TEST THE SPIRITS: UNBELIEF IN DISGUISE

In I John we are told to "test the spirits". Some misunderstand what John meant when he said this, and they have taken it so far that it has become a lack of trust in God. The Father said that their suspicious attitude has become "next-door to unbelief". If any of us do not understand a prophecy, or something that occurs, we should not be quick to reject what may be from the Father, even if we are afraid of the enemy's deceptions. Where is faith in God, if we always have an immediate fearful distrusting response to anything that is not understood at the moment? God is greater than the enemy, and is perfectly capable of protecting us, by showing the truth to us through His Holy Spirit.

Here are some examples of what God has done in the past, which could cause one to wonder if the enemy was trying to deceive, and then the response that would have come from the fearful and the unbelieving:
A donkey speaking? "No way. That is definitely from the enemy."
Sacrifice a child? "God would never ask that."
Eat the unclean thing? "No, that is not scriptural."

These fearful attitudes leave no room for waiting on God, or having faith that He will not allow us to be deceived, as we place all our trust in Him. We who love Jesus, should be trusting, waiting, open vessels which have no spirit of fear, but who know that God is greater than anything else. God IS greater than the enemy. God and Satan are not opponents, equal in strength and ability. The enemy is a liar who seeks to deceive people. The Father is the Creator of all things, including the enemy. When we have the Holy Spirit of God, we do not need to fear, but only to trust and wait on Him, for He Himself cannot be deceived, and He will be faithful to show the truth to us concerning all things.

However, many Christians do not recognize that they fear the enemy more than they trust Jesus. Often people excuse their instant suspicion, and pride themselves, "I am like the Bereans". It has gone so far that this lack of trust in Jesus has been turned into a christian doctrine. The truth about the Bereans is that they listened to what was being said to them by Paul, and were not instantly suspicious of what they heard, but searched and trusted and waited, and then rejoiced when they saw that what they were hearing was the truth. We should be no different.

It is a dishonor to Jesus when His people are so afraid of the enemy or of any deception that he might bring, that they do not trust Him. Jesus is greater by far. But we - the remnant believers of God - have this lack among us, and the Holy Spirit wants to come into His remnant army with His fire, and cleanse us from any fearful, unbelieving doctrines that might linger behind from the teaching we received in the disobedient church; from those who do not really believe God. The church is very, very, very religious. The remnant is still somewhat religious. It is religious doctrines like this, and fear of the enemy, rather than trust in Jesus, which displeases the Holy Spirit. Let Jesus' remnant believers leave behind these doctrines which have been fostered by demons, and come to maturity. The Holy Spirit has promised to cleanse us from these doctrines and to heal us and bring us to maturity. This was promised by Him, in the prophecy: God's Plan for His Remnant Church.

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. I John 4

THE BEREANS: Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.