The Importance of Testing the Spirits: Discerning Truth in a World of Lies

INTRODUCTION

New theme for July: ‎Be Alert and Cautious to Discern Deception

Deception Defined

Deception - Imposing a false idea, impression, or belief that hides the truth and causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness.

Think of a time your were deceived and the effect it had on you

A new Job

A loved one

A close “friend”

1 Timothy 4:1–2 NET

Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings,influenced by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.

“spirits” in this since does not solely mean a non-material entity. It’s people and what they teach and espouse in order to deceive.

1 John 4:1–3 ESV

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for 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 from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

How then do we discern truth in a world of lies?

To discern means to use God’s Word as the standard for understanding, perception and insight in all areas of life

There are a world of lies but today we’ll look at 2 important ones

Lies that appeal to our conscience

Lies about religion

1. Lies that Appeal to Our Conscience

Satan will change the name of sin to make it more appealing and adaptable to accept

So instead of changing our ways we will change the word

Instead of pedophilia we call it minor attracted people

Instead of sex exploitation was call it adult entertainment

Instead of cults we call them clubs

Instead of adultery we call it swinging or open-marriage

Instead of mental illness let’s call it gender dysphoria

Instead of gender mutilation let’s call it gender transitioning

Instead of fornication let’s call it intimacy

Instead of lust lest call it love

Instead of murder let’s call it the right to choose

Its’ not sin, it’s an addiction, it’s a disorder, it’s a complex, it’s just a personal proclivity

So we don ‘t feel bad about our sins we simply change the name of it

1 John 1:6 ESV

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

James 1:22 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

1 John 1:8 ESV

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

2. Lies About Religion

It does not matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.

Acts 26:9–10 ESV

“I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them.

Jeremiah 17:9–10 ESV

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Your salvation must be in harmony with what the bible says

All Roads Lead to Heaven

Mark 16:16 ESV

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Galatians 1:8–9 ESV

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.