Letters from the Beloved: This is a Test
In 1 John 4:1, the beloved disciple tells us, “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.”
We would do well to test the words of prophets and preachers against the inspired word of God, as John instructs us to do. Even in this age of ready access to information, those bringing false doctrines or false predictions sometimes creep into our congregations.
It would be good for us to be like Bereans, who, according to Acts 17:11, “received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”
However, there is another thought about testing the spirits that I’d like to explore.
The word translated “spirit” in this passage is the Greek word pneûma. It can mean a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze, mental disposition, or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit, mind.
While this word is the one often translated “Spirit” in “Holy Spirit”, it is interesting to me to note that it could mean “mental disposition” or “mind”.
It may be important to some of us to not believe everything that comes into our own minds. For many women I know (me included) negative self-talk is a habit we need to break. We might need to test our own thoughts to see if they are true.
When we are tempted to believe we are not worthy, we should recall that the scriptures tell us that the Worthy Lamb (as Jesus is called in Rev. 5:12) gave His life for us. How can we be unworthy when the Worthiest One was willing to be sacrificed for us?
Acts 17:11, “received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”
If we are tempted to believe God does not care, we should read that prayer of Jesus found in John 17, to see how our Savior, on the eve of His arrest, trial and death, asked the Father to watch out over us. Some of His last words and thoughts were focused on caring for us. John 17:15 [NKJV] "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.”
If we are tempted to think that God either doesn’t see or has forgotten the good things we have done, we should recall Hebrews 6:10 [NKJV] For God [is] not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, [in that] you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. Scripture tells us that He remembers and rewards even the smallest of good deeds, as we are told in Matthew 10:42.
If we are feeling that our future prospects are bleak or things seem dark and troubled, we should recall Jeremiah 29:11 [NKJV], where God says, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. He is thinking of good, peace, a future and hope for us.
Of course, we can and should work to become more like Jesus and our Father. But when we undervalue ourselves, we disrespect His greatest creation – US!
Satan wants us to devalue ourselves. He’d like us to think that God has evil intentions or is holding out on us. That’s the first lie we see him using on mankind in the Garden of Eden. [See Gen. 3:5]
Test the words of the preachers and the prophets, sweet sisters, to ensure that they are true and God-inspired. And, please, be sure to test your own thoughts to see if they are from the Lord or a trick of Satan.
I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me in the comments section or at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org