The second test for whether a message is inspired by the
Holy Spirit is an examination of the life style of the messenger. I John 4:4 states, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because
greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” The
Holy Spirit gived his people deliverance from the power of sin as I Corinthians
6:9-11 shows us. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous,
nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of
God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed,
but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and
by the Spirit of our God.”
I John 3:5-9 is very specific that a person who lives a
sinful lifestyle is not inspired by the Holy Spirit. “And ye
know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not:
whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he
that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for
the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was
manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin;
for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
The third test is of the subject matter andf who it appeals
to. I John 4:5 says, “They are of the world: therefore speak they
of the world, and the world heareth them.”
While they are important, things
such as financial success, drug or alcohol addiction, physical or psychological
health , and political affairs are of the world. and should not be of primary concern to
Christians. Matthew 6:31-33 says, “ Therefore take no thought, saying, What
shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles
seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” These
things are things everyone is searching for and God knows we need them. We don’t usually need some special
spiritual instructions about them.
Because they are things the world is concerned about, the
world will flock to get advice about them.
People flocking to hear the messages is a clear warning the message may
not be of God. The world does not want
to hear what God says, as John 15:19-21 tells us. “If ye
were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the
world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The
servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will
also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you
for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.”
To know if a program or message is of God we need first to
look at the things it focuses on, If the focus is just on making things better
here on earth, it isn’t from the Holy Spirit, even though they may be good
things. Secondly, if it drawing large
numbers of people we need to examine the composition of these crowds
carefully. Using these tests, many motivational
speakers, seminars and religious programs are not inspired by the Holy Spirit. Clearly a mega church that brags anyone can attend
and be happy there is not a spiritual church.
Ungodly people will not be happy in a place where God is the focus. They will either change or leave.
So sad but true, Donald, that many of the mega churches are now focusing on the world, both its attractions and its problems, and are quenching the Spirit. Truly we are in the final Laodicean period of church history. Praise God that He Who is in me is greater than He Who is in the world. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
ReplyDeleteFalse doctrines arise in small churches just as often as in mega churches, but people are more likely to be intimidated about challenging something in the larger church, with the result that false doctrines are not corrected as often.
ReplyDelete