"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." (1 John 4:1)
John, in the Holy Spirit, then goes on to tell us how to, "test the spirits." It is not by what we like or what seems to fit our spiritual desires at the moment. The way to, "test the spirits," is to see how they honor Jesus. "By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God." The only time Father spoke audibly in the Gospels was when He honored Jesus and the Name. As Mother Teresa told Sam Brownback once, "Remember, Senator; it's all about Jesus; it's all about Jesus; it's all about Jesus." Only trust, "the spirits," who honor Jesus Christ.
Of course, honoring Jesus is more than writing or talking about Him. The "best" way to honor Jesus is to obey Jesus. Jesus is the Rock. If I listen to anyone or any teaching not rooted in Jesus Christ, I am in deep trouble. I once read an article about the problem of sinkholes in Florida. "Florida is notorious....The State has the misfortune of being built on a foundation of limestone-- solid rock, but the kind that is easily dissolved by acidic rain or groundwater." There are a lot of "limestone-rock" people and religious organizations today. They are being "dissolved by acidic rain or groundwater," because, as Moses said, "their rock is not like our Rock." Peter declares that it is, "by (through, on account of, for the sake of, because of) Jesus you believe in God." No "acidic rain or groundwater" can destroy such a people.
Why this devotional emphasis today? Christendom has wondered from, "Jesus, the very thought of Thee, with sweetness fills my breast....Jesus, our only joy be Thou, as Thou our prize will be; Jesus, be Thou our glory now, and through eternity." Jesus did not say that we would be worship-witnesses, "presence"-witnesses, prophetic-declaration-witnesses, missions-witnesses, or better-me-witnesses. All of, " the spirits," of the aforementioned only stand the test when they are, "the spirits," who are in and honor Jesus Christ, who are walking in, "you shall be witnesses to Me."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I so thank You that I have, as Your Word says, "the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Nothing better. Amen.
John, in the Holy Spirit, then goes on to tell us how to, "test the spirits." It is not by what we like or what seems to fit our spiritual desires at the moment. The way to, "test the spirits," is to see how they honor Jesus. "By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God." The only time Father spoke audibly in the Gospels was when He honored Jesus and the Name. As Mother Teresa told Sam Brownback once, "Remember, Senator; it's all about Jesus; it's all about Jesus; it's all about Jesus." Only trust, "the spirits," who honor Jesus Christ.
Of course, honoring Jesus is more than writing or talking about Him. The "best" way to honor Jesus is to obey Jesus. Jesus is the Rock. If I listen to anyone or any teaching not rooted in Jesus Christ, I am in deep trouble. I once read an article about the problem of sinkholes in Florida. "Florida is notorious....The State has the misfortune of being built on a foundation of limestone-- solid rock, but the kind that is easily dissolved by acidic rain or groundwater." There are a lot of "limestone-rock" people and religious organizations today. They are being "dissolved by acidic rain or groundwater," because, as Moses said, "their rock is not like our Rock." Peter declares that it is, "by (through, on account of, for the sake of, because of) Jesus you believe in God." No "acidic rain or groundwater" can destroy such a people.
Why this devotional emphasis today? Christendom has wondered from, "Jesus, the very thought of Thee, with sweetness fills my breast....Jesus, our only joy be Thou, as Thou our prize will be; Jesus, be Thou our glory now, and through eternity." Jesus did not say that we would be worship-witnesses, "presence"-witnesses, prophetic-declaration-witnesses, missions-witnesses, or better-me-witnesses. All of, " the spirits," of the aforementioned only stand the test when they are, "the spirits," who are in and honor Jesus Christ, who are walking in, "you shall be witnesses to Me."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I so thank You that I have, as Your Word says, "the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Nothing better. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
