The Bible tells us to test the spirits and to not believe an angel if he tells you something wrong. If you don't know the Scriptures well enough to know if they're misleading you, how do you test the spirit or angel?
"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 (NIV)
2007-08-05 06:04:32 · 13 answers · asked by nicky 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Deut.13: 1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
A prophet of God must be in agreement with the words of the prophets and the known word of God.
1John 2: 22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
1John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 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.
4 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.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
Anyone who claims to be a prophet of God must agree Jesus is the Christ the Son of God who is our savior.
2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist
Gal. 1: 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
If an angel or a man preach a different gospel he is not of God.
2007-08-06 06:43:34 · answer #1 · answered by djmantx 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
I would read 1 John 2: 22-23 to them and ask them to declare that Jesus IS the Christ and He IS the begotten Son of the Father God... If they are from God they will do it.
Also, I would hold up the test of 1 John 3: 10-11, 23; and ask them "what is righteousness?" and of course the definition is: "doing things God's way of doing things" and it is the free gift from the LORD that we got His righteousness when He took our sin upon Him on the cross.
Then, 1 John 4: 2-3,15; and 2 John verse 7. That's the test as far as I know. Even satan can trasform himself into an angel of light so we should all be prepared ot put forth the test to all who come with a new doctrine or even a twist on an old one.
Wonderful question.
2007-08-05 06:26:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The spirit has to confess that Jesus came in the flesh. The spirit has to know that Jesus is The Christ. Perfect example of why islam is a false teaching because the "angel" that spoke to Muhammad said that Jesus is only a prophet.
God Bless.
2007-08-05 06:14:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Learn the scriptures! If you haven't already, you have already been deceived. 1John 4:1 does not apply to only spirits but people too.
The Beroeans had the right idea. With the disciples Paul and Silas telling them things, "they eagerly searched the scriptures to see if these things were so." (Acts 17:11)
2007-08-05 06:14:42 · answer #4 · answered by grnlow 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A modern prophet has given us direction on this point. Please visit the following link only if you aren't seeking to make fun of something because, as Paul said,
"14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/129
Not only do you perform the above action, but you must understand the truths of the Gospel. Light and truth can help you to see error. The Holy Ghost will also guide toward and away from truth or error. Read the scriptures, study them, ponder them, pray about them! :o)
2007-08-05 06:18:11 · answer #5 · answered by Chris B 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm pretty sure that, if some ghostly apparition visited me and encouraged me to mend my ways, I would not believe that it was an angel out of hand. There are many explanations that could be drudged up to describe how something like that could happen, but would probably chalk it up to a warped psyche anyway.
2007-08-05 06:09:08 · answer #6 · answered by carmandnee 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I would talk with them and ask their thoughts on all kinds of topics and about all religions and philosophies and names of God / Goddess / All That Is and maybe I would even label my questioning and call it "Yahoo! Answers" and I would then know the true angels.
2007-08-05 06:32:34 · answer #7 · answered by Shihan 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'd kick him in the knackers. A divine spirit would bow to no-one, so if he goes down, he's human.
2007-08-05 08:56:05 · answer #8 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think I would ask them if Jesus is the one true God and is Lord of Lords.
2007-08-05 06:10:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
swear to god that your serious. lol actuly i whould say somthing like, ummm....mabye some questions to test his or her honer like in the divinchi code and test their patience.
2007-08-05 07:43:36 · answer #10 · answered by john constantine 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋