TESTING THE SPIRITS
For He (Jesus) whom God has sent utters the words of God for He gives the Spirit without measure. John 3:34
There has only been one teacher on the face of this earth who was given the Spirit without limitation. That rabbi was Jesus. Whatever He spoke was from God. No one had to sift, weigh, or measure his words. He was incapable of speaking anything but Truth.
Unfortunately, I can often think the same is true of Christian leaders I admire. I am undone when there is disagreement among theologians. It rattles my security in my own God-given position, acquired through study and prayer. I want, so badly, to be able to look at one earthly man or woman to lead me in all things. I can easily sit indiscrimately in church and just take in the pastor's teaching without studying the text for myself to 'test the spirits.' I am not accusing any man of God today of intentionally distorting the Gospel or the doctrines related to it. It's just that none of us have the "Spirit without measure." We all see through a glass darkly and the limitations of our mortal bodies obscure the things of God.
In large measure, the church of Jesus Christ is biblically illiterate. In the most sound of churches, those who study the Bible between Sundays are more uncommon than common. The ramifications of that are staggering. To paint with a broad brush, there is a lack of discernment. They are not testing the spirits of their spiritual teachers nor are they able to test the spirits of this post-modern age. Their senses are dulled. Most likely, whatever they hear on Sunday is taken as Gospel-truth; whether it's a doctrinal position on water baptism or the imminent return of Christ.
I have two responses to today's scripture. 1.) Everything the Bible says is true. If Jesus said it, I hold His Words to be the plumb line that measures all my thoughts and beliefs. 2.) I welcome hearty discussion amongst other members of the family of God. Some are more educated than others. But when all is said and done, I say to myself..."That was interesting but I'm going to study this for myself and let the Holy Spirit be my teacher." As I take that particular matter to prayer, I ask God to open the eyes of my heart to perceive kingdom truth, and then enable me to test the spirit of every wind of doctrine.
Just because man is fallible doesn't mean my feet don't have a rock to stand on. Jesus, You are my rock, my strong tower of Truth. Though I may not agree with any one man about ALL things, I align myself with You one hundred percent. Amen
