We have to test everything because the enemy is at work all around us. The evil one is no less sly than he has ever been; and we have to be on guard, and especially so, with those we allow to speak into our lives. I recently read on a local, family counselor’s website, whoContinue reading “False teachers know there is a God…they just think themselves wiser and better.”
Tag Archives: test everything
Truth more important than ever!
“These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.” (1 John 2:26) There are great efforts, by spiritual forces in high places, to deceive us and those we love (Eph 6:12). Not only that, the Bible tells they want to kill and destroy us (John 10:10). We have seen thisContinue reading “Truth more important than ever!”
For you planners and keepers of the calendar—
Schools starting.The lazy days of summer are coming to a close whether we want them to or not. We all shift gears. Even those of us without kids going back to school, feel the need to turn things up a notch. Time to schedule.Time to plan. The calendar pages are fresh and clean. My pencilContinue reading “For you planners and keepers of the calendar—”
The Popular, Make-Believe Jesus
“The devil doesn’t care at all if you know Jesus or love Jesus or pray to Jesus – as long as it is a false Jesus, a make-believe Jesus, a Jesus who is not there, and who therefore cannot save.” – David Guzik, Enduring Word App I am concerned that many promote and ascribe toContinue reading “The Popular, Make-Believe Jesus”
A misunderstood verse.
This verse. So many have misunderstood and misused it. I know as a young believer I did. “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.” (1 John 3:22) For a long time, I thought if I just do what GodContinue reading “A misunderstood verse.”
We don’t have to follow our emotions into trouble.
Sometimes, I confuse myself. My emotions seem to be all over the place. How very much God knows our tendency to veer from His ways when it comes to our hearts. How often we allow our emotions and affections to rule us. How many revered men have been brought down by illicit affairs? How manyContinue reading “We don’t have to follow our emotions into trouble.”
Those who truly love us will tell us the truth.
Paul is about to lay down the pen to the most famous of letters ever written. His powerful, God-inspired words will forever influence the theology of human hearts. His hard words have inspired and challenged the church for thousands of years. Through Paul, God has clearly explained the only way dead men miraculously find eternalContinue reading “Those who truly love us will tell us the truth.”
Help to prepare our hearts for Easter
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” (1 Cor 3:16-17) If you are a Christian, you (fill in your name)Continue reading “Help to prepare our hearts for Easter”
Don’t be taken down by a desire to be lifted up!
I love how the Bible sugarcoats everything and only tells the simple, pretty stories. Except it doesn’t. The Bible is real. God shows us the proclivity of humans to see Him do amazing things and then turn right around and blow it. After Lot and his two daughters had been supernaturally rescued from Sodom andContinue reading “Don’t be taken down by a desire to be lifted up!”
The study is ending —but we’ve got a Savior to keep seeking as we need Him every moment!
Oh my goodness! I don’t want my study of First John to end. Oh, I’m sure the Lord will bring me back to this living, breathing, part of the Bible. He has so much more to teach me. But once again, I’ve come to the close of a book of the Bible with an increasedContinue reading “The study is ending —but we’ve got a Savior to keep seeking as we need Him every moment!”
How easily are you offended?
If I know God, I ought to live like I know Him. I should live with a confidence but also with love and grace toward others. “By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that theContinue reading “How easily are you offended?”
Calling Wrong Things Right & Ice Cream.
They are of the world.We are not.And there are spiritual forces at work among us. Remember, in this ancient letter we are studying, John “presented the world not as the global earth or the mass of humanity, which God Himself loves (John 3:16). Instead it is the community of sinful humanity that is united inContinue reading “Calling Wrong Things Right & Ice Cream.”
He who is in us is greater-but first this…
I can’t wait to get to 1 John 4:4! It’s one of my favorite verses! It’s honestly part of the reason I was drawn to this letter by this beloved disciple. But I can’t just rush to the hope of 1 John 4:4, “He who is in you is greater than he who is inContinue reading “He who is in us is greater-but first this…”
Mad at God and believing Satan’s lies
Whatever we ask, we receive! That’s sounds a lot like a genie in a bottle kind of prosperity God—not the Most High Holy of Holies. So what does John mean when he writes, “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in HisContinue reading “Mad at God and believing Satan’s lies”
God is BIGGER than our feelings!
God is bigger than our feelings! We’ve been talking about asking the Lord to show us sin; but sometimes, some of us, can take this too far. Our hearts condemn us when they shouldn’t. Sometimes, we feel guilty and ashamed not because of unconfessed sin, but for sins God has forgiven, or because we haveContinue reading “God is BIGGER than our feelings!”
Do you ever have a “check” in your Spirit?
“These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.” (1 John 2:26) There are great efforts, by spiritual forces in high places, to deceive us and those we love (Eph 6:12). They use people, especially those with large platforms, but they also use people you and your kids might comeContinue reading “Do you ever have a “check” in your Spirit?”
Is reading your Bible always a hallelujah moment?
So how do I not love the world, and not fall for false teachers, and not fear things like the antichrists? I read my Bible. ”Therefore, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you will also abide in the Son andContinue reading “Is reading your Bible always a hallelujah moment?”
Avoid False Teachers. Keep Testing Everything.
The Antichrist is coming. John warns that the Antichrist is coming and, what’s more, many antichrists have already come but we can discern the truth and not be led away by false teaching (see 1 John 2:18-23). Let’s recognize we are being “taught” all day long in many, many ways in our post it, tweetContinue reading “Avoid False Teachers. Keep Testing Everything.”
The way to lose your way…
“Do not love the world or things in the world.” 1 John 2:15 Love God, but don’t love the world and the things in the world. Oh, we would not do that, would we? Let’s be honest. We all have flesh-filled hearts that are drawn to every shiny thing it seems. Prone to wander…Lord, IContinue reading “The way to lose your way…”
If sin doesn’t bother you, are you really a Christian?
“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous”. (1 John 2:1) John addresses the Christians who would read his letter with the compassion of a loving Father. John rightly characterizes sin as dangerousContinue reading “If sin doesn’t bother you, are you really a Christian?”
Kim Jaggers Ministry 