“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
I love the old Jewish proverb: “Through prayer we speak to God. Through scripture, God speaks to us.” For too long I just wanted God to tell me what to do not realizing that He already had, in the scriptures. I also realized that the guidance I thought was from God wasn’t from Him but from elsewhere. Creepy stuff.
That devil looks great.
He sounds even better… unfortunately.
But how do you really know? How do you test the spirits?
The only way I’ve found that works is through scripture. Or you can ask if they are from God. Still a deceiver is slippery may try to find a loophole in the question. Gotta back it up with scripture always.
Agreed, if what someone, even a religion, teaches is out of harmony with the Bible then it isn’t from God. Look at how many of the Pharisees oral traditions & laws went beyond what was written & they simply added unnecessary burdens to the common people. (Matthew 23:4) Jesus condemned them for their hypocrisy.
We have no right to create our own “laws.” But, too we humans do… and not just in Judaism. I’ve been a chastised for not following unspoken “laws” of certain denominations that didn’t line up with scripture.
Test the spirits makes me think of someone at a whiskey tasting centre
Or spirits doing a school exam
Whiskey tasting center sounds like a good idea… until one tastes too much whiskey and things turn crazy.
My mother used to tell me that everything that whispers in my ear is not always God’s words. I like the way you visually represented that concept.
Thanks! I’m glad I can’t really see what is lurking in that dimension. I don’t know if I could handle it.
It could be that others are confusing you and what to think and believe and you don
You know just enough to be a danger to yourself and others particularly to the church you claim to love.