Recently there was column in the New York Times by an "evangelical" pastor claiming to have switched his views regarding abortion.
Sadly, he had been ardently pro-life. Now he is pro death.
His name is Rob Schenk, if you want to look him up. He thinks that babies should die because poor women can't afford to raise them.
Beloved, we are always asked to "test the spirits." This man claims to be a pastor, yet he defies the living God with his views on killing children.
To test a spirit we must always ask, "Is this view in alignment with the whole word of God?"
How can we know?
WE MUST READ THE BIBLE!
We must read the Bible daily, infusing our spirits and souls with its comprehensive truths. We must glean its wisdom constantly, weighing each passage against others, knowing the context, seeing the commands and the admonitions for what and who they are for.
This is testing the spirit, does it conflict or support the word of God?
This is why we can tell that people promoting a LGTB lifestyle are not in sync with God's Word, therefore we cannot see them as being in line with a right spirit.
Apply this to abortion and we see the same thing.
Anyone promoting any type of abortion is not in line with the Word of God. Test the spirits, beloved.
You may address a spirit, asking if Jesus is LORD, and claiming the blood of Christ over it, but the truest form of testing supernatural encounters is knowing and applying God's Word to the situation.
God is so gentle with new believers. He can give them real understanding of truth, even right away, without extensive Bible knowledge. This is always so wonderful to see. I think of Caryl Matrisciana's testimony in particular. After receiving Christ as her savior she was immediately convicted of the sin in her life, that she and her boyfriend were living together, and that it was wrong. She said no one told her this, but her conscience----God's Spirit---convicted her heart.
I read testimonies like this all the time. God's Spirit is a Convictor.
But for those of us who know enough, have been believers for a time, must measure all things in light of Scriptural truths. It is the "meat" that Paul talks about, Hebrews 5:12.
Yes, there are hard things to understand in Scripture. That is obvious. Many things need deeper study and research, and times of meditation. God is not silent. He never was.
We do know that He does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, forever. We can trust that he is not the mercurial personality of Allah.
He defines Himself for us in Scripture, and if your god doesn't look like the God of the Bible you have "another god."
I am convicted by my own need to show love to those who aren't saved. I am meeting the "lost" everyday at my new job, and my heart is so filled with love for these people. I have such compassion on them and the inevitable eternal destiny they face.
I am practicing a loving spirit, a kindness, an invitation to become different.
When the Spirit truly convicts and washes the soul in the blood of Christ, there is a transformation that is like the power of dynamite. Those of us who have experienced it recognize it in each other. WE see it. God is important in everything, He becomes our very reason for living.
The Spirit is powerful!
Do you want it? Do you want a right Spirit? Cry out to God! Repent from sin. Immerse yourself in the reading of Scripture! You will show an insatiable desire to read the Bible for a time. I haven't met any believer who hasn't shown this thirst at some point. God gives it as a sign!
Test the spirit, beloved. If you are not saved, pray now to receive Christ as you savior and Lord. Prepare to give everything (including family and friends) to Him.
It's hard, but it's good. Very good.
Sadly, he had been ardently pro-life. Now he is pro death.
His name is Rob Schenk, if you want to look him up. He thinks that babies should die because poor women can't afford to raise them.
Beloved, we are always asked to "test the spirits." This man claims to be a pastor, yet he defies the living God with his views on killing children.
To test a spirit we must always ask, "Is this view in alignment with the whole word of God?"
How can we know?
WE MUST READ THE BIBLE!
We must read the Bible daily, infusing our spirits and souls with its comprehensive truths. We must glean its wisdom constantly, weighing each passage against others, knowing the context, seeing the commands and the admonitions for what and who they are for.
This is testing the spirit, does it conflict or support the word of God?
This is why we can tell that people promoting a LGTB lifestyle are not in sync with God's Word, therefore we cannot see them as being in line with a right spirit.
Apply this to abortion and we see the same thing.
Anyone promoting any type of abortion is not in line with the Word of God. Test the spirits, beloved.
You may address a spirit, asking if Jesus is LORD, and claiming the blood of Christ over it, but the truest form of testing supernatural encounters is knowing and applying God's Word to the situation.
God is so gentle with new believers. He can give them real understanding of truth, even right away, without extensive Bible knowledge. This is always so wonderful to see. I think of Caryl Matrisciana's testimony in particular. After receiving Christ as her savior she was immediately convicted of the sin in her life, that she and her boyfriend were living together, and that it was wrong. She said no one told her this, but her conscience----God's Spirit---convicted her heart.
I read testimonies like this all the time. God's Spirit is a Convictor.
But for those of us who know enough, have been believers for a time, must measure all things in light of Scriptural truths. It is the "meat" that Paul talks about, Hebrews 5:12.
Yes, there are hard things to understand in Scripture. That is obvious. Many things need deeper study and research, and times of meditation. God is not silent. He never was.
We do know that He does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, forever. We can trust that he is not the mercurial personality of Allah.
He defines Himself for us in Scripture, and if your god doesn't look like the God of the Bible you have "another god."
I am convicted by my own need to show love to those who aren't saved. I am meeting the "lost" everyday at my new job, and my heart is so filled with love for these people. I have such compassion on them and the inevitable eternal destiny they face.
I am practicing a loving spirit, a kindness, an invitation to become different.
When the Spirit truly convicts and washes the soul in the blood of Christ, there is a transformation that is like the power of dynamite. Those of us who have experienced it recognize it in each other. WE see it. God is important in everything, He becomes our very reason for living.
The Spirit is powerful!
Do you want it? Do you want a right Spirit? Cry out to God! Repent from sin. Immerse yourself in the reading of Scripture! You will show an insatiable desire to read the Bible for a time. I haven't met any believer who hasn't shown this thirst at some point. God gives it as a sign!
Test the spirit, beloved. If you are not saved, pray now to receive Christ as you savior and Lord. Prepare to give everything (including family and friends) to Him.
It's hard, but it's good. Very good.
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