Test the Spirits
1 John 4 English Standard Version (ESV)
4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the
spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out
into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every
spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and
every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of
the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little
children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is
greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world;
therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We
are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not
listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
The scripture above is given to us for a specific reason.
The spirit of anti-Christ was unleashed on this world the moment that Satan
rebelled in Heaven. There has been and
will be, until Christ comes again, those who would come in the name of Jesus to
deceive us.
Children do not be fooled by even those that stand in
leadership over you. From the pastor to piano player, from the worship leader
to the women’s ministry department head, from the Sunday School teacher to the
head deacon; if they sit in a position of authority, test the spirits.
In our society it has become commonplace to accept everything that makes us feel good. The mega church that sits under the the false teacher because the numbers are high and the church is popular, the worship leader with the charismatic personality who plays the songs that make our emotions soar, the entertainer who sings/plays so well we get lost in the admiration of them, all proof that we are all too willing to sit under the spirit of anti-Christ.
We do all fall short of the Glory of God and His grace is sufficient to
cover our sins, but the Holy Spirit is there to convict us of our sins and
grace covers the sinner that is repentant, not the sinner that uses grace as an
excuse to continue living in that sin. When Jesus rescued the adulterous woman
his words to her were “Go and sin no more”
he did not say to her “Go back to what you were doing.” Dr. Bryce Klabunde, Soul Care Pastor,
College Avenue Baptist Church, San Diego, CA gives us six signs of true repentance.In our society it has become commonplace to accept everything that makes us feel good. The mega church that sits under the the false teacher because the numbers are high and the church is popular, the worship leader with the charismatic personality who plays the songs that make our emotions soar, the entertainer who sings/plays so well we get lost in the admiration of them, all proof that we are all too willing to sit under the spirit of anti-Christ.
- Repentant people are willing to confess all their sins, not just the sins that got them in trouble. A house isn't clean until you open every closet and sweep every corner. People who truly desire to be clean are completely honest about their lives. No more secrets.
- Repentant people face the pain that their sin caused others. They invite the victims of their sin (anyone hurt by their actions) to express the intensity of emotions that they feel—anger, hurt, sorrow, and disappointment. Repentant people do not give excuses or shift blame. They made the choice to hurt others, and they must take full responsibility for their behavior.
- Repentant people ask forgiveness from those they hurt. They realize that they can never completely “pay off” the debt they owe their victims. Repentant people don’t pressure others to say, “I forgive you.” Forgiveness is a journey, and the other person needs time to deal with the hurt before they can forgive. All that penitent people can do is admit their indebtedness and humbly request the undeserved gift of forgiveness.
- Repentant people remain accountable to a small group of mature Christians. They gather a group of friends around themselves who hold them accountable to a plan for clean living. They invite the group to question them about their behaviors. And they follow the group’s recommendations regarding how to avoid temptation.
- Repentant people accept their limitations. They realize that the consequences of their sin (including the distrust) will last a long time, perhaps the rest of their lives. They understand that they may never enjoy the same freedom that other people enjoy. Sex offenders or child molesters, for example, should never be alone with children. Alcoholics must abstain from drinking. Adulterers must put strict limitations on their time with members of the opposite sex. That’s the reality of their situation, and they willingly accept their boundaries.
- Repentant people are faithful to the daily tasks God has given them. We serve a merciful God who delights in giving second chances. God offers repentant people a restored relationship with Him and a new plan for life. Listen to Hosea’s promise to rebellious Israel:
Come, let us return to the Lord. He
has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind
up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will
restore us, that we may live in his presence. (Hosea 6:1-2, emphasis added)
Now, I
know that someone is going to start screaming, “judge not, lest you be judged”! It happens every time. I am not saying we need to beat someone over the head with their sin. What I am saying is that we should be very careful to not sit under the tutelage of a person who continues in their sin. There is a difference between willful sin and ignorance.
Steve Brandon in his sermons, If We Go On Sinning Willfully states, "Sinning willfully" are those who pursue their sin rather than pursuing Christ. "I know that Jesus says this is wrong. But, I don't believe Him. I don't believe that He's going to punish me. I'm going to do what I want to do."
Heb 10:26 For if we willfully persist in sin after having received the full knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains in reserve any other sacrifice for sins.
The grace message of today says Jesus died once for all our sins, past, present and future. We like this, it is warm and fuzzy and makes us feel good. It gives us the rationalization that we need to continue in our sin. There is truth in this, however, it is a dangerous statement to make without the disclaimer that willful sin is not the same as a sin perpetrated in ignorance. The person proclaiming Christianity for decades, yet continuing in their sin, is given over to a reprobate mind. Their conscience is seared and if placed in a position of leadership or high visibility, then the risk is run that others will be lead astray. "If anyone causes one of these little ones--those who believe in me--to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea" Mark 9:42
One might argue my attitude to be Pharisaical, but it is with great humility that I write these words. It is from my own personal perspective that I offer this observation. Also, I do not say any of this to boast or brag, but out of a grateful heart, I convey this account. When the Holy Spirit began to deal with my sin, I was teaching a class on Wednesday nights to middle schoolers. I so fell under conviction that I had to surrender my position in the children's department. It was more than my conscience could bear, knowing that my fruits did not align with my beliefs. Even years after my turning from my sin, I still grieve at the thought that someone, most especially my own children, may stumble because of my sin. Though my sin has been confessed, turned from and is covered again by the Blood of Jesus, though God himself would say to me "what sin?", in His mercy He allows me to remember the weight of that sin so as to never repeat it again.
Paul teaches in his writings to Timothy, the conduct of a pastor. He is very specific in his definitions and and instructions. While the Ten Commandments gives the Code of Conduct per-say to every Christian, Levitical law and Paul's teachings are very detailed in the conduct of those in positions of leadership in the church. So I contend with you that it is imperative that we place ourselves and our children under the teaching of those who are above reproach.
Steve Brandon in his sermons, If We Go On Sinning Willfully states, "Sinning willfully" are those who pursue their sin rather than pursuing Christ. "I know that Jesus says this is wrong. But, I don't believe Him. I don't believe that He's going to punish me. I'm going to do what I want to do."
Heb 10:26 For if we willfully persist in sin after having received the full knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains in reserve any other sacrifice for sins.
The grace message of today says Jesus died once for all our sins, past, present and future. We like this, it is warm and fuzzy and makes us feel good. It gives us the rationalization that we need to continue in our sin. There is truth in this, however, it is a dangerous statement to make without the disclaimer that willful sin is not the same as a sin perpetrated in ignorance. The person proclaiming Christianity for decades, yet continuing in their sin, is given over to a reprobate mind. Their conscience is seared and if placed in a position of leadership or high visibility, then the risk is run that others will be lead astray. "If anyone causes one of these little ones--those who believe in me--to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea" Mark 9:42
One might argue my attitude to be Pharisaical, but it is with great humility that I write these words. It is from my own personal perspective that I offer this observation. Also, I do not say any of this to boast or brag, but out of a grateful heart, I convey this account. When the Holy Spirit began to deal with my sin, I was teaching a class on Wednesday nights to middle schoolers. I so fell under conviction that I had to surrender my position in the children's department. It was more than my conscience could bear, knowing that my fruits did not align with my beliefs. Even years after my turning from my sin, I still grieve at the thought that someone, most especially my own children, may stumble because of my sin. Though my sin has been confessed, turned from and is covered again by the Blood of Jesus, though God himself would say to me "what sin?", in His mercy He allows me to remember the weight of that sin so as to never repeat it again.
Paul teaches in his writings to Timothy, the conduct of a pastor. He is very specific in his definitions and and instructions. While the Ten Commandments gives the Code of Conduct per-say to every Christian, Levitical law and Paul's teachings are very detailed in the conduct of those in positions of leadership in the church. So I contend with you that it is imperative that we place ourselves and our children under the teaching of those who are above reproach.
Matt 7:17-20 (BBE)
17 Even so, every good tree gives good fruit; but the bad tree gives evil fruit. 18 It is not possible for a good tree to give bad fruit, and a bad tree will not give good fruit. 19 Every tree which does not give good fruit is cut down and put in the fire. 20 So by their fruits you will get knowledge of them
17 Even so, every good tree gives good fruit; but the bad tree gives evil fruit. 18 It is not possible for a good tree to give bad fruit, and a bad tree will not give good fruit. 19 Every tree which does not give good fruit is cut down and put in the fire. 20 So by their fruits you will get knowledge of them
With all this said, the Grace of God is available to all of us. It is God's delight to restore the repentant heart. He is the God of second chances and to those of us He restores, he gives the responsibility to share our testimonies to strengthen and encourage, but also to warn others. When Jesus was speaking to the woman at the well, he did not ignore her sin, on the contrary, he told her of ALL her sin. He did not cover her sin, yet gave her the key to overcoming that sin.
Hebrews 5:12-14New International Version (NIV)
12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Each of us has been given a calling to share in the Great Commission, to preach the Good News of Salvation through Jesus Christ, and it is God's desire that we each grow in spiritual maturity to be available and able to fulfill our call. It is only then through sound teaching and Biblical truth that we are able to do so. So it is imperative that we be able to discerns the spirits, especially of those under whom we sit. For on the day of judgement we will be accountable for our actions and our actions only, and that includes having knowledge of wrongdoing and the acceptance of it.
It is time for the church to arise, to investigate and not be lead like sheep to slaughter. It is time for her to live beyond the milk and partake of the meat. It is time for us to measure up to the standard set by Christ himself. I implore us all to live by the Holy Spirit, to harken to that little voice that says "this is not correct" and to check all things through the Word of God. The Holy Spirit will NEVER tell us to do anything contrary to the Word of God and I do not believe the Lord would wish for us to sit under the teaching of those who twist the Word to rationalize their own willful sin.
Praise the Lord, He provides us all with a way out of our sin. He is faithful to forgive when we come to him with a contrite heart and He gives us the Holy Spirit to guide into all truth.
*While I may not personally ascribe that all of the preachers listed here are false, I do believe the basic word behind the lyrics of this song.
No comments:
Post a Comment