Spurious Spirits

"Do not believe every spirit but test the spirits whether they are of God" (1 Jn 4:1)

Church history has witnessed many "strange fires" during periods of revival. The early apostles had wanted the Church at every age to be forewarned against these fires. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. For this reason they warned the people of God against "another Jesus" and "a different gospel" and "a different Spirit" (2 Cor 11:4).

It appears that false prophets and false teachers outnumber the true ministers of God. Note the term "many" in these references: 1 Jn 2:18; 4:1; Mt 7:15,22; 24:5; 2 Cor 2:17; Phil 3:18. Yes, the enemy usually comes in "like a flood" (Is 59:19). Jesus spoke about "rain," "floods" and "winds" in the context of false ministries (Mt 7:15,25). Paul spoke of "winds" of doctrine and tossing "waves" (Eph 4:14). The different spirits can operate through any of the ministers of the New Testament Church (Eph 4:11). We read about false apostles (2 Cor 11:13), false prophets (Mt 7:15), false evangelists (Gal 1:6-8), false shepherds (Jn 10:12) and false teachers (2 Pet 2:1). As we come to the end of the endtime, the deceiving spirits will be hyperactive. This was "expressly" predicted by the Holy Spirit (1 Tim 4:1). The effect on careless believers will be a "departure from the faith." The Greek word suggests a slow and an unintentional going away from the faith. It will not be a total and sudden rejection of the faith but a drifting away in stages.

All the apostles were vehemently against the preachers operating with different spirits. Note Paul's language as he referred to these ministers: "Deceitful workers" (2 Cor 11:13), "troublemakers" (Gal 1:7), "false brothers" (2:4), "witches" (3:1), "dogs, evil workers" (Phil 3:2), "enemies of the Cross" (3:18), "deceivers, cheats" (Col 2:4,8), "frauds" (2:18), "liars" (1 Tim 4:2), "proud men" (6:4), "corrupt men" (6:5), "vain babblers" (2 Tim 2:16), "cankers" (2:17), "captives of the devil" (2:26), "imposters and evil men" (3:13), "idle talkers" (Tit 1:10), "subverters" (1:11), "divisive men, heretics" (3:10). Paul's very first instruction to his secondliner Timothy was, "Charge them not to teach any other doctrine" (1 Tim 1:3).

Many strange phenomena and experiences are reported these days all over the Church. The most important gift needed for the Body of Christ today is the "Discernment of Spirits." God has given us atleast four means by which we can discern the true and the false. We will look at them the next four days.

Courtesy : http://www.stanleyonbible.com/dd/08/0808.htm