Believe Not Every Spirit But Try the Spirits
The Holy Spirit speaks to us in the form of a thought ... but so do other spirits!
I Jn. 4:1 ... Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God.
So we must present ideas to God in prayer and allow HIM to establish our thinking in the various issues. I try the ideas brought to my mind by turning to God in prayer and by waiting on God to persuade me.
God is able to communicate with us and to confirm the direction we are to take on this earth in a way which we can understand.
There is another way to try the spirits which I have done many times.
I Jn. 4 ...2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
I have often tried the spirit by simply asking that spirit "Do you confess Jesus Christ is come in the flesh" ... and I will hear either yes or no from that spirit in form of thought.
In the past years, I have so many examples of individuals who started out to do a work they thought was of God only to find they were unable to do that work. Often they came to me thinking I could help them do the work. What I saw is this: The work was not of God. They never believed me and they kept trying to do the work but so far as I know none of them were ever able to do the work.
One woman who came to me said she was sure God wanted her to start a home Bible class. She bought a house in the neighborhood she could afford and moved in. But she was so afraid of the neighbors she couldn't start the class. Also she said she thought God wanted her to write a book. She put some things on paper but no one would consider publishing it. She didn't even have enough money to have the pages copied to submit them to publisher and she had no real market for the book. All this is nonsense.
At the church I once attended, a young couple said God was sending them to Israel to preach the gospel. He quit his secular job. They set out for Israel. In a week, they had returned to church. They said it was impossible in Israel and they did not speak the language. Again this is nonsense and terribly harmful.
These are examples of following the wrong spirit.
Each time God has shown me to do something, the way to do the work has also been shown me.
In approximately 1980, what I believe to have been an angel of the Lord spoke to me in the night while I was sleeping. It was a voice like a trumpet and was so loud I jumped out of bed immediately.
The words spoken were: "Hartford, Seattle, KWJS" ... It seemed clear to me that KWJS would be call letters to either radio or TV station. (It turned out to be radio station.)
I said to God, "Are you telling me to go on radio. I wouldn't know how to do this. I'm a writer not a speaker."
Immediately the gentle thought came, "Call the radio station manager." (Holy Spirit bringing way from God)
First thing that morning I called and spoke with the station manager and he told me to make an audition tape 29 1/2 minutes long and send it to him and if I fit their broadcast format he would offer me a contract. (That same morning I made an audition recording and mailed it that same day to the radio station.)
I asked the radio station manager how much it costs to be on his station, and he said it was $800 per month for 5 day week/30 min broadcast. I prayed, asking God how I should pay for it. The thought came to write the people I knew and tell them what happened. At the time, I knew fewer than 80 people. But I wrote telling what happened. I did not ask for money. I just told them what happened. I had the letter copied and mailed it. Within 24 hrs. more than enough money had arrived to pay for the first month of broadcasts. And I was on the air on radio within a week.
See how important the working of the Holy Spirit is when we believe God has shown us to do something. We do not know the will of God except by the revealing of the Holy Spirit.
There is a man who came to me thinking I might be able to help him. He had written a book and couldn’t get it published. Someone at his church group prophesied over him that he would be quitting his profession in secular world to devote full attention to his book and to lectures. I was horrified. His wife was very disturbed because she felt he had damaged his reputation with his secular employers by telling them about this book which had to do with US Constitution and Bible. I did what I could to turn him from this "folly". But I don't think he turned.
Beware of an angel of light ... seems like God but brings harm ... Paul speaks of this as follows: For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. II Cor. 11
It can seem like goodness and light only to be destruction. And often there is a terrible thing. To quit a disastrous work seems like a lack of faith. But in reality the work itself was not authored by God. This happens a lot.
Jesus said …
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Mt. 7:21-23)
Everything must be proven by prayer or by directly trying the spirit that brought the thought.
Also consider the following concerning that wisdom which is from God ...
James 3:17 ... But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
And Jesus explained: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Mt. 11
If the plan is very hard to do and will bring great hardship upon you and your family you have likely heard from the wrong spirit. Be very careful about "good" works. Pray. Wait on God to confirm the direction.
Prov. 3 ... In all thy ways acknowledge him (pray), and HE shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes.
Prov. 16:25 ... There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
So many ministers contact me asking me to give them money to help pay for their works. But there is no such example in the Bible of a minister asking another minister to give him money … Nor is there any example in Bible of a minister asking a church group to give him money. And I know many are led into good works by other spirits and by ideas of man.
My experience with God for the past 30+ years is when God authors a work HE also provides a way to do the work without begging for money from other ministers or from other people.
David said: I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Psa. 37:25
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