The Bible exhorts us to test everything before we approve it, whether be the word that we hear, or the prophecy that we are told or the things that we presume to be the will of God. ‘Test everything. Hold on to the good.’ – (1 Thessalonians 5:21) ‘Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ – (Deuteronomy 19:15/ 2Corinthians 13:1)
1. Test of the Word: Every word has to be subjected to the test against the standard of the Word of God, to see if it is in line with the plumbline of Scripture, irrespective of who said it! ‘The Bereans were of more noble character … for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.’ – (Acts 17:11) When prophets speak, ‘others should weigh carefully what is said.’ – (1 Corinthians 14:29)
2. Test of the spirit: Not only what was said, matters but who said, also matters! What was said might be true but the spirit who said it could be false, just as the devil quoted Scriptures to Jesus. In another instance, a slave girl in Philippi, who had a spirit by which she predicted the future, followed Paul and his companions, saying, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” Paul turned around and rebuked the spirit and it left her – (Acts 16:16-18) ‘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.’ – (1 John 4: 1)
3. Test of time: Finally, what was said might be true and the spirit by which it was said might also seem right, but the ultimate test is the test of time! “If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord, does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptously.” – (Deuteronomy 18:22) ‘A prophet … will be recognised as one truly sent by the Lord only if his predictions come true.’ – (Jeremiah 28:9)
‘Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to TEST AND APPROVE what God’s will is – his GOOD, PLEASING AND PERFECT WILL.’ – (Romans 12:2) Amen.
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