“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but TEST THE SPIRITS TO SEE WHETHER THEY ARE FROM GOD, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: EVERY SPIRIT THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS COME IN THE FLESH IS FROM GOD, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” (1 John 4:1-3) [There are many false spirits in this world we live in, so how do we know? We are to test dokimazō: examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), How do we do that? John says above: “…every spirit that acknowledges (recognizes) that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God…” Paul gives us this:] “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. THEN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TEST AND APPROVE WHAT GOD’S WILL IS–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom. 12:2) [The “testing” is a matter of our transformation from darkness to light, we have the “light of the world”, Jesus Christ dwelling in us to help us in whatever we have to do!] “EXAMINE YOURSELVES to see whether you are in the faith; TEST YOURSELVES. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you–unless, of course, you fail the test…For we cannot do anything against the truth, BUT ONLY FOR THE TRUTH.” (2 Corin. 13:5, 8) [We are told to examine or test ourselves to make sure we are in a position to examine others] “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that YOU, BEING ROOTED AND ESTABLISHED IN LOVE, MAY HAVE POWER, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–THAT YOU MAY BE FILLED TO THE MEASURE OF ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD.” (Eph. 3:16-19) [We being rooted and established in love empowers us to do the work of God!] “Now to him who is able to do IMMEASURABLY MORE THAN ALL WE ASK OR IMAGINE, according to his power that IS AT WORK WITHIN US, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.“ (Eph. 3:20-21)
Be blessed as you praise The Lord, knowing that THAT WE MAY BE FILLED TO THE MEASURE OF ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD!
-Bill Stockham