TESTING THE SUPERNATURAL

Are the supernatural manifestations in church today invariably of divine origin?

My purpose in posting this is because I am shocked after watching this video on YouTube: False spirits invade the church - KUNDALINI WARNING - Andrew Strom 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBpw2oQrvMM

 

                                                                      
More than ever before, believers must be vigilant and discerning. The Bible warns that during the end times, deception will be a prominent feature. 

And even the elect – supposedly mature leaders – can be deceived. If leaders are deceived, don’t you think the flock will fare even worse?

“For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:5).

“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24).

That is why it is so important to go back to basics. Be like the Bereans. Dig into the word and test the spiritual manifestations that we see in church against God’s Word (to see whether they tally with the Word).

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” ( Acts 17:11).

“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” (1 John 4:1).

No doubt when the Holy Spirit moves, there is freedom and liberty. People may weep and/or fall down when they are convicted of their sins. There is a loosening of inhibitions. They become less self-conscious; unafraid of what the rest of the people in church might say or think of their behaviour.

But what on earth is happening when there is violent shaking, jerking movements, animal behaviour (like going on fours like a dog or barking) or uncontrollable shrieking?

Now let us consider some of the characteristics of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is gentle. The one who comes under the Holy Spirit is of sound mind and has self-control.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5: 22-23).

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

                                                       

What did Paul say concerning checks and balances in the operation of spiritual gifts?

“The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14: 22-23).

“Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).

Who or what makes us competent in discerning whether a particular  

supernatural manifestation is of divine origin or of the devil?

The Holy Spirit in believers grants spiritual discernment to them. In fact they have the mind of Christ. Please check out this passage–1 Corinthians 2:12, 13, 15, 16:

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.

For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

                

May God grant us discernment to know that NOT all the supernatural experiences or manifestations that we see in church today are of the Holy Spirit.

And do not get carried away by supernatural experiences or manifestations per se. Just as not all that glitters is gold, not everything supernatural is of the Holy Spirit.

And let us be vigilant; go back to God’s Word and dig deep into it so we can test the validity of the supernatural experiences or manifestations, whether it is of the Holy Spirit or not. Let's build ourselves up in our most holy faith.

To try to make sense of these supernatural experiences or manifestations, the senior leaders of the church should weigh and judge whether they are of God or not (1 Corinthians 6:2,3 and 2 Corinthians 3:6). In a multitude of counsellors, there is victory. Is there a consensus among the leaders as to what these manifestations mean?

Some believers unknowingly play with fire by engaging with occultic practices (for example, playing with ouija board) which open the door to danger. When you let satan gain a foothold in your life, and then you come to church, the evil one will manifest even in church. (We are apt to think that God’s presence in church excludes the possibility of evil spirits manifesting themselves. But this is erroneous thinking). Those who dabble with the occult must cease all occultic involvement, repent and renounce such practices.

Similarly, believers who are addicted to porn might be opening themselves up to ‘evil spirits of lust’. At first, they are overcome by their own lust. In time to come, as they became more and more enslaved to porn, ‘evil spirits of lust’ enter their lives – because they give permission to them. These believers need to repent and renounce such behaviour.

How to test false prophets? We know them by their character. Do they have the fruit of the Holy Spirit?

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?” (Matthew 7:15-16).

So coming back to the above YouTube video:

Are the supernatural manifestations of divine origin?

For the answer, we ask ourselves three questions:

1. How is it similar to the characteristics of the Holy Spirit according to God’s word?

2. How is it similar to a spiritual practice which people often associate with meditation and health?

3. Is the character of the key leader commendable?

If you can answer these three questions, then you will be able to know whether the supernatural manifestations in the YouTube video are of divine origin or not.

For further reading: http://www.charismamag.com/blogs/prophetic-insight/15485-jezebel-occultism-and-the-end-time-war-on-the-saints

Please google “Andrew Strom” for more startling revelations.

REPENTANCE AND OBEDIENCE VS EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES AND MANIFESTATIONS

What is the litmus test of an encounter with the living God?

“We know that the manifestations affect the emotions, but the Bible places much more emphasis on repentance (changed mind) and obedience (dedicated will) as the appropriate response to an encounter with the living God. The ultimate test of any experience is whether it leads to real repentance and observable obedience. This yardstick is especially necessary in an age which is addicted to novel experiences and regards all religious experiences as self-authenticating. The Church must not fall into this way of thinking but faithfully 'test all thing’” – David Pawson.

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ANIMAL-LIKE BEHAVIOUR

Can we ever attribute the following scenarios in church to the work of the Holy Spirit? A person barking like a dog? A person crowing like a cockerel?
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DEADLY DECEPTION

Be aware, be warned. It’s already here.
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OVERCOMING DECEPTION
Understanding the wiles of satan is the first step towards winning the battle against deception. 

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DANGER OF IGNORANCE
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