Test the Spirit

December 7, 2017. So Your Called to Minister—Studies fro

Nehemiah 6:10-14  Afterward I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was a secret informer; and he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, at night they will come to kill you.”  And I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And who is there such as I who would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!”  Then I perceived that God had not sent him at all, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.   For this reason he was hired, that I should be afraid and act that way and sin, so that they might have cause for an evil report, that they might reproach me.  My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these their works, and the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who would have made me afraid.

Ezekiel 13:17-18   ” Likewise, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; prophesy against them,   “and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their sleeves and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive?

Not everything that claims to be of God is of God, in fact, we know Satan himself is able to appear as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14).  The prophetess, in this case, was instilling fear in the heart of the people. If a prophetic word or teaching does not line up with the Word of God, then you need to be on your guard.

1 John 4:1-3 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.  By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming and is now already in the world.

John’s test was in response to Gnostic teaching that denied that God ever came in the flesh.  The Devil only brings in falsehood when he knows the people don’t know the truth.

About Terry Threadwell

Dr. Terry Threadwell has thirty five years ministry experience. Author, educator and Director of the Institute of Progressive Pentecostal Studies.
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