20th.: Guard against Counterfeit Answers
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit of Truth, to guide us into all truth (John 16:13).
Sometimes, he directs with a still small voice (see 1st Kings 19:11-12).
Sometimes it is like a small voice behind us, as in:
“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying,
“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying,
‘This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.’” (Isa. 30:21).
Sometimes, he just ‘gives us a peace’ as in:
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts.” (Col. 3:15a).
Sometimes, though, we Christians want something so much, that our hearts synthesize that ‘still, small voice’.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9).
That synthesized ‘still small voice’ can deceive us.
We need to relentlessly seek the Lord, for Him to show us how to discern between the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error, no matter what form it takes.
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God. Because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God. Every Spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.” (1st John 4:1-2)