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What does it mean to test the spirits?



    
    

Clarify Share Report Asked July 01 2013 Mini Anonymous (via GotQuestions)

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15
Shea S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries
"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" (1 John 4:1). In this verse believers are command...

July 01 2013 4 responses Vote Up Share Report


4
95 1 Jay Saunders Supporter
1 Corinthians 12:3, 1 John 2:23, 1 John 4:15, 1John 5:1, 2 John 1:7 and 1 John 4:2 These scrptures will help you understand how to discern the spirit of a man or woman. The spirit of a man or woman who is not regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit is not of God or is still dominated by the sin nature or the spirit of antichrist is still in them. 

The word of God clearly shows us we are a child of sin, rebillion, the Devil or a child of righteousness or of God. This can only happen by regeneration by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the God head, equal to or in agreement with the Father and the only begotten son, aka Jesus the Christ the son of the living God. The word of God, aka the bible, says to try the spirits to know if they are of God, that any spirit or person that confesses not that Jesus Christ has not come in the flesh is not of God. 

If only Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saints, would have learned this simple truth from the bible. He would not have been deceived and started a false teaching of a works righteousness, a fasle gospel. Another test is this: Do they display the fruit of the spirit? These are love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, meekness, gentleness, faithfullness, patience with self-control. 

Of course, we are imperfect beings in Christ so allow for the flesh in any of us to rise up on occasion, but a sure sign of maturity in Jesus is a spirit dominated by the fruit of the spirit 99% of the time. Gal 5:22-23 I beleive that if someone truly wants to follow God the Father, the Father will lead them to His son Jesus because He is the only way to the Father. That is the Father's plan, not mine. John 14:6 Jesus is the door or the only bridge to the Father.

July 05 2016 1 response Vote Up Share Report


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