Bible Reading: Numbers 34; Psalm 78:38-72; Isaiah 26; 1 John 4
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)
The spirit beings created by God did not all stay loyal to him. Led by Lucifer, some of the angels rebelled against the Creator. If we understand the Revelation properly, it looks like one-third of them were cast out of heaven with the rebellion Satan.
And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. (Revelation 12:4)
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:9)
Now some of these fallen angels are devils that seek to keep the lost from knowing Christ and to deceive the saints. For this reason, the Bible warns us to be very careful who we listen to. Spirits are teaching things about life, death, heaven, hell and eternity.
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (1 Timothy 4:1)
So, how can you know the truth? The Bible says we must try the spirits to see if they are of God. This means that when we hear someone teach the Bible, we must test the message to see if it comes from God or not. The devils influence false prophets who go out into the world teaching the doctrines of devils. The test we are to give is all about Jesus.
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 4:2-3)
The spirit of antichrist will deny that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. They will say that a man called Jesus had the 'cosmic Christ' come upon him at his baptism and depart from him before the crucifixion. Or, they will say that Jesus was a spirit being and did not really have a body. The false prophets will always deny the truth about Jesus Christ. He was born of a virgin and he had a body just like us! We must uphold the truth about Jesus! We must test everything by him! He is the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by him!
In Christ,
Rody
P.S. We are on the way to the hospital. Wendy is having our fourth child today!
