Testing the Spirits: Part Three

Chapter Forty-six:

In Part Two, we looked at the first three areas.  Let us finish by looking at the last four areas.  Again, I want to convey that these teachings are being passed from me to you by way of my studying Mr. Tozer's work.  I would encourage anyone who has not read any of Mr. Tozer's works to start reading them, as he was a very challenging author whose writings seem as if they were written to today's believers.  While he was said to have been a very humble and quiet man in his private life, he changed when he was in the pulpit and said what he felt needed to be said, regardless of the repercussions. 

A. W. Tozer

Fourth, how has the experience affected you, personally? One of the main things we fight against daily is our flesh, our natural self, our carnal nature. The ability to fight against this fleshly nature is impossible before we become believers.  However, once we allow Christ to rule our lives, we are given the ability to wage war against our fleshly desires and are able to walk in the spirit, if we so choose. Galatians 5:17 tells us, "For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want." After your experience, see how it affects your attitude towards yourself. Did it draw you further away from your fleshly desires or did it increase them? Did it cause your love of self to grow even more, or did it give you an increased ability to fight against your flesh so you can be stronger in your spirit?

Tozer said, "A good rule is this: If this experience has served to humble me and make me little and vile in my own eyes it is of God; but if it has given me a feeling of self-satisfaction it is false and should be dismissed as emanating from self or the devil.  Nothing that comes from God will minister to my pride or self-congratulation.  If I am tempted to be complacent and feel superior because I have had a remarkable vision or an advanced spiritual experience, I should go at once to my knees and repent of the whole thing.  I have fallen victim to the enemy."

Fifth, how has it affected your relations and attitude toward your fellow Christians? Has it caused you to withdraw from them and develop an attitude of being critical or judgmental? Do you feel that you are now somehow superior to them and that you are on a separate level from them? It is true that you can find many reasons to find fault in your fellow brothers/sisters in Christ because we are all going to fall short of being perfect, and often do/say wrong things...what I am talking about is a different type of attitude one develops when they have become deceived.  They develop a strong carnal attitude of almost intolerance and no longer extend grace to others. First John 3:18,19 tells us what kind of attitude is the right attitude to have towards our fellow brothers/sisters in Christ, "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. This is how we know that we belong to the truth...".  

Tozer states, "Therefore we conclude that whatever tends to separate us in person or in heart from our fellow Christians is not of God, but is of the flesh or of the devil. And conversely, whatever causes us to love the children of God is likely to be of God."

Sixth, how does it affect your attitude towards the world? The type of "world" Tozer means is not where we are to go out and share the gospel, or how we are able enjoy the beauty of God's creation in the world.  He is referring to what is described in First John 2: 16-17, " For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever." 

Tozer made it clear what he meant when he said, "This is the world by which we may test the spirits. It is the world of carnal enjoyments, of godless pleasures, of the pursuit of earthly riches and reputation and sinful happiness.  It carries on without Christ, following the counsel of the ungodly and being animated by the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that works in the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2). Its religion is a form of godliness, without power, which has a name to live but is dead. It is, in short, unregenerate human society romping on its way to hell, the exact opposite of the true Church of God, which is a society of regenerate souls going soberly but joyfully on their way to heaven....Any real work of God in our heart will tend to unfit us for the world's fellowship."

Lastly, has your attitude towards sin changed? When one is a true disciple of Christ, he/she seeks holiness and seeks to remain sinless before Almighty God. Titus 2: 11-13 tells us, " For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,  while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." Have you become less concerned about sinning or are you still striving towards holiness? 

Tozer summed it up when he said, "Anything that weakens his (our) hatred of sin may be identified immediately as false to the Scriptures, to the Savior and to his (our) own soul(s). Whatever makes holiness more attractive and sin more intolerable may be accepted as genuine...Jesus warned, 'There shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they should deceive the very elect.' These words describe our day too well to be coincidental.  In the hope that the 'elect' may profit by them I have set forth these (seven) tests.  The result is in the hand of God."


Please be very careful when you listen to someone's ideas or teachings, or read something. Always, always test it.  I do not know about you, but the fact that some of God's very elect will be deceived causes me to be very cautious and careful in what I expose myself to and what I accept into my own life as a believer.  I would rather be the last one standing for the truth than to be one of the many who will be turned away by Christ as He says "go away, I never knew you".

 First Timothy 4:1 warns us, "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will  abandon the faith (you cannot abandon something if you have not been a follower) and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons." Again I say, always test what is presented to you!
 

P.S. Sorry for the changes in type size...computer not cooperating today!