Standing on the Promises 4/11-15

11-15 April 2016 - Standing on the Promises – Manna by Dorothy Callies

What is a prophet? In the Old Testament, we know that a prophet speak to people for God, but there is a lot more to study on that subject, the prophet or even the false prophet. We know that Jesus Himself was the prophet and He spoke for God, His Father. He was the true prophet because He told of many things what would happen in the future [Matthew 24-25].

Jesus wants us to identify (recognize) the work of the false prophets or false teachers. Why? So we could be better prepared to protect ourselves from falling out from our relationship with Jesus Christ and His teachings. We want to study His Word of warnings and stay close to Jesus and His teachings.

I will begin with an introduction from 1 John 4:1-3 NCV: “My dear friends, many false prophets have gone out into the world. So do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God. v2. This is how you can know God’s Spirit:

“Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ came to earth as a human is from God. v3. And every spirit who refuses to say this about Jesus is not from God. It is the spirit of the enemy of Christ, which you have heard is coming, and now he is already in the world.”

Note: The reason for testing every spirit (a person moved or inspired by a spirit) is that “many false prophets or false teachers” will enter the church. So how do we really test the spirits?  John wants us to make sure that we know that Jesus came into the world. He was born in the flesh and He is the Son of God. There are people who will say, “Oh, Jesus came in the Spirit. He was never born in the flesh. He was just a Great Teacher.” John warned and said, “…this is that spirit of antichrist.”

The word, antichrist describes a particular individual or a group of people who oppose God and His purpose. The spirit of antichrists deny incarnation which means the union of divine and human natures in Jesus Christ (Holman Bible Dictionary).

Dorothy:  This devotion has made me appreciate the Word of God so much more.  Why? Because faith comes from reading, and reading by the word of God. Roman 10:17 tells us that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  Our faith grows when we study His Word and to stand on His promises.

Song: Standing on the Promises

      By Russell Kelso Carter, Sing His Praise

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,

When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,

By the living Word of God I shall prevail,

Standing on the promises of God.

Chorus:

Stand – ing, stand – ing,

Standing on the promises of God my Savior;

Stand – ing, stand – ing,

I’m standing on the promises of God.