God's Voice 5 IDENTIFYING THE ENEMY

As an individual you are responsible to test every teaching, prophetic word or voice that comes your way. In other words do not automatically believe that every prophecy you hear is from God, and do not believe that every teaching you hear is biblical.


Here are some questions you can ask yourself which will help you identify if the enemy is at work.


Q I. Does word, teaching or voice line up with the bible?


If what you have heard cannot be backed up by scripture then that word is not from God. God will not say or do anything that contradictory to what is already written in the bible.


Q 2. Does the word, teaching or voice edify?


God speaks to build up and strengthen you. He will not speak anything that will weaken you or tear you down. These type of words come straight from the enemy, so don't believe them.


Q 3. Does the word, teaching or voice exhort?


God speaks to encourage you. The enemy brings discouragement not God. God will not say anything to you that will discourage you except to discourage you from sinning. There is  a big difference between disciplining and discouraging.


Q 4. Does the word, teaching or voice bring comfort?


God speaks to heal the hurting. It is the enemy who speak to bring pain or suffering into your life, not God.


Q 5. Can you submit the word, teaching or voice to your leadership?


If someone tells you something and then they tell you not to submit it to your leaders then that word isn't from God. God has set order and leadership in the church for a purpose. If you can't submit to your leaders you will be acting in independence and that is disobedience to God.


Q 6. Can you relate the word, teaching or voice to God?


Is what you have heard something that Jesus would say or do? If not, then it's not from God.


Q 7. Can you relate the word, teaching or voice to yourself?


If for example you have had ten prophetic words all saying that are going to be a missionary in Africa, then someone tells you that they have had a word saying that you are not to go to Africa. The chances are that that word is probably not from God. Be very careful in receiving a word that goes directly against what God has already spoken to you. Another way you can test a word, teaching or voice is by the 'witness of the Spirit'. This is when you may feel really excited when the word is spoken to you and it confirms to you what God has already said.


Q 8. Can you relate the word, teaching or voice to the enemy? 


If what you have heard is something that the enemy would do then it is definitely not from God.

IDENTIFYING SPIRITS

I John 4:1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Not every spirit that you come across will be from God. If an angel or other spirit appeared right in front of you now how would you know if it is good or bad? 2 Corinthians 11: 14"And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light."

You will not be able to identify the enemy on appearance alone as he has the ability to disguise himself as someone who is good and is on our side. Here are 3 ways you can test angels and spirits to see if they are from God or not:

I. Acknowledge Jesus.

I John 4: 2"This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God". In Mark 5, a demon by the name of Legion calls Jesus "Son of the most high God." This proves to us that the enemy knows who Jesus is. However the demon did not say that Jesus was his Lord! You should be able to identify an angel or a spirit by whether they acknowledge Jesus as their Lord. If they do then they are probably from God. NB You can refer to this website too: http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/gifts/discernment.htm

2. Receives worship.


Revelation 19: 10At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” No angel or spirit that is sent by God will receive praise and worship for themselves. They will always point you to Jesus and tell you to worship him instead. Any angel or spirit that tells you to worship himself is not from God.


3 Selfish ambition.


James 3: 16"For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice." Any angel or spirit that comes seeking after their own ambitions is not from God. Angels come to promote Jesus and seek to establish God's kingdom here on earth not their own.

IDENTIFYING FALSE TEACHERS AND FALSE PROPHETS

I John 4:1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

If someone brings you an incorrect teaching or prophetic word, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are a false teacher or false prophet sent from the enemy. We all make mistakes sometimes. There four characteristics common to false teachers and false prophets. Knowing these characteristics will help you to identify them.

I. They follows other gods.

Not only will false teachers and false prophets follow Christianity they will also follow other beliefs and religions as well.

2. They preach a compromised gospel.

As they are following other beliefs they have to compromise the gospel. This means that they do not believe or teach the whole truth of the bible perhaps teaching that Jesus is not the only way to salvation.

3. They live unstable lives.

People who follow more than one belief or religion are not building their live upon the rock. This means that they live unstable lives.

4. They receive money for prophecy.

The gift of prophecy is a free gift from God. Anyone who charges to give you a 'word from God' is not walking in the truth. Do not go to people who expect to be paid for prophecy or predictions of the future.

CONCLUSION

Although you can do all these things mentioned in this objective to test and identify the enemy, you need to ask God for the gift of discernment on a regular basis. It is a supernatural ability to instantly recognize good from evil. You can have this gift, all you have to do is ask for it.

PRAY

"Lord Jesus, help identify when the enemy is at work"