By
Pastor Roger Anghis
May 13, 2012
NewsWithViews.com
1 Thessalonians 5:21 “ Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
1 John 4:1 “BELOVED, DO not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world.”
We are going to see a lot of things that are not Biblical or from God, but have the appearance of being so. There will be those who will prophesy, but there is no Biblical basis to the prophecy. There will be those that will ‘see a vision from God’, but there is no Biblical basis to that vision. The devil is working overtime in his attempts to deceive the elect because he knows that his time is short.
The only way to effectively determine what is and what isn’t from God is to know the Word of God and to know the promises of God. Some feel that this ability or need to discern is only for pastors or evangelists, but it’s for every believer. Don’t be like other people that depend solely on the preacher to do their learning for them. I did that for years and found out that the preachers didn’t know anything either! Paul said in 2 Timothy that we are to study to show ourselves approved. Again, this is directed towards all believers, not just preachers. 2 Corinthians 2:11 “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices”. How are we Not ignorant of his devices? By knowing the Word of God! When you have somebody prophesy over you or you get a vision, how can you verify if it’s truly from God? Ask this question, ‘Does it line up with the Word of God?’. Are you looking for a mate and you ‘heard from God’ that you are supposed to marry so-and-so, but that person is already married. Guess what, that wasn’t from God no matter how much you want it to be! That ‘word’ doesn’t line up with the Word. When we know how God deals in the Bible and we are given a ‘word’ or a vision that is contrary to that, we know that that ‘word’ or vision was NOT Holy Ghost inspired. God will not tell you something or give you a vision of something that is against His Word.
As
satan did with Jesus in the wilderness, he will make that ‘word’
sound so spiritual and right that you think God Himself manifested Himself
to give it to you. But that’s just how deceiving satan can be.
Let’s look at this situation. The Doctor gives you a bad report
and you’ve only got three months to live. Most Christians would
react in fear and then blame God for letting this thing come upon them
and then spend the next three months feeling sorry for themselves and
getting as many people as they could to feel sorry for them as well.
Their total concentration on the problem will eventually bring it to
full manifestation. Why do they do this? They don’t know the Word
and they don’t know the promises. If they know the Word, then
their approach to this situation would be quite different. They would
stand firm on 1 Peter 2:24 ‘by His stripes you are healed. You
wouldn’t be afraid because you know what the Word says concerning
healing and divine health and as long as you speak that truth, you will
overcome this attack of satan. They would know that the spirit behind
the attack was not God. When you know the source, you can defend or
attack.
But you have to know the source.
Let’s look at this scenario. You’ve been praying about something and believing for something and you’ll get a vision concerning it. Remember also that the enemy knows what your goals and desires are and especially when they deal with accomplishing something for God, he is going to try to confuse you or defeat you any way he can. He may show you something in a vision that is exactly what you have been praying for, but it may not be what God has in mind. Now understand this, the end result may be what God wants, the road to it may not be what God has planned.
There are people out there that have a real heart for helping people and they are always ready to help whenever and wherever. I know a person that had a vision about going to heaven and meeting a person there that was very sad. Right there I have a problem because sadness is a cousin to fear. There is no fear in heaven, so I can’t find any grounds to believe that there is sadness there either. There were several parts to this vision and only one part really had any spiritual truth to it, the rest was just something that, on the surface, sounded spiritual, but there was no substance to it. I, personally, have to ignore completely the whole vision because God is not going to be involved with a vision that is 80% false.
Some people will have a vision and angel will tell them that ‘All roads lead to Christ.’ They’ll be handsome angels, all white robes, gentle character, folded hands, the whole nine yards, but what they told you wasn’t in line with the Word. ‘But it was an angel that told me this, not some grotesque ugly demon.’ Paul warns us in 2 Corinthians 11:14 “And it is no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light;”. Remember that it ALL has to be from God, not just part of it.
People can be taken down the wrong path if they fail to test the spirit. There are those that feel that they are so special that God is always showing them ‘new things’. The problem with these ‘new things’ is, there are no ‘new things’. Somewhere, somehow, these ‘new things’ must be confirmed in the Word.
‘I’d never go that overboard.’ Well, look at the folks that got tied up with David Karesh. He told them things that they wanted to hear and they ignored things that he said that were so far from scripture that, had they really known the truth, they would have dropped him like a hot potato. The same thing with Jim Jones. He began his ministry preaching the truth, but a seducing spirit began to convince him that he didn’t need the Word any more, that he had knowledge beyond the Word. He didn’t try the spirit, he just believed it.
Peter seemed to have been given a ‘new thing’ when he was in Joppa and had a vision concerning what appeared to be food.
Acts 10:9 “On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
(10)And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
(11)And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: (12)Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
(13) And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
(14)But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
(15) And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
(16) This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.”
Peter was trying to figure out what that vision meant. The scriptures say that he doubted himself concerning the meaning of the vision (Acts 10:17). The literal translation says that he was ‘at a loss’ as to what it meant. While he was pondering the meaning, the Holy Spirit told him that there were some men looking for him that He had sent to Him:
Acts 10:19 “While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
(20) Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.”
The Amplified says this: (20) Get up and go below and accompany them without any doubt [about its legality] or any discrimination or hesitation, for I have sent them. The reason for putting it like that is because these men were Gentiles. Jews and Gentiles did not interact with each other. A Gentile was ‘common’, almost to the point of being unclean. Acts 10:28 “And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation:….” But The Holy Spirit had told him to go ‘doubting nothing’. Peter knew the scriptures, the Voice of God and God had told the Jews in Isaiah 54:3 “For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and they seed shall inherit the Gentiles,…” Peter also knew the voice of the Holy Spirit so it wasn’t necessary to question the command. I am sure that from Joppa to Caesarea Peter was meditating on that vision. When he got to the house of Cornelius, he received the revelation of the vision: “but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” Had Peter held fast to the ‘tradition’ that he could not associate with the Gentiles, he would have missed it. We also have to understand that there were a lot of things ‘changing’. Traditions were being thrown out the window and exposed as worthless, because they had no bearing on the Word of God. The true position of the ‘church’ was being reestablished through revelation from the Holy Spirit. That true position was the power and authority that Adam walked in the Garden.
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How did Peter test the Spirit? First and foremost Peter knew the voice of the Holy Spirit. Second, he put the vision up against the Word. At first it seemed that the vision referred to food, but when the Holy Spirit had sent Gentiles to him and he was to go with them ‘without doubting’, he began to look at the vision differently. And when he reached the house of Cornelius, it became clear as to just what that vision meant.
Another situation that we can look at is right after Saul had met Jesus on the road to Damascus. A disciple in Damascus named Ananias that had a vision: Acts 9:10 “And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.” Here is another believer that knows the voice of the Holy Spirit. He was quick to answer, and even question what he was told because Saul’s reputation preceded him. The Spirit clarified what He wanted Ananias to do.
(11) And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the House of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold he prayeth.
(12) And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
(13) Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
(14) And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
(15) But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
(16) For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
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(17) And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
(18) And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.” We have to know the voice of the Holy Spirit as these men did. When you know that you know, then it is easy to follow His lead. If we don’t learn how to prove the spirit, then we will be lead astray with every fool’s doctrine. 1 Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils:”
� 2012 Roger Anghis - All Rights Reserved
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Pastor Roger Anghis is the Founder of RestoreFreeSpeech.org, an organization designed to draw attention to the need of returning free speech rights to churches that was restricted in 1954.
President of The Damascus Project, TheDamascusProject.org, which has a stated purpose of teaching pastors and lay people the need of the churches involvement in the political arena and to teach the historical role of Christianity in the politics of the United States. Married-37 years, 3 children, three grandchildren.
Web site: RestoreFreeSpeech.org
E-Mail: editor@restorefreespeech.org
