Open Heavens Devotional: IS THIS OF GOD? – Wednesday, August 8, 2012

By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Memorise: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ 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. 1 John 4:3

Read: 1 John 4:1-3

Moses had a supernatural experience in witnessing a bush that was on fire but was not consumed. As good as such an experience may look, it is important to know the person behind the experience. Some people erroneously believe that because they had a supernatural encounter during childhood or at some point in their lives, that they have automatically become a child of God or His messenger. Nothing can be further from the truth! If all Moses saw was that supernatural sight, without encountering the personality behind the sight, he would have been of no relevance. There are many religious leaders in the world, who have had supernatural encounters but the question is: Who was behind their encounters? Some of them think it is God and say so, but their fruits are opposite that of Christ. A religion that is based on salvation by works cannot be the same with a faith that is based on salvation through grace. A religion where Jesus Christ is denied His place as the Son of God cannot be of the same source with a faith where Jesus Christ is God the Son. Most religions of the world will claim their supernatural experience came from God but 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 says the devil transforms himself into an angel of light whenever he wants to deceive people.

Even today, the devil is still behind quite a number of supernatural experiences. Some people see certain apparitions of Mary and believe it is Mary the mother of Jesus that they are seeing. 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.

Don’t just believe every assertion, test the spirit behind it! In many churches today, while the leaders openly call on the name of Jesus, they secretly call on the devil, who is behind the magical operations and deceptions taking place. If you are a true believer in Christ, if you see another believer in Christ, you will have a witness. Any experience or follow up of any supernatural experience that is contrary to the written Word of God makes that experience not of God. God cannot violate His Word. Be wise! Prayerfully test the spirits.

KEY POINT:

If Satan brings fire from the sky, that does not change him from being Satan. And if God is silent on an issue that does not make Him any less who He is.

 

Bible in one year: Joshua 7-9

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