Dear Children

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.  This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.  You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ~ 1 John 4:1-4

The enemy of your soul, Satan, only has as much power of your life and thoughts as you allow him to have.  Once you become a follower of Jesus, the Holy Spirit makes a home inside you that when called upon, the devil has to flee.  The devil likes to fill our heads with negative thoughts and our hearts with fear, but the Holy Spirit’s power in us is much bigger than any negative thought, or fear so call it on his help in the name of Jesus.  We are overcomers because of our faith.  However, this isn’t just a verse on overcoming temptation and fear.  It’s also an instruction and warning to us about the importance of discerning false teachings and prophets.  Too many teachers, or religious beliefs make the claim “that we’re all getting to heaven,  just maybe with a different belief" and that is so wrong.  That’s what John means when he says to test it. Not everything is from God even if the moral compass is clean.  Be careful!  There are many out there who want to speak on behalf of God, but what do they say about Jesus?  Who do they say Jesus is, or was?  Pay attention!  Test their knowledge of scripture and salvation.  Just because someone knows the bible doesn’t necessarily mean they know Christ.  There is head knowledge as literature and there is God’s inspired word.  How do they define the bible?  Test them.  Don’t blindly accept everything.  Know the truth and test what you are not sure of.  Live free of fear and temptation from Satan and live in obedience to the faith of Jesus Christ. ~ Amen