IS THIS REALLY GOD?

IS THIS REALLY GOD?

1John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

I remember the night I first prayed to the receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. As I suddenly became aware of God’s power in the room I became afraid. I guess my Baptist roots were rising up in me. Thoughts like “Speaking in tongues is of the devil.” And this classic lie, “That passed way with the apostles”, were going off inside my head. Then I realized that the Presence in that room was glorifying Jesus. That didn’t sound like the devil to me. I opened my heart and was overwhelmed by the beautiful glory of The Lord. That was one of the greatest blessings in my life, forty years later I am still speaking in other tongues.
Sadly, the modern day Pharisees are at it again. Recently, there was a “Strange Fire” Conference attacking the modern day moving of the Holy Spirit. In this conference the working of the Spirit was said to be the work of the devil. Jonathan Edwards dealt with the same accusations during the revival in his church. Goen in his comments in Yale’s volume on the Great Awakening shared Edwards’ points about distinguishing the work of the Spirit from the works of the devil. Check this out.

“Had Edwards stopped with merely trying to turn aside the rising doubts and criticisms, probably few would have been convinced. But he hastened on to his positive signs, five distinctive marks which would lead unerringly to a valid conclusion. People may recognize the hand of God, he argued, in a work which (1) raises their esteem of Jesus as Son of God and Savior of the world, (2) leads them to turn from their corruptions and lusts to the righteousness of God, (3) increases their regard for Holy Scripture, (4) establishes their minds in the objective truths of revealed religion, and (5) evokes genuine love for God and man. “These marks,” he affirmed confidently, “are sufficient to outweigh a thousand such little objections, as many make from oddities, irregularities, and errors in conduct, and the delusions and scandals of some professors.”

These points from Edwards’ sermon “Distinguishing Marks” still serve as good guidelines for the move of God today. If the outpouring of the Spirit confirms the deity and redemptive work of Christ it must be God. If sinners are being saved and delivered from their sinful lives it must be The Lord. If people touched by the Spirit begin to have a new love for the written word it must be legitimate. Rather than being ashamed of the power of His presence we should be bold and confident that this is New Testament Christianity. If I am not mistaken, Paul warned us about last day Pharisees. He said to avoid people who have a form of godliness but deny the power. I love my Holy Ghost church. People may make fun and mock but at the end of the day it is the real deal.