Test the Spirit

Written by Warren |Posted on August 27, 2008 | Comments

the length of age is not a measuring rod to measure the spiritual maturity of the Christian
Elihu rightly said…
“I said ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’ But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.” Job 32:7-8 (ESV)
many people, especially those who have earned many years as a Christian or even perhaps in the ministry, think that they deserve more respect than those from the pew.

while others around these “maturing” Christians would tolerate this fact and give them this special respect.
let us respect the pastor because he has earned his initials from a so and so school
certainly he is a man of God
how dare you question his preaching
who are you to even entertain such doubts in your inexperienced mind
he probably read the bible more than anyone I know, especially you
Now I’m not saying that we should not give them respect.
What I’m saying is we should not use their number of years being a Christian a basis for their Spiritual maturity.
more so of the condition of their souls.
Because only God gives them understanding
and we understand in general terms that the verb “give” i used here is used as an act of grace
it is a gift and not a reward
we didn’t work for it
like the Christian’s salvation is a gift from God
and this not by our own efforts
it is a gift from God that no one may boast

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Eph 2:8-9

God granted understanding to selected people
“At that time Jesus declared, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children’” Matthew 11:25

“And he answered them, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.’ ” Matthew 13:11

after Peter claims that Jesus is the Son of the Living God, Jesus says…
“And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this
to you, but my Father who is in heaven.’ ” Matthew 16:17

so clearly, understanding comes from the Spirit of God
and not by the number of years being a Christian in this world
also if we use their number of years as a basis for their “Spirituality”, we won’t differ from the catholics wherein they would expect respect around their sect for being in existence for centuries.
so next time you meet up with a fellow Christian
do test his spirit…

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. ” 1 John 4:1

…because it is that Spirit, that Elihu mentioned earlier, that gives the Christian understanding.
so don’t say
this Christian has been in this church for years before I came here
surely he has matured for all those years
I’ve seen him in the choir
in the cell groups
in the prayer meetings
he studied from a so and so seminary
he wears a certain Christiany smile
he wears a Christiany shirt
we have to understand

ONLY

THEIR

FRUITS

CAN

KNOW

THEM

and not by what they wear
nor even by their portfolio of ministries
so if you see a fellow Christian in error based on Scriptures
correct and rebuke him
even if he is the senior pastor of a mega church
- – -
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:15-20