There seems to be a disconnect at times between being spiritual and simultaneously using the minds that God has given us when we follow Jesus Christ. To have discernment or to question something is seen in some circles as automatically being divisive and a nuisance to a church leader’s vision and what he or she is trying to accomplish. Yet we are told in the Bible itself, which takes precedence over man’s opinions, that we to examine what we hear, see and experience.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
(1 Thessalonians 5:21 - KJV)

Though, other versions of the Bible will say to “test everything,” the reason why I chose the King James rendering here is because the phrase “prove all things,” really hammers home the point of believers needing to have something to backup what they say and do. I praise God for elders for encourage the believers to examine and to prove everything that is said and done but there are those who want to have control over people’s walk with Christ and as a result, they try to condition us to believe that we can never question anything they say or do. Some of you are taught that to question anything is rejecting the need to be under submission to a human spiritual authority.

But can elders (pastors, bishops) demand absolute loyalty from other believers no matter what they say or do? No, they can’t. Any pastor that claims that he or she is above scrutiny and that God will directly tell him/her when he/she is wrong is not working within biblical grounds. Even Paul wasn’t above scrutiny and the Bereans that he encountered in Acts 17 were considered to be “noble” because of the fact that they were not going to accept what Paul was saying simply because he said it or because it “sounded” right.

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily , whether those things were so.
(Acts 17:10-11 - KJV)

We have a right, brothers and sisters, to not just accept anything and everything. We have a right to put everything to the test. And when we do so, we are using discernment and we are using wisdom. Whether it’s in your walk with Christ or anything else in this life, don’t simply accept something because somebody says it. Check it out for yourself because then, not only will you have done your due diligence to research the evidence for yourself, but it will grow your faith. Just make sure that your motivation and intention is pure and that you use wisdom when you are testing something.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
(Ephesians 5:6-11 - NKJV)

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. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
(1 John 4:1-6 - NKJV)

There are many scriptures throughout the Bible related to false prophets. They are spiritually dangerous and throughout time have led many souls to hell and to eternal damnation. Satan himself was the first false prophet recorded in the Bible when he told Eve that she would not die if she ate the forbidden fruit. And false prophets even up until today are still telling people lies in order to get them to follow themselves and ultimately Satan, instead of Jesus Christ.

If Ephesians 5 tells us to have no fellowship with works of darkness, how would we know what is light and what is dark if we don’t examine everything? How would we know what to expose if we don’t even know the difference between what is good and what is evil? God’s Spirit provides discernment for us but we must act on it and cultivate it in our lives through following what the scriptures say. We find out “what is acceptable” to the Lord by walking with Christ and knowing Him while following the Bible.

John told us in 1 John to never just accept and believe in every spirit and even during his time, there were many false prophets in the world. Praise God for those of you who speak the truth and are blessing the lives of many of our brothers and sisters. Please continue to do so because we need you in these days. Back to John, he tells us that false prophets will speak falsely about who Jesus is and their doctrine will not be supported by the apostles’ teaching that we find throughout the New Testament. This is why it is so imperative to be familiar with the Bible and spend time in it on a regular basis.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves . Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
(2 Corinthians 13:5 - KJV)

Along with testing the words and actions of others, more importantly, we need to be regularly testing ourselves. This isn’t something that a pastor can do for you but you must do for yourself through your own walk with the Lord. A wise person will constantly reflect on his/her life and measure what has been said, done and even thought of against the way of God. A wise person will realize that nobody, including his or her self is above scrutiny and have humility in that regard. When we truly look at ourselves in the mirror of God’s word on a regular basis, then we will have the right outlook as to where we really stand with the Lord at this present time.

Jesus says in John 4 that the Father seeks those who will worship Him in “spirit and truth.” This involves both our spirits and our minds in order to accomplish this. And remember when Paul was speaking on the topic of tongues within a church gathering?

What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.
(1 Corinthians 14:15 - ESV)

According to Paul, it is better to know what we are doing, particularly among other believers, when we are being led by God’s Spirit. What this means is that your mind should be connected to what is going on. When the Day of Pentecost happened in Acts 2, Peter and the other apostles were fully engaged in their minds to what was taking place. They weren’t under some trance where they had no awareness of what they were doing but they are empowered by the Holy Spirit. Brothers and sisters, whatever we do in our spiritual lives, do not lose your mind but allow your mind to be included in whatever God is doing.