Caution…!

You can go online and listen to any preacher, teacher, pastor, or prophet. Many of them claim they are speaking the Word of God, but are they really? As a Christian, it’s imperative that you’re able to discern between what is God and what’s not—what’s right and what’s almost right. You must NOT have an indiscriminate ear.

2 Corinthians 11:14 states that Satan, the devil, transforms himself into an angel of light. Most of us are naturally drawn to light, goodness, righteousness, and truth instead of darkness, wickedness, evil, and lies. The devil knows that he can’t draw us to himself being who he is. That’s why He masquerades as an angel of light so he can deceive, even the elect, into coming to him and believing his lies.

He chooses and employs others he can work in and through. Many of these “teachers,” “preachers,” “pastors,” and “prophets” proclaim Jesus and do work in His name, but they are not of His flock (Matthew 7:22).

Thus, when you listen to someone, what should you listen for?

1. Ask yourself, what is the message? Is the message Jesus and His finished work on the cross?

Hebrews 1:1-2 tells us that in the last days God has spoken to us by His Son. Thus, the message, sermon, etc should always point to and reveal the person of Jesus Christ, His message, and His finished work on the cross. The entire Bible points to and reveals Jesus Christ but our messages and sermons don’t? This shouldn’t be so.

2. If God is being preached, is it the God of the Bible? Is it the Jesus of the Bible? Is what you’re hearing aligning and conforming with what has already been revealed in Scripture? THERE IS NO EXTRA REVELATION THAT CONTRADICTS WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY SPOKEN IN HIS WORD AND BY HIS SON.

3. “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). You can go to YouTube right now and listen to any type of prophecy you want about any subject you want: elections, finances, relationships, business etc. Be very careful and test the spirits (1 John 4:1). Make sure you don’t have itching ears (2 Timothy 4:1-4). The Holy Spirit is the source of all prophecy and the primary focus of the revelation He provides concerns Jesus (please read that again).

When you’re hungry for righteousness, pay attention to what you eat. Eating the wrong thing can lead you astray and cause you to believe in a false god and a false gospel that does not save. It can derail or delay God’s plan and purpose for your life by having you go down paths that God never intended. Ultimately, you can be deceived by people who are being deceived. TEST THE SPIRITS, TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE FROM GOD.

Be watchful. Be sober. Be encouraged. You are loved! ❤