“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)
“That’s just what I heard.” How many times have you heard this, better yet, how many times have you simply believed what you heard. Do the research, that is what test the spirits means, find out from more than one source if what you have been offered as truth is indeed truth.
There are, in essence, two different types of individuals on this planet in this regard, those who will believe nearly everything they hear, and those who will not, the gullible are the target these days. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)
And my friends, he is exceptionally good at what he does.
You must envision a being who watched as the Almighty created the heavens and the earth and all that is in it, one who has watched intently the progression of mankind since Adam was formed, who speaks every language that is and ever was. The word brilliant does not begin to describe our adversary, and if you do not test the spirits, you will find yourself being deceived.
“For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.” (Mark 13:22)
Without listening to the Holy Spirit, you will be led astray, the proof of this is easily visible today. You have one source of truth in this world that can be trusted without question, the Word of God, and even here Satan has seen an advantage.
I use the King James Bible and I would suggest you do the same, for if there is another truth about our adversary, it is this, “If you cannot beat them, make them think you have joined them.” This is why the Roman Catholic cult has grown so much, why those who started Mormonism were people who were easily deceived, this is why any and all works-based religions thrive while those places where the Word of God is preached as the infallible and final inerrant truth have few members in the pews. You must test the spirits, whether it be the person who is giving you information of an earthly matter, or the pastor behind the pulpit, without research, diligent research, you will follow a lie, and by default, the father of lies.
In this age of information technology there is no excuse, if someone on a website, social media site, video presentation is offering you information about any subject, no matter what it is, you have thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of other options to verify if what they are saying is the truth, you must do this, for he who stands continuously before the throne of God accusing us will stop at nothing to deceive those whose sole desire it is to bring glory to God in their lives.
If indeed the truth has set us free, then we are to speak that truth to all who will listen. We have done the research, the Holy Spirit has assured us of the truth, we are to be adamant about it, never wavering from it. And when you do, when you know the truths of the Scriptures, you will stand upon the Rock that is Jesus Christ.
We are being lied to many times a day, intentionally by those who believe the power they wield over us is by their own design, they do not realize who their father is, and they do not care, power is their objective. We as born-again believers have been shown the truth, and the days have arrived where speaking that truth is going to cost you something.
