TEST EVERYTHING


by Neil Anderson

August 18

1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 NIV
Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good
 
Alvin was discouraged and defeated. For several years he believed he had a special gift of prophecy from God. But over a period of months his personal life began to fall apart. By the time he came to see me he had been unemployed for two years, he was being cared for by his father, and he was a slave to prescription drugs.
 
Alvin and I read 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21. I said, “Alvin, Satan can counterfeit spiritual gifts. That’s why the Scriptures instruct us to put everything to the test.”
 
Alvin admitted, “I think my problems began when I failed to test the ‘gifts’ of tongues and prophecy conferred on me by false teachers.”
 
“Would you be willing to put your gift of tongues to the test?” I asked. Alvin really wanted to be free. “Yes,” he answered.
 
I instructed Alvin to begin praying aloud in his “spiritual language.” As he began to chant an unintelligible prayer, I said, “In the name of Christ and in obedience to God’s Word, I command you, spirit, to identify yourself.”
 
Alvin stopped in the middle of his chanting and said, “I am he.”
 
“Are you the ‘He’ who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, buried, raised on the third day, and who now sits at the right hand of the Father?” I asked.
 
Alvin almost shouted the response: “No! Not He!” I led Alvin through a prayer renouncing Satan’s activity in his life, and he was free from that deception.
 
I am not against spiritual gifts, even prophecy and tongues. I am committed to obeying Scripture, and 1 Corinthians 14:39 says, “Desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.” But Scripture also requires that all spiritual phenomena be tested. I believe that false prophets and teachers flourish today simply because Christians accept their ministry without testing the spirits behind it.
 
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to stay alert to spiritual seduction and reject all phenomena that do not come from God.
Print Friendly, PDF & Email


Categories: INSPIRATIONAL DEVOTIONS

Tags: , , , , , ,

5 replies

  1. Hi Greg: I know false prophesy is tested by His Word but I didn’t know tongues could be tested. Other than discerning what is being prayed in tongues, how do you test it?

    • Hi Sue,

      I assume you mean in others, then doing as Neil did per this article would work, although that person came to him willingly. Confronting someone on this unless trained to handle demonic forces is probably not a good idea. As well, how is this “gift” being manifested? Is it being done for others to see? Is it disruptive in any way? What does your spirit say to you? I have had the privilege of listening to people pray in tongues and it “felt” right to me, not only that I was blessed by their prayer which had nothing to do with me. I would say to look at the overall circumstances and trust how you feel in your spirit.

      • Yes I was talking about others. The Lord has blessed me with a keen sensitivity to Him as well as the dark side so the discerning of good and evil would probably be the way I would know. I agree the circumstances, etc. play a part in that discernment. I just wasn’t sure if there was something I was missing. Thank you for the info.

  2. Hi Greg: I know false prophesy is tested by His Word but I didn’t know tongues could be tested. Other than discerning what is being prayed in tongues, how do you test it?

Luke 21:36 "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Discover more from Inspirational Christian Blogs

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

90 views
Share via
Copy link