We want to believe that if something feels loving, it must be from God. We want to believe that if something feels spiritual, it must be of the Spirit. We want to believe that our feelings are a reliable guide to truth.
But the Bible does not teach that. The Bible teaches us to test the spirits. To test the spirits. To examine what we feel. To evaluate what we experience.
This is not about doubting. This is about discernment. This is about being wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
Not everything that feels loving is led by the Spirit. And we need to learn how to tell the difference.
The Test That We Have Forgotten
Turn with me to 1 John. John is writing to believers, and he gives them a test:
"Beloved, 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. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world."
1 John 4:1-3Test the spirits to see whether they are from God.
Not every spirit is from God. Not every spiritual experience is of the Spirit. Not everything that feels holy is holy.
This is the test. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. And every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.
But that is not the only test. There is more.
The Fruits That Reveal
And then there is what Jesus said about false prophets:
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruits you will recognize them. Do people gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruits you will recognize them."
Matthew 7:15-20By their fruits you will recognize them.
Not by their feelings. Not by their experiences. Not by their words. By their fruits.
What are fruits? The works. The lifestyles. The love. The patience. The kindness. The self-control.
False prophets look like sheep. They come in sheep's clothing. But they are wolves. And you recognize them by their fruits.
So let me ask: What are the fruits of that feeling? What are the fruits of that experience? What are the fruits of that teaching?
Does it produce love? Joy? Peace? Patience? Kindness? Goodness? Faithfulness? Gentleness? Self-control?
Or does it produce something else? Division? Confusion? Fear? Pride?-control?
That is how you test. Not by how it feels. By what it produces.
The Love That Is Not Really Love
And then there is this, from the same chapter:
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Matthew 7:13-14Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction.
Destruction. Not the absence of love. Destruction in the name of love.
There are teachings that feel loving but lead to destruction. There are experiences that feel spiritual but lead away from truth. There are paths that feel right but end in ruin.
How do you know? By the destination. Does this path lead to life? Or does it lead to destruction?
The broad road feels good. It feels loving. It feels accepting. It says: All paths lead to God. It says: Anything goes. It says: You do you.
But that is the broad road. And broad is the road that leads to destruction.
The narrow road is harder. It says: There is a way. There is a truth. There is a life. And it says: Only a few find it.
That is not popular. That does not feel loving. But it is the truth.
The Discernment We Need
So what do we do? How do we test? How do we know?
First, we test by the Word. Does this align with Scripture? Not a feeling about Scripture. Not an interpretation of Scripture. The actual Word.
Second, we test by the fruits. What does this produce in my life? In the lives of others? In the church?
Third, we test by the confession. Does this confess Jesus as Christ? As Lord? As God in the flesh?
Fourth, we test by the destination. Where does this path lead? Does it lead to life or destruction?
This is not about being suspicious. This is about being wise. This is about being a good steward of what we have been given.
I know what it is to follow a feeling. I know what it is to follow an experience. I know what it is to follow a teaching that felt loving but was not true.
And I know what it is to learn the hard way. To test. To evaluate. To be disappointed.
That is why we need discernment. That is why we need to test the spirits.
Not everything that feels loving is led by the Spirit. And we need to be wise enough to know the difference.
The Question That Matters
So let me ask you: What are you following? What are you believing? What are you experiencing?
Have you tested it? Have you evaluated it? Have you examined it by the Word, by the fruits, by the confession, by the destination?
Because if you have not, you might be following a false prophet in sheep's clothing. You might be on the broad road that leads to destruction. You might be following something that feels loving but is not of the Spirit.
Test. Evaluate. Examine.
Not everything that feels loving is led by the Spirit. And not everything that feels spiritual is true.
Be wise. Be discerning. Test the spirits.
Try This Today
Ask yourself honestly: Have I tested what I am following? Bring that to Him in prayer. Ask Him to give you discernment. Ask Him to help you test by the Word, by the fruits, by the confession, by the destination.
Not everything that feels loving is from God. Not everything that feels spiritual is of the Spirit.
Test. Evaluate. Be wise.
Because the Spirit is not the only spirit. And not everything that feels loving is love.
Father, give me discernment to test the spirits. Forgive me for following feelings instead of truth. Teach me to test by Your Word, by the fruits, by the confession, by the destination. Let me not be deceived by what feels loving but is not true. In Jesus Name, Amen.
With honesty and hope,
Claire