Bishop Keith Butler
5 hours ago
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:13-14)
Not everything that sounds spiritual is from God. Remember, the devil is a spirit, too. The Apostle Paul reminded the church of Corinth in 2 Corinthians 11:13-14 that the devil can act like the Holy Spirit and try to convince you to go against God. Not only that, the enemy uses people who seem to be Christian and know how to act deeply spiritual, but what they are receiving isn’t from the Word or the Holy Spirit but from deceptive spirits of the enemy.
How can we tell when the Holy Spirit is speaking? It will always line up with the Word of God. The more time you spend hearing and reading the Word, the more you protect yourself from deception. The Word of God is your litmus test to determine what is from God and what is from the enemy or your flesh.
How can you discern God’s voice? Imagine for a moment that you are a parent taking a child to a large event, when suddenly, the child veers off and is separated from the parent. As the parent calls the young one’s name, the child can discern the right voice from a sea of other voices because they know the tone, sound, and pitch of the one that has held them.
Many voices are trying to get your attention today. The enemy uses media, politics, and the marketplace to fill our ears with strange voices that would lead us astray. But Jesus said His sheep will know His voice. You can discern from the voice of God and the voice of the enemy.
The Apostle John also encouraged believers to “Test the spirits” (1 John 4:1). Don’t swallow every pill offered. Don’t listen to everything that sounds spiritual. Investigate by reading the Word. Pray and listen to the Holy Ghost. Finally, if you’re unsure, seek confirmation from your pastor.