Recognising the Spirit of Truth

While waiting eagerly for our adoption as children of God, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and saviour Jesus Christ, I am greatly distressed to see that communities are still full of idols. I see that in every way men are very religious and going to proclaim the Lord’s atonement sacrifice until he comes (Romans 8:23,19; Titus 2:13; Acts 17:16,22,23; 1 Corinthians 11:26).

Do men make their own gods? Yes, but they are not gods.

Has a nation ever changed its gods? But my people have exchanged their glory for worthless idols. They have forgotten God’s living wood, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator (Jeremiah 16:20; 2:11,13; Romans 1:25).

Jesus warned “Take heed that no one leads you astray. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Lo, I have told you beforehand”.

“Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. Thus you will know them by their fruits.”

“Not every one who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of Heaven when God’s will will be done on earth as it is in heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles’. Then I will tell them plainly ‘I never knew you. Away from me.’” (Matthew 24:4,24; 7:15-17; John 15:10; Matthew 7:21; 6:10; 7:22,23).

Beloved, do not believe every spirit. And if the prophet is en??? to utter a prophecy, I the Lord have entered that prophet and I will stretch out my hand against him. I also gave them over to statutes that were not good and laws they could not live by, for their hearts were devoted to their idols, therefore the Lord has poured into them a spirit of dizziness, and powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie, and all will be condemned who have not believed the truth. Because they refused to love the truth, abandoning the faith and following deceiving spirits and things taught to demons, so now the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets.

Test the spirits to see whether they are of God, for many false prophets have gone into the world (Ezekiel 14:9; 20:25,16; Isaiah 19:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:11,12; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Chronicles 8:21).

Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them, declares the Lord (Jeremiah 29:8,9).

This is how we recognise the spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood (1 John 4:6).

Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.

Love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love making disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (2 John 8,5,6; Matthew 28:19,20).

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus’ return (Philippians 1:6).

Bro Joshua Pakali (Kariba, Zimbabwe)