Test the spirits

I think one thing that makes the devils work easier for him is that people just blindly accept things, without checking it out,and because they see everybody else do it. And the devil knows people are prone to this "sheep mentality", so he exploits it.Before making the main point, let me say that the devil has a harder time with an independent thinker than a "robot" type.Myself, I never did something just because it's "the thing to do".Who do you know who doesn't drink coffee?I don't. Who in America doesn't bad mouth President Trump?I don't.But most importantly,when all my loved ones fell by the wayside and now practically all follow thw the occult, I always leaned more towards Biblical things,and eventually got saved. The Bible says,"Do not believe all spirits, but test the spirits, because not all spirits are from God."So my point is, if everyone has a "robot mentality", and they see everyone else into the occult, they blindly follow.It's the "easy way", they don't have to think..The devil doesn't want someone who fights things, or questions things, he wants people who "take the easy way"and just follow.That's why Jesus said,DO NOT believe every spirit,{the "easy way"}but test the spirits"I know this is a little harder than just blindly accepting everything,but it could save your spiritual life.Amen.

 

[Brother James]

Nice thought. I always looked at testing the spirits as laying them next to Jesus' Word. Who do they say Jesus is, is the first place to start & then go from there. We all have a relationship with Jesus but who do we know Him to be? Is Jesus God? That's always been where I was taught to start

 

[Intercessor]

Yes, Bro James is correct. Testing the spirits is regarding if they confess Jesus Christ (The Anointed Messiah) as having been the Eternal Son of God and has Come in the Flesh, or not...









1 John 4:1 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is already in the world at this time."









As far as your family going toward the occult, it's not just your family but the millennials in general... The link below shows a slight increase proclaimed in occult adherence but one practice of satanism is to not tell the truth! So the number may be higher... There was a higher growth rate of witchcraft in the years prior to the Harry Potter books first released in 1997 and in general it increased since then.









http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2017/october/millennials-replacing-religion-with-witchcraft









http://www.witchcraftandwitches.com/history_modern.html









The group going against this trend are the Jewish Millennials. The Jewish people have been steadily accepting the fact that Jesus is the Messiah in an increasing rate since 1948 and markedly since 1967. Now 1 out of 5 Jewish Young people believe Jesus came in the flesh...









http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/israel/...ewish-millennials-believe-jesus-is-son-of-god









This is of significance because in the first advent of Christ on earth, when Phillip told Jesus that the Greeks or Gentiles were seeking Him He said, NOW my hour has come.... Something HUGE is about to go down...









Greeks Seek Jesus




20 Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; 21 these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip *came and *told Andrew; Andrew and Philip *came and *told Jesus. 23 And Jesus *answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. 26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.









Jesus Foretells His Death




27 “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” 30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. 31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” 33 But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die (John 12:20-33).









Jesus realized when the Gentiles started seeking Jesus it was time for the END of HIS MINISTRY on EARTH... In the same way, when we see the fig tree (Israel) start to sprout and grow tender, WATCH FOR THE SIN OF MAN... Just as the influx of Gentiles was showing a change in history, so is the fullness of the Gentiles coming to an end and the ingathering of the natural Jewish people... Romans 9-12, Matthew 24-25, et cetera)...









So once more, "Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2 "For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you. 3 "Nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising" (Isaiah 60:1-3). This is the time to evangelize our lost family members and friends and tell them what sin is, what is it's consequence, what God has done to erradicate sin in Christ and that The Bible is the standard to live by (Deut 8:3; Matt 4:4), "whether they listen or not" (Ezekiel 2:5, and the whole Bible)...









Ezekiel 2:7

"But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.

Ezekiel 3:11

"Go to the exiles, to the sons of your people, and speak to them and tell them, whether they listen or not, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.'"

Ezekiel 3:27

"But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you will say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.' He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.