that in the original languages being moderate or temperate is considered the same as being in one’s right mind or sound judgment. Does this teaching, presentation or word of knowledge I’m getting consider all of Scripture and Godly characteristics, or does it focus on one or two that seem to fit my theory at the exclusion or overshadowing of the others? Extremism in almost all cases is dangerous. Watch out for it.
The Peace Test- John 14:27; James 3:18; Romans 14:19- This is the test that many people who teach on God’s leading use the most. Ironically enough, it’s the one I recommend you use the least. Why? It’s way too subjective. The premise of this test is that God through the Holy Spirit will put a check or caution feeling inside your spirit and you’ll see a lack of peace about a particular situation. Let me point out first that God absolutely will, and does do such things; however this presupposes that we understand the difference between God’s true peace and merely a lack of conflict. For example, all of us have the ability to deny or deceive ourselves about our sin at some point or other. Just because I don’t feel convicted about something over which I am in denial, this doesn’t mean that God stopped caring about it. Likewise, just because I’m feeling a lack of peace, some internal pain or a struggle inside with what I’m being told, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t God just because I don’t feel peaceful about it at that moment. The peace test presupposes that my conscience is accurately calibrated to God’s highest desires. Since it’s easy to fall into situations where my conscience and desires are not so calibrated, I recommend you only use the peace test after you’ve thoroughly applied the others.
The Ultimate Protection from Deception
Now we have some real grassroots biblical tests that we can use to evaluate what we are being told. With practice, evaluating things in this manner will become more natural. There is one other scriptural method that will help us become more “deception proof or deception resistant.”
We must practice doing the Word of God. I know it sounds basic, but not DOING the word of God is one of, if not the biggest gateways to deception:
James 1:21-27
This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:19-27 (NASB)
The same principle is taught again in Hebrews 5:12-14.
The point is that true spiritual maturity and discernment only comes from regularly hearing and practicing, or doing the word of God. We should be taking in the word of God regularly. In the process of taking in God’s word however, we should be diligent to prayerfully seek God to make action plans to put what we read and hear into practice. We should then write those in a journal and share those action plans with someone that we trust to keep us accountable for actually following through with those godly action plans.
Beloved in Christ, I sincerely hope that you will truly practice using these eight fundamental biblical tests whenever you are being presented something in God's name. If you practice this until you become proficient, you will become much stronger, more discerning and much less likely to be deceived and manipulated into error. May God bless and maintain you on the straight and narrow path that produces everlasting life. May you all be among the few who successfully find it and persevere in walking that path until you are ultimately brought home into Eternal Bliss. Amen.
Brother Michel Lankford
PostScript:
At the beginning of this study I made a very provocative statement. I mentioned that we will soon be entering the season of Unleavened Bread, the Passover and First Fruits. These are the authentic festivals or rehearsals for the wedding supper of the lamb which Almighty God instituted to point to what Messiah would accomplish through His death, burial and resurrection. that's a pretty provocative statement for those who are used to thinking that Christmas Ishtar and Sunday worship have done away with those things. At the beginning of this study I also Promised you that I would be offering you the resources where you could learn more about why I said such a thing
What should we be Celebrating According to God?
None of the pagan feasts accurately testified to Jesus Christ. All of the biblical feast which God appointed point the way to Messiah. They described what Messiah would do for the Jew. To the believer, they testify to what Jesus Christ the Messiah accomplished and also look to what He will accomplish in the future. Please take a look at these videos which explains these things far more easily than I can:
How The Feasts Coincide Exactly with the life of Jesus Christ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYRWx-m3pws&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duW3RWKatek&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEulQJmdbfA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2o3FIfwEFg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIlzNAZmhGk&feature=related
The Day Jesus died and rose
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-nDpFnN8zs&feature=related>
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9dgnvb3g9g&feature=related>
Elshadai Ministries Explains the Feasts of God and the Messiah
(These are Great and detailed)
http://www.elshaddaiministries.us/audio/feasts/2006springdvd.html
http://www.elshaddaiministries.us/audio/feasts/2006yomteruahdvd.html
http://www.elshaddaiministries.us/audio/feasts/2006yomkippurdvd.html
http://www.elshaddaiministries.us/audio/feasts/2006succotdvd.html
http://www.elshaddaiministries.us/video/eclipsevideo.html
The Spring Feasts of the LORD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MekYgnoBOYY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYDGqxIi5Y4&feature=related
The Fall Festivals of The LORD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M83qUqhAwQ4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAFAFBbwgcs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqJnkBfihP0&feature=related
Hebrew Calendar, Feasts & The Menorah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taqpkihUYeg>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GERq-bwr6Ms&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sniz1gbdJjE&feature=related
For the first two centuries of the church, believers in Jesus from diverse backgrounds stayed together and refused to compromise, even to save their lives. Now we are not even under persecution, and yet we annually compromise with the world and the Babylonian religious system as we try to commemorate the two most monumental events in human history. We claim to honor God and celebrate him, but we compromised with pagan emperors to do it. What's more, we actually displaced and removed the feasts and festivals which God did establish an institute in order to make room for these pagan counterfeits. There is simply no way that God is honored by it, especially when He offers true biblical alternatives and we refuse to respect them. It's disobedience. It's rebellion. It's putting our love of pleasure and tradition ahead of loving God, and Jesus warned us against it:
Mark 7:1-9 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?" He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men--the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. (Mark 7:1-9 NKJV)
We must beware that we do not fall into the same snare
God Be With You,
Brother Michel Lankford
This could keep me busy for weeks.
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