The Iron Pen #102

"...graven with an iron pen and lead..." Job 19:24
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.

"When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public offices, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers, just men who will rule in the fear of God. The preservation of a government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty; If citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made not for public good so much as for the selfish or local purposes; Corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the Laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizens will be violated or disregarded. If a government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the divine commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the Laws." Noah Webster (1832)

Dr. David L. Brown

There is a war going on in America, and the war that I am talking about is a spiritual war for the hearts and souls of the men, women and children of this nation. The tragedy is that many people, even those who profess to be Christians, are not taking this war seriously. After all, this is America, not some primitive nation. Make no mistake about it my friends, our Nation is under attack by the spiritual forces of darkness and those seducing spirits are gaining ground! The doctrines of devils are being promoted big time and these lies are being believed and causing many to depart from the faith. So, what can we do to be sure we do not fall prey to them? The Apostle John offers this advice…

Don’t Be Gullible – He says, "believe not every spirit." Far too many Christians fall prey to false teachings because those who are promoting these teachings claim to be Christians. I can tell you this; those who are counterfeit Christians are not going to say to you, "I am a fake. I am a false teacher. I’m in it just for the money." Remember the words of Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." BEWARE! Not everyone who claims to have insight from the Holy Spirit really has it! There are many who get their insight from the unholy spirits of the Devil.

Put Teachings To The Test – John writes, "try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." This is not talking about some mystical exercise in discernment, but rather being like the Bereans of Acts 17:11 who searched the Scriptures to see if what they were being taught lined up with the Bible. As Isaiah 8:20 says, "…if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." The final point of advice that the old Apostle gives is this…

Examine What They Believe About Jesus Christ -- "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." In verses 2 and 3 there are two specific tests that help us discern which spirit is behind a teacher. First, the Spirit of God faithfully speaks of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit does not magnify himself, but rather Jesus Christ (see John 15:26). Second, find out if they believe that God actually became incarnate (took on a human body and a the nature of man) in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Why? Because no lying spirit will confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. The doctrine of the incarnation is the doctrine above all doctrines that Satan and his demonic hordes hate.