[Anglican Devotional 18 April 2024] Topic: Test The Spirits

Posted by: Nnenna || Categories: Devotional

TOPIC: Test The Spirits

READ: 1 John 4: 1-6 (NKJV)

1. 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.
2. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
3. 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.
4. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
5. They are of the world. Therefore they speak [as] of the world, and the world hears them.
6. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

THE MESSAGE:

The problem of the world today is not necessarily demonic agents outside but the ones that have infiltrated the Church. They are dressed in suits, carry the Bible, speak in tongues and prophesy in the name of God. They parade with titles such as Pastors, General Overseers, Apostles, Evangelists, and Prophets and proclaim sugar-coated messages. The Bible noted that they are many and have been released into the world. Their god is their belly (Philippians 3: 19); they are sensual (Jude 1: 19) and Antichrist in nature. They are engaged in unimaginable things to feast on the vulnerable. Based on this therefore, our text today urges us to test all spirits.

How can we test the spirits? We must be certain of who is in us and also certain of our salvation. We must practise godliness with contentment and deliberately feast and meditate on the word of God daily. When we know the truth, falsehood will be exposed. We must also pray effectively so as not to be enticed and fall victim to such falsehood. Finally, we must trust God in all circumstances and truly allow the Holy Spirit to be in charge.

PRAYER: My God and Father, please give me the grace to identify and shun agents of darkness in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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