1 John 4:1 – Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (NKJV)

Some time ago, I was talking with some people about the Lord and our lives as Christians, along with experiences that we have had in life. They were using words like "God spoke to me", feeling that they had a word from God, and talking about an experience they'd had "from God", when that same experience happens to non-Christians and those in the cult world.

A feeling or an experience can be misleading. We need to be sure that our feelings match the clear teaching of God's Word. The whole point of the Reformation was to re-establish the uniqueness of God's Word as our only source of truth. Feelings are not the way to discern truth from God. It has been my experience that these people aren't knowledgeable in Scripture.

There are two principles here. Firstly, God's Word is more sure than any experience; and secondly, we are to test the spirits to see if they are from God. For example, if someone says "God spoke to me", and what they claim that they were told contradicts the clear teaching of God's Word, then they were listening to the wrong source and receiving the wrong information.

As Christians, we are admonished to study God's Word:

2 Timothy 2:15 – Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (NKJV)

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NKJV)

We must also keep in mind that, as well as hearing from the wrong source in the mind, many also listen to the wrong sort of teachers and are led astray because they listen and believe without checking the message against God's Word. They don't know Scripture and are easily led away by deceivers.

We should not neglect the privilege and joy that we can have as children of God to study and know His Word. There are those in our world who would love to have a Bible. We take so much for granted. If there were more students of God's Word, there wouldn't be so many deceived.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we know that we live in a hostile world, and we know, according to Your Word, that we are engaged in a mighty warfare. We thank You for Your Word and for the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. We thank You that our foe has already been defeated by our Lord Jesus Christ, and that we have the victory through our risen Lord! May we be obedient to Your command to study and know Your Word, that we may grow in our Christian walk and be faithful, discerning warriors for the cause of Christ. In His name, we pray. Amen.

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