Thursday, May 31, 2012

TESTING THE SPIRITS



by Molly Noble Bull
www.mollynoblebull.com

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Hi, I'm Molly. 
Recently, I received an email message from what I assumed was a Christian ministry, urging me to click at the end of the message to receive a free Kindle e-book on Bible prophecy. Since I happen to love reading books on Bible Prophecy, I clicked only to discover that I really had to pay ninety-nine cents to get the e-book. The book was titled 2008 God’s Final Witness by Ronald Weinland.
I bought it.
But after reading only one chapter, I put it down and won’t be reading more.
Why? Ronald Weinland claims to be one of the two witnesses mentioned in the Book of Revelation. Then I heard a video, stating that Ronald sets dates. According to the video, Ronald Weinland predicted that something really big was to happen on May 27, 2012—the return of Jesus or something. Today is May 30th.  
After discarding the book, I did an Internet search of people who claim to be one of the two witnesses mentioned in the Book of Revelation, and to my surprise, I found several. One of the guys said he once thought he was one of the two witnesses but didn’t believe that anymore. He said he tried to get his false witness information off the Internet but without success. He also mentioned having a nervous breakdown. Maybe Satan doesn’t like it when false prophets learn the truth that sets men free.
I hope folks who make terrible mistakes like this remember that if they truly repent of all their sins, they can be forgiven. 
Someday, the real two witnesses will appear on the scene, but I don’t think they will be writing books on Bible prophecy or setting dates for when Jesus will come again. I think they will do what the Bibles states that they will do.
I also did a web search of Ronald Weinland, and according to what I read, his wife is the other witness. Years ago, a man and his wife claimed to be the two witnesses, and they called themselves The Two. They were deceived, but I am not sure they ever followed the Lord.
Click below to hear a video from Jerusalem on False Prophets. Ronald Weinland is one of the false prophets mentioned in the video. 
As Christians, we want to believe that when a message filters through our minds that the message came from the Lord. Yet we are told in the Bible to test the spirits. I wonder how many Christians actually do that.
God does speak to Believers, and the Bible says that every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord. To think ones spiritual message didn’t come from the Lord seems disrespectful; so many fail to test the spirits as scripture says to do. As a result, many accept as truth whatever they hear in their heads.
But do our thoughts agree with scripture? Can we be deceived? Should we disregard God’s warning to test the spirits on a whim? If God didn’t want us to test the spirits, why did He tell us in His Word to do it? 
The Bible is the only sure and true anchor we have. Yet some religions base their doctrines on books other than the Bible, and we have to wonder how these “other gospels” came to be. Did a spirit much like the one who spoke to Ronald Weinland also speak to the authors? Did a lying spirit encourage them to write these books?
1 John 4:1 says, Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1 John 4: 2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1 John 4: 3. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus 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
Also read 2 John 1:7.
I think it is possible that if a person asked Ronald Weinland if Jesus came in the flesh, he would say yes. Maybe the reason Weinland and others don’t test the spirits is because nobody ever told them how to do it.
The Lord is the Spirit of Truth. Clearly, the spirit that contacted Ronald Weinland was not the Holy Spirit. Had Ronald tested the spirits as the Bible says to do, perhaps he would have known he wasn’t talking to God.
I don’t know exactly how to test the spirits either. I can only give my opinion. But if such a voice spoke to me, I hope I would boldly say, “Did Jesus come in the flesh?” 
If nobody answered, I would assume I wasn’t talking to the Lord, and I would end the conversation. 
If the “so called” voice or spirit simply said, “Yes,” instead of giving a complete answer, I would become suspicious. Therefore, I would probably say something like, “The Bible says that every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. So please answer my question in a complete sentence. Did Jesus come in the flesh?” 
I believe the Holy Spirit would answer that question in a complete sentence as requested. If not, I would end the conversation without hesitation.
Some of the scriptures below mention lying spirits.
1 Kings 22: 19 says, And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.  
1 Kings 22: 20. Who shall persuade Ahad, that he may go up and fall at Ramouth-gil-e-ad? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
1 Kings 22: 21. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him.
1 Kings 22: 22. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said. I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets, and he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
1 Kings 22: 23. Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee.
Others scriptures listed below not only mention lying spirits but deal with those who consult spirits of the dead. I think everyone who reads this article should look up the Bible verses listed below and study them carefully.  
Leviticus 19: 31 and 20: 6, 27; Deuteronomy 18: 19-22; 1 Kings 22:1-28; 2 Chronicles 18: 21; Jeremiah 14: 13-16 and 23: 9-40 and 29: 20-32; Ezekiel chapter 13 and 14. 
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Please leave a comment. Let us know your views on this topic.
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You might enjoy reading Molly's newest book, The Overcomers: Christian Authors Who Conquered Learning Disabilities. To find it at online or at walk-in bookstores, write Molly Noble Bull in the search slot. 

   
    


8 comments:

Patricia PacJac Carroll said...

I agree Molly. We are in a time of great deception. And we do need to test the spirits. Good warning.

Robin Bayne said...

Good points, thanks for sharing.

Patrick G. Whalen said...

Such false prophets were already alive and well in Paul's day and his urging us, even today, to continue to test the spirits is just as real. Thank you for the reminder!

Molly Noble Bull said...

When friends and family tell us something amazing or we read or hear something equally as exciting, we want to believe it's true. If a presence you assume is the Lord talks to you and tells something even more amazing, you would want to believe that, too.
Maybe that is what happened to poor Mr. Weinland. Let us pray that he and others like him wake up and repent.
Molly

Janet Chester Bly said...

Molly: Interesting post. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings,
Janet

Teresa Slack said...

Most of the examples you mentioned are people giving in to emotion. It's easy to do. We get stirred up in church over a particular msg or speaker & we suddenly think God is calling us to evangelize in the Sudan. Of course he'll call some for that, but often it's our emotions wanting to believe a charismatic speaker or word. We definitely need to wait for the Lord speaking to us in that still small voice, whether in big life-changing matters or even in small ones like which company should I call when my air conditioner goes on the fritz. God is there waiting to assist us in every matter if we only have the patience and wisdom to ask. Thanks for the article.

Molly Noble Bull said...

Thanks for your comments, Janet and Teresa. Today, so many people are forgetting to test the spirits with horrible results. Think how much heartache could be avoided when we do what the Bible says.
Love,
Molly

Connie Almony said...

This is why it's so important to continue in The Word. That helps us to discern between the true and the false. I have heard The Word taken out of context--in fact Hitler had whole books of distorted Bible verses he used--or the wording tweeked that totally turned the meaning around. It's scary, but the answer lies in the palms of our hands.