Bible in One Year:
Tuesday, December  21, 2010
(Jer 37 - Jer 40) 

Memorise: "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)

Read: 1 John 4:1-3
 
One area the Lord commended the Ephesian church in His letter to them was in their ability to try professing ministers and sieve the genuine ones from the fake (Rev 2:1- 7). This is also very necessary for the church today yet we are getting too lazy to even give such things a thought. "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 ability to distinguish the fake from the real stands out a church from the crowd. Do not receive anything from just any man of God without trying him to see if he is truly saved, and manifesting the fruit of the Spirit. If his lifestyle contradicts God's Word, then you must disregard him and his message. If he prays in the Name of Jesus Christ, but adds something else for greater result, he is fake. If he has two or more wives or divorced his original wife and married another woman, or if he has girl friends in addition to his wife, he is a false prophet. Any prophet who asks you for money in exchange for fasting and prayers is fake. Any prophet who demands to sleep with you before your problem can be solved is fake. Any prophet that calls on the names of Mary, angels and departed saints in their prayers is a false prophet. Try every prophet. Test their messages too to see how they conform to the Word of God. Any message meant to keep you in fear is not of God. 

"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thess 5:21). All things must be tested. Try the spirits. Not all 'Thus says the Lord...' are from God. In fact, false prophets use that term just to manipulate their victims. Many people are becoming polluted from imbibing false teachings and spirits. Not all that glitters is gold as is commonly said. Not all pastors, prophets and teachers are of God. The Bible is the standard against which every doctrine must be compared. There are many religious spirits in the church today which have a form of godliness but lack the power of holiness. It is your duty to try every spirit and discard the bad and hold fast to the good. Examine all your beliefs, notions and principles in the light of God's Word and discard anyone that does not conform. Try every spirit from today! 

ACTION POINT:
If people could decipher the spirit operating behind the 'anointing' they are exposed to, many Christians will leave their present place of worship. Ask God to open your eyes!