What Is Death?

 What Is Death?

It's important to know.

 

 

Death on its most basic level means separation.

It is not an end, as some suppose.

The Bible teaches that we are triune, like God. We are made in His image.

We have a body, a soul and a spirit.

When God created everything He created it good. Evil was contained elsewhere, and there was no death. Everything ate plants. Fruits, veggies and nuts.

We were created to live forever.

God loves us and wants us to love Him freely, so He gave us free will and a choice.

Adam was given dominion of the Earth to take care of it. He was free to eat of anything he wanted except for the tree in the midst of the Garden.

“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”—Gen 2:17

We do not know how long Adam and Eve were in the Garden together. But, Satan came and got them to do the one thing they were not supposed to do. Eat of that tree.

The moment they ate it, something happened.

“And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.”— Gen. 3:7

Their eyes were opened.

They were previously living in innocence like little kids, running around the woods naked. But, when they ate it they became aware of both good and evil. They previously only knew good. Now evil came flooding upon them, and into them. Their innocent nature became corrupted. They tried to fix the problem themselves, but only God can fix it.

This is where our corrupted nature comes from. That thing inside of us that leads us to commit sin and causes us to be unclean, and in league with Satan.

Now, notice Adam and Eve did not die.

This shows us that they died spiritually. Their spirits died. That living soul, that God breathed into them; left them. (Gen.2:7)

But we also know that Adam lived 900 years before he died in the flesh. That is one day for God. (2 Peter 3:8)

Because Adam had dominion he was in charge, and his failure opened the door for evil to flood into him and all humans after him. It also caused death to come into this world, and upon everything in this world. The entire creation groans waiting for this to end. (Romans 8:16-25)

Since he chose to follow Satan instead of God, the dominion was handed over to Satan, who has become the god of the world. (2 Cor. 4:4)

This is why death came. It is a separation. We are separated from our loved ones and from God, by spiritual death, physical death and eternal death.

God is a holy God. Paradise is a good, holy place. The corruption that plagues humans cannot be allowed to enter heaven. It cannot be allowed to enter eternity, or else the eternal will become ruined the same as this world. Imagine an eternity full of the suffering we have in this world.

God destroyed the Earth with a Flood, to wash away the evil. But, it rose back up. He knew it would. Now, the world waits to be purged with fire and burned up, before God creates a new heaven and earth. (2 Peter 2:3)

God Himself, in the form of Jesus Christ came to Earth and died on the cross to restore that which was lost. (Matt. 18:11)

When a person hears Gods call and turns to Him, confessing Jesus is the Lord, they are saved. They are filled with the Holy Spirit and they are brought from death (separation) unto life. Their spirit comes alive again.

Like Adam, when we commit our first sin, our spirit dies within us. Until it is resurrected into new life in Christ.

Understand that our spiritual separation makes us blind toward God. But, He still sees us clearly. There is no where we can hide from God.

When we die physically we become separated from this world and our loved ones. If we are saved and washed in the Blood of Jesus we are clean from the evil that plagues us and we go to be with the Lord in Paradise. (Luke 23:43, 2 Corinthians 5:1-8)

BUT…

If we die physically and are not washed in the Blood. We are full of the corruption which plagues all humanity. We cannot go to Paradise to be with the Lord, because we are plagued. Evil is like a plague that spreads. Our sins are a symptom of this plague. We sin because of what is in us. We are plagued and unclean. (Rom 7:7-25)

So, we have to go to Hell and eventually The Lake of Fire, where Satan and His Angels, Demons and Unclean spirits will be. It is a place of containment. It is a garbage dump for all things evil and foul and unclean.

It is eternal death. Or eternal separation. A quarantine.

All humans are raised from the dead and given new bodies. But, some go to live forever in Paradise, while others go to live forever separated in Hell/Lake of Fire. The second death. The second separation. (John 5:28-29, Rev. 20:5=6, Rev. 20:12-13)

We often look at this subject in legal terms. Laws, Sin, Judges, Punishment. These are the terms used for Satan and his rebellion. For all those who knowingly reject God.

But, the reality is that God loves us and seeks to save us from a plague that corrupts us and keeps us from knowing Him.

Jesus did not come preaching law. He came healing people. Healing the blind and setting people free from Satan and his demons.

That is what God is doing.

He is saving us, setting us free and opening our eyes, if we turn to Him.

Death for the saint is not separation. It is a homecoming.

We once were blind, but now we see. We were once dead, but now we live eternally.

When we give ourselves to God, He saves us and holds us forever. We are washed in the Blood, forever clean and able to enter His presence.

When Jesus died, the veil in the temple was rent from top to bottom (Matt. 27:51)

God Himself ripped that wall of separation apart so He could bring his kids home.

And when He returns, He will restore what was lost, and defeat death. (Rev. 21:4)

And we will be with the Lord forever.

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Cover photo by pexels/Pixabay

Matthew 25 Church

 Matthew 25 Church

Are we prepared for His return? 

 

 

Matthew Chapter 25 is a chapter in the New Testament that describes what will happen when Christ returns. It states that He will separate the sheep from the goats. It appears that this judgment is not the Great White Throne judgment, where the lost are judged. This judgment is the judgment of the nations. It seems to be a judgment of people who assume they are right with Christ. The sheep enter into the kingdom, and the goats go into fire. There are many verses that speak of this judgment.

      

The criteria in this judgment will be based upon how people have treated others. It will be based upon their charity, or love in action. In the Chapter Jesus says “ And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” --- (Matt 25:40)
      

He takes it personally. Now we can say all kinds of things about Matthew 25. First, we can say that we are saved by grace, not by works. Our salvation is not based upon what we do, but upon what Christ did for us, and because we know Him, and He knows us.
      

This is true. But, it’s also true, that if we know Him, and He knows us, we will do the things He calls us to do. Not saying we won’t fail, or sin, but we will have an abiding desire to help and love others, which leads to action. This is the Fruit of The Spirit that grows in us. This is our warfare, our duty. It becomes who we are; if we are really saved.


If you'll notice the goats in Matthew 25, never knew Him. They were not really born again, or saved. This can be seen in other verses where Jesus tells us that many religious people will think they are saved, but are not. It’s not about works, it’s about being washed in the Blood, confessing Him as Lord, and letting the Spirit work in you and through you to teach, and tell others about Jesus. Saving people for eternity is the goal of everything we do.
      

There are justifications that people will give based upon the wording of Matthew 25 above. Some will claim that since it says “My brethren.” Jesus is talking about the Jewish people, and that this is a judgment against people or nations who have mistreated Israel.  Another view could be that it’s referring to Christians, because we are grafted into Israel, and become His brethren, and we are also His spiritual brothers. This justification attempts to leave out the gentile or the unbeliever as someone we do not need to show charity to. It’s an attempt to create a loop hole. But, all of scripture works against this concept. We are to show charity to those around us, even our enemies.
      

Another justification is that this is a judgment of nations not individuals. But, the actions of nations are made up of the actions of individuals. We can see this when God is talking to Abraham about Sodom. Abraham says, “Will you destroy it if there are 10 righteous?”  (Gen. 18:16-33)   There were not any righteous in the city, righteousness comes by believing God. Not believing in God, but believing what He has told us. Turning to Him, and confessing Jesus as the Lord, trusting Him. (Rom. 4:1-12) No one in that city, except for Lot put their faith in God. But, this shows that the Faith of individuals can save or affect nations. If only 10 righteous people existed, God would have spared all of them. The actions of individuals matter.
      

Some will claim that this judgment is describing how God will treat the Nations who do not support the nation of Israel, during the tribulation period, or the time of Jacobs’s trouble. We are called to support the nation of Israel and are blessed for doing so, but as shown above, this verse has more meaning than that.
      

But, let’s assume that every justification that is given by people who do not want to hear the truth of this verse is true. It still doesn’t change the fact that we are to love our neighbor, and that God is serious about it. Those who do not, regardless of how you justify or explain it will be thrown into the Lake of Fire with the Devil and his angels; because, that is who they have followed. Satan. Now, do not get me wrong. I am not making a political statement here. I’m not claiming that our nation needs to adopt certain socialistic or globalist ideologies. Or that churches need to adopt a social gospel. Those things are from the spirit of antichrist, in order to build the Kingdom of the Anti-Christ.
      

What I am referring to is that individuals and churches need to make a serious effort to change the foundation of church activity from entertaining music and constant milk filled teaching, to one of charity. The seriousness of Matthew 25 warrants that. Of course, we need to worship and teach, but charity and evangelism should be the basis for everything. Matthew 25 does not say that Jesus sends the goats into the Lake of Fire because they didn’t sing the right songs, or raise their hands high enough, or go to church to listen to sermons. Churches and individuals have placed too high of an importance on music instead of on charity. It needs to be flipped.
     

 God tells Israel, ^“ I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.”--- (Amos 5:21-24)
     

 If we are not doing what God wants us to do, then He does not want to hear our worship. Our worship of Him comes through our service to Him and others, not by standing in a building singing songs. That is not real worship. We worship Him with our lips, but our hearts are far from Him. (Isa. 29:13, Matt. 15:18, Mark 7:6)
      

God does not want us sitting in churches singing praises to Him while there are people down the street in need who are going to hell. He doesn’t care about our gatherings, while families are breaking up and cannot afford the basic needs of life in this culture. How about instead of building mega churches, we build mega homeless shelters, or free colleges, or mega job centers. We complain about the cost of government public aid, but public aid exists because the church is not doing its job. The poor is not going to go away just because we refuse to help them, because we think they sin too much. Jesus says in Matthew, that in the last days, “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matt. 24:12)  Do not let your love for others grow cold. How many times have you failed God? How many times have you promised to do better? Has God given up on you? Quit worrying about someone taking advantage of you. How many times have you ripped off God? Can you ever pay Him back for what He has given you?
      

God lets the sun shine on the just and the unjust, we are to do the same. When Jesus returns he will judge. There will be people in that judgment who think they are saved but are unwashed, they have no garment, they have no talents to give the King, and they have no oil. You can twist or justify yourself all you want to, but these verses are clear. There will be those who think they are saved, but are not. Jesus said that Love fulfills God’s law. If you’re saved, charity will flow from you.
      

So, what does a Matthew 25 church look like? Well, a group of people would get together to form a church and that church will be based upon helping Christians and those in the community. They will be built around food pantries, homeless shelters, clothes closets, helping repair people’s houses, disaster relief, classes to teach basic living, visiting and praying for the sick, helping people pay bills, fundraising for causes, providing places to gather instead of bars, helping families, and on and on. Any sort of charitable ministry you can imagine. That would be the church; it’s all about charity and service, for the purpose of showing God’s love and telling people about Jesus so they will be saved. We must always remember that the purpose of it is salvation. We do not want our charity work to become like so many other Christian charity groups that have turned away from teaching the Gospel, while helping the others.
      

But, what about worship? We would worship before we go work in our ministry, before we open the food pantry, before we go visit the sick. We will have a praise service when we come back from the jails and the streets after preaching. We will sing praises outside the courthouses, and the statehouses as we call for national repentance, and for these governmental entities to turn to God’s Law. That’s how and when we worship. What if instead of putting the 10 commandments on the court house lawn, maybe we should stand there and sing praises, while preaching the Gospel?
      

What about teaching? We will have classes or sermons that teach believers how to wage spiritual war, and serve God, and others. We will have preachers who are famous for the amount of families they have helped rise up from poverty, instead of the number of watered down books they have sold. They will be famous for leading people to Christ, instead of for inventing some new doctrine that scratches peoples itching ears. On Sunday morning, they will be praised for the number of believers who follow them out into the community to help people and preach the Gospel, instead of for the number of goats falling asleep in the church pews.
      

Christ is returning. The church needs to judge itself, that we be not judged with the world (1 Cor. 11:31-32) we are saved by Grace, but we need to step up. God’s Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are His. (Rom. 8:16)  How does that happen? When we are stepping out to follow and serve Him, He shows us that we are His, because our flesh would never have done the things we are now doing, and He is there feeding us, and growing us, and giving us more of Himself. Listen to His Spirit, as he leads you to go do things for the Kingdom. Trust Him. 

When we sit and do nothing for the Kingdom, we start to wonder and doubt. We become spiritually starved. Like Paul said, "If they will not work, neither shall they eat." We grow in Christ and faith by going out and serving and trusting Him.

Take up the Cross and follow Him. Do everything in His name.

Let Us Be Content

 Let Us Be Content

 Always more. More, More, More.

 

 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”— Heb. 13:5-6

We live in a world that constantly seeks to get us to spend more, buy more, have more, get better, more, more, more.

We are pushed to accumulate more and more debt.

It’s the culture of More

We feel like responsible people because we pay our debts (maybe), but we do not see the trap we are in.

Paul tells Timothy,

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.

 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”—1 Tim. 6:6-12

Godliness, is to treat people in the same way you would want God to treat you. Think about that for a moment. We get saved and the Holy Spirit grows us, and shows us how to treat others, by how God has treated us.

This helps grow our contentment as we learn to trust God and love others.

The Devil uses this world and our fleshly natures to get us to covet and lust over the things of this world. Things we cannot take with us. Things that rot and rust and require payments, and maintenance.

Things that require us to sell ourselves into slavery to maintain.

Things we don’t even really own. The bank, insurance companies and the government really own it.

We pay for houses we barely see because we are working all the time to pay for it.

These are some of the miseries Paul warns Timothy of.

Our mind becomes focused on Mammon instead of God. We cannot serve two masters. Who are we really serving? Do we plan to serve God when we retire?

Understand that the love of money is the ROOT of all evil.

What does a plants roots do? It feeds the plant.

Likewise, we develop a love of money, in order to pay for our lusts and greed. We might claim we don’t love money. But, let’s be honest.

We know that more money would solve our problems. But, when we look at the verse from Hebrews above, we see that God will never leave us nor forsake us. He is the solution to our troubles, not more money.

It’s a trap.

Consider an addict. He gets high and loves it. Then, he wants more. So, he seeks more.

And he finds more and more.

Now, he cannot help but have more. He is hooked.

He makes excuses, like it helps him do better work. It helps him deal with things.

Eventually, he finds himself willing to do evil things for the addiction.

He or she might say, “It’s just business.” or “It’s part of the job” or “It’s what the boss wants.”

Do we do the same thing with our jobs, and money? Are we willing to do bad things to keep our job or business running? Do we love money or God?

The fact is that we live in a country and world that requires us to have money to survive. God knows this.

God knows that we need money to provide for our families.

God knows that we live in a culture that requires certain things or you will be treated like a bum or even have legal issues.

If you don’t have a home and the basic things, you could have your children taken and charged with a crime.

If you don’t have a license or car, you can’t work in many places.

If you do not have a phone or computer access and internet you cannot even look for a job.

If you don’t have tools or clothes you can’t work.

There is nothing I have found in scripture that calls us to poverty. God, will take care of us and we are to be content with His provision. Not looking at the neighbors new car, or pontoon boat. Not looking at the giant house we don’t need.

As saints, we dial back those desires and focus on other things. We build up treasures in heaven by giving and helping others instead of accumulating things we can’t take with us when we die.

When we let God provide and be content, we will see Him move to help us when we are in need and our faith will grow.

When we are content it provides peace and time, that we can devote to other things.

Imagine being content and living within your means as a young person.

When you get older you have everything paid off, and have time to live life. You can spend time with the kids and grand kids, without trying to get time off from a job you have slaved away at for decades now to pay your debts.

Being content grows wealth over time, it also saves your kids from trouble when you pass.

Being content is freedom.

No one can use the things of this world against you, because it doesn’t matter to you. You know God will provide and you’ll be like Paul,

“I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”—Phil. 4:11

This is not a condemnation of wealth. I know wealthy people who are content. They have not always been rich, but they made some good choices, and avoided some pitfalls. Now they have wealth. They live godly and are content. They serve God and help people.

Honestly, when you are poor, you can barely do squat. The scriptures do not call us to be in poverty but to be poor in spirit and content.

God is with us and will take care of us and bless us. It’s a fact. Follow His Spirit.

The Son of Man had nowhere to lay His head. He trusted God’s provision completely. (Matt. 8:20)

This world is not our home. Our home is in Paradise with Christ. We brought nothing in to this world and we can take nothing with us, except people and the treasures we accumulate through His Spirit. (Matt. 6 :19-21)

When these last days get worse, there will be economic collapses and destruction. (James 5:1-8, Rev. 6:5-6, Rev. Chap 18)

Trusting the Lord, faith and contentment will help get you through these times. God will take care of you.

When the Mark of the Beast comes, there will be a choice people will have to make. Take the Mark to keep my job? Keep my home? Keep my life?

Consider this. If you cannot practice self control in the good times, how can you in the bad? If you cannot resist more and more debt. Or more and more things. How are you going to resist the temptation to deny Christ and get the Mark?

The Anti-Christ might promise to pay your debts and student loans, if you just get the Mark. He might create a new economic system that solves all kinds of problems, if you just get the Mark.

Learn to have self-control and resist the culture of More. Success does not mean more stuff. Ambition does not mean more debt. You can do more and still be content.

Contentment in all things will serve you greatly in tough times.

The Lord is with us and will protect us. We can trust Him.

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Cover photo by Pexels

As If By Fire

 As If By Fire

Will you have rewards? 

 

 

 

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”—1 Cor. 3:13-15 (Chapter 3)

When God saves us. He saves us forever. I do not believe we can lose our salvation, and the scriptures do not teach that, despite any man made argument to the contrary.

If you know Him. If you are His. If you have turned to Him and asked Him to save you and confessed Him as your Lord. Then, He will not cast you away. He chastens us. He grows us. He breaks us and molds us. He refines us.

He does not cast us aside, because we broke one too many rules. Even if we reject Him. Still He is faithful and continues to keep His Word and do His work. (Romans 8:37-39. 1 Thess. 5: 20-24, 2 Thess. 3:3)

If we really know Him. If we have really given ourselves to Him. If we really confess Him as Lord. He accepts us and saves us forever. (Romans 10:9-10)

He saves us and starts working in us and through us. The law and any other rule becomes a guide for growth and confession. We are washed. We are clean. But, sometimes our feet get dirty in this world. The laws help us to know what to clean and pray about for growth and healing. The Law shows us our sin, and we know what to confess to the Lord.

As we live in Christ, we are to be Spirit led. We are to turn to the Lord (repent) and let Him save us and grow us. We are to acknowledge Him in ALL our ways and He shall direct our paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6, Romans chapter 8)

This means that we are to listen to His Spirit, and when we do this He works in us and through us. So, our work and our life, and our following Him; is done by His power, not ours. It’s Him doing it, not us. If we allow it.

Our works of righteousness are as filthy rags. (Isa. Chapter 64, Romans Chapter 1)

We cannot please Him in our own flesh. We are fallen. We have a corrupted nature. Even when we are saved, we still fail and sin. We cannot please Him in our own obedience or desire. No matter how great it is. If He didn’t do it, or call for it, or lead us in it. Then, it’s flesh. It’s hay, wheat and stubble. You can build a million orphanages and ministries but if He’s not in it or led you to do it, then it’s nothing.

When He returns, all of our work and all of our life will be tried in the all consuming fire of who He is. (Hebrews Chapter 12, Deut. 4:24, Deut 9:3, Matthew Chapter 25, 2 Peter Chapter 3)

Like in the days of Noah, the water fell and broke up from below swallowing the world and destroying it. Only 8 souls saved on the Ark.

Likewise, when He returns the Earth will be burned up in fire, and those in Christ will be saved as if by fire, receiving the rewards. He shall judge the quick (saved, living) and the dead (unsaved) at His appearing. (2 Tim. 4:1)

All that will remain will be that which can survive the fire. Gold, silver, and precious stones through God’s work in us.

But, all flesh. All hay, wheat and stubble will be burned up. Those things that were not from God, by God or commanded by God, will perish. All things not of your relationship with God. Burned.

We will be left with what God has done. Not what we did in our flesh. No matter how good. No matter how much we obey the Bible in our flesh.

Did we know Him and follow His Spirit? Did we abide? (John Chapter 15)

But, we ourselves shall be saved as if by fire. Only having the things God has done. And we shall cast them at His feet. Because He has done it all, not us. (1 Cor 3:10-15, 1 Cor Chapter 3, Rev. 4:10-11,)

He is worthy.

And there shall be a new Heaven and new Earth, where He dwells with us. A new Creation where there is no death, corruption, curse or sin.(Isa 66:22-24, Isa Chapter 66, Isa Chapter 65, 2 Peter Chapter 3, Rev. Chapter 21)

Now, several points need to be made. There seems to be different judgements. The Judgement of the Believers which is where our rewards are decided. The Great White Throne judgement, which refers to the lost, and the judgement of nations. We do not know exactly how these things will happen and when or in what order.

When He comes there will be Judgement. When He comes there will be rewards. We know there will be a fire judgement. We know there will be a millennium, and a thousand year kingdom. But, exactly how this works we are not told. (2 Peter 3)

But, if you are a believer then we are called to serve the Kingdom. We are called to abide in Him and endure the attacks of the enemy.

When Jesus returns, our works as saints will be judged. And the work that God has done in us and through us will remain as a reward.

But, Paul warns us that if we are saved and we have done nothing. If we have not let the Holy Spirit work in us, on us and through us. If we have lived as Carnal Christians. We will face that fire, and will have nothing to show for it. God, will keep His Word and save you. But, you will go into eternity with nothing. Like a man who ran out of his burning house naked in the middle of the night. Everything burned up.

You never stored treasures in heaven. You stored them all on Earth, and when its burned. It’s burned.

But, you yourself will be saved as if by fire.

Smelling of smoke. By the skin of your teeth, so to speak.

God keeps His Word.

Learn to listen to His voice and serve the Kingdom. There is no better place to be, than with Him.

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Photo by pexels/edited by author 

Test The Spirits

 Test The Spirits

We can know for sure 

 

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”—1 John 4:1-3

Gods Word gives us several ways to try the spirits.

But first we must define “spirits.”

When I say spirits I’m referring to literal spirits. Either any kind of spirit that is behind a person, speaking into their mind or having twisted them over the years and have influence over them. Or an organization that is controlled by people controlled by these sorts of spirits. Which ultimately are and are controlled by the spirit of anti-christ.

Remember, we do not war against flesh and blood. Our battle is with the spiritual forces that are behind things. What is pushing, motivating, or giving ideas to you, another person or group. (Eph 6:12)

Jesus warned the disciples, “ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of” (Luke 9:54-55)

Be aware that even born again believers can be tempted, harassed, or led into doing things the enemy desires. The worst thing you can do is to think you are immune. The scriptures warn us about our enemy for a reason. Be vigilant, for the devil goes about as a roaring lion.(1 Peter 5:8)

Here’s where people will say, “Yeah but whatever happens must go through God’s hands.”

Have you really read Job?

Gods Word warns us for a reason. Learn from it.

Also, consider that you are a soul/spirit, you have a body. Just like your body can be influenced by physical things, your soul/spirit can be influenced by spiritual things.

This test applies to ALL spiritual things.

So we are called to test the spirits and there are several tests.

I hate to disappoint the pharisees out there but, committing sin is not one of them. You sin too. John says, “ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth (Jesus) is not in us.”—1 John 1:8

James said, that if you try to keep the law and fail on one point, you’ve broken the whole law.  So, when you commit that little sin you allow yourself. That makes you equal to a murderer and child molester according to the Word. That’s why we need Jesus. (James 2:10)

But, lets get to the tests.

1. Confess Him as Lord.

In 1 Corinthians 12:3  Paul says that no one can confess Jesus is the Lord, unless the Holy Spirit guides them.

An unsaved person without the Holy Spirit will not say that Jesus is the Lord. 

The demons believe He is God, but they are in rebellion and refuse to submit. So, they will not confess Him as Lord. (James 2:19)

They will acknowledge that there is a God. But, they will not confess Him as Lord.

Paul also says that person who is really saved cannot call Jesus accursed. They won’t use His name as a cuss word or say bad things or untrue things about Him. They will not reject Him totally.

This is not an act of will. This is Love. If you’ve ever met Jesus and accepted Him and seen Him working in your life, there is no way you can say anything bad about Him. You know Him. The love is greater than what you have for your own child. If you know, then you know.

2. Confess that He came in the flesh.

In 1 John, the Word says to test the spirits. Then it gives the test. (1 John 4:1-3)

Some pharisees love to quote ‘Test the Spirits”, then go off falsely accusing people and attacking them over sin.

But, the verse plainly states that the test is whether they will confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh.

This is in the same vein as confessing Him as Lord. Because the spirit must confess that Jesus is God, because God is the only One to come from heaven and become real flesh. That means He is Lord, because the Gospel is true.

See?

Demonic spirits, and those under their control, will not confess these things. They know there’s a God, but are in rebellion.

Now, comes the “Yeah but…” Yeah but I know a guy….. Who can confess Jesus is Lord…and blah blah blah…”

Let me tell you, if a person can confess Jesus is the Lord, or confess that He came in the flesh, then that person at some point in their life got saved and has the Holy Spirit.

I don’t care how much they sin or what they do or don’t do. At some point they were accepted by God and got saved.

Jesus said “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” —Matt. 7:21-23

These people are affirming that He is God. They are not confessing Him as their Lord. 

They do not do the will of the father in heaven. They rely upon their works of righteousness for salvation.

They never knew Him. 

Jesus said that the works of the father is to “believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:28-29)

We are saved by grace through faith not by works. God fills us with His Spirit to help us do good works, after salvation. (Eph. 2:8-10)

3. By their fruits

Jesus said, “By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt. 7:15-20)

He is referring to the Fruit of the Spirit. (Gal. 5:22-23)  

Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance:

Do they express or work in this? These are fruit of the SPIRIT. It’s something the Holy Spirit does through us and to change us. It is not by our works. A person can obey rules. But, to express this fruit for real must come from the Holy Spirit.

We will sin. We will say mean things. We will do bad stuff and justify it. We will do things in the flesh and fail. But, It’s not our fruit. It’s the fruit of the SPIRIT. That’s why it’s a test. It shows the Spirit working through us and in us. It cannot be faked.

Knowing them by their fruits is not a one time snap judgement. It takes some time to make an honest assessment and righteous judgement.

4. The works of the devil.

I am not talking about normal fleshly sin here. We all sin. We are called to confess it.

I’m referring to the specific works of Satan. He is the father of lies. He has come for nothing but to steal, kill, and destroy. He is the accuser of the brethren. He tempts people. He keeps them in bandage.

These are all sins, but they are specific actions that help Satan’s kingdom.

Does the individual or group work in and support the work of Satan’s kingdom with total disregard for the work of God’s kingdom? Do they reject Christ?

Who are they serving? Which Kingdom are they building?

5. The Holy Spirit warns.

Have you ever felt that something isn’t right?  

Well, we are not called to lean unto our own understanding. But lean to God and His Word. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Sometimes, that feeling is the Holy Spirit speaking in that still small voice. (1 Kings 19:1-15)

I’ve heard things or seen things that I felt was wrong, but couldn’t place why at the time.  That was the Spirit. He saw or knew something I didn’t.

Trust the voice of the Spirit. Saints have the freedom to withdraw. We are to do it rightly in love. But, we are not forced to remain associated with evil.

This testing of spirits can apply to organizations as well as people. Are they operating in Jesus name?

I’m not saying we should only associate with groups that promote Christ. If we did that we couldn’t go shopping or buy cars or anything.

What I’m saying is that you should be aware that a group is not operating in Jesus name. You will not be deceived when you can see what spirit they are operating in.

No matter how good. No matter what they do. If it’s not in Jesus name. Be aware.

Just because your gas station doesn’t sell gas in Jesus name doesn’t make them bad. They are just focused on gas. They might be owned by Christians or support the Lord’s work.

Remember, even churches can be dead. They can be run by people who do not really know the Lord, or have been led away.

Judge rightly.

In these last days deception is going to get worse, and false teachers will be every where. 

You see technology growing. We have deep fakes now. They can literally create pictures and videos, that show a person committing the most heinous acts, and it is totally fake.

 Human Teachers who are spreading all kinds of information and it all seems good. But, its propaganda for money. We have corporations who will pay scientists to come up with results from experiments that are slanted or flawed, in order to sell or protect a product.

We have AI who is not even human pretending to be human and sounding very wise. Even using the Bible, to teach things. Remember Satan quoted scripture. 

Knowing the Bible is not an indication of truth. You must know the Lord. And these tests show that.

All of this will be and is being used to deceive and draw people away from the truth and into the Anti-Christ Kingdom in these last days.

But, these tests given in the scriptures can help us determine what spirit is behind the teacher or doctrine.

Learn to discern truth.

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