[1] aren’t just for students

 

1 John 4:1 Living Bible

Dearly loved friends, don’t always believe everything you hear just because someone says it is a message from God: test it first to see if it really is. For there are many false teachers around…

 

John 7:16-17 The Message

Jesus said, “I didn’t make this up. What I teach comes from the One who sent me. Anyone who wants to do his will can test this teaching and know whether it’s from God or whether I’m making it up.

 

Proverbs 14:12 GN

What you is the right road may lead to death.

 

New International Version

There is a way that to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

 

[2] Some of our can come from God and some don’t

 

Matthew 16:15-17, 21-23 New Life Version

¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷ Jesus said to him, “Simon, son of Jonah, you are happy because you did not learn this from man. My Father in heaven has shown you this…

²¹ From that time on Jesus began to tell His followers that He had to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things… ²² Peter took Jesus away from the others and spoke sharp words to Him. He said, “Never, Lord! This must not happen to You!” ²³ Then Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are standing in My way. You are not thinking how God thinks. You are thinking how man thinks.”

 

Test #1 Does this thought agree with the Bible?

 

Luke 21:33 New Living Translation

Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

 

Galatians 1:8 Amplified Bible

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we [originally] preached to you, let him be condemned to destruction!

 

• God tell us not to look to horoscopes and astrology

 

• Daniel 2:9-12, 27-28 – Leviticus 19:26, 31

 

Isaiah 47:13-14 New Living Translation

¹³ All the advice you receive has made you tired. Where are all your astrologers,
those stargazers who make predictions each month? Let them stand up and save you from what the future holds.

¹⁴ But they are like straw burning in a fire; they cannot save themselves from the flame. You will get no help from them at all; their hearth is no place to sit for warmth.

 

2 Kings 21:6 New Living Translation

⁶ Manasseh also sacrificed his own son in the fire. He practiced sorcery and divination, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in the Lord’s sight, arousing his anger.

 

Test #2 Does this idea make me more like Christ?

 

• God has always been more interested in my growth than my immediate comfort

 

2 Corinthians 10:5 Amplified Bible

We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ…

 

Philippians 2:5 New Century Version

In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.

 

Test #3 Does my church family it what I’m considering?

 

1 Corinthians 2:16 Amplified Bible

For who has known the mind and purposes of the Lord, so as to instruct Him? But have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes].

 

Proverbs 11:9 Good News

The wisdom of the righteous can save you.

 

• There is a to learning…

 

• When you learn from you pay the price…

 

• When you learn from the of the bible and godly people its free

 

Test #4 Does this plan fit with how God has me?

 

Ephesians 2:10 Amplified Bible

For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].

 

Romans 12:6 Living Bible

 God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well…

 

Test #5 Do I sense God’s about it?

 

1 Corinthians 14:33 Amplified Bible

³³ for God is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order.

 

Philippians 4:6-7 New International Reader’s Version

⁶ Don’t worry about anything. No matter what happens, tell God about everything. Ask and pray, and give thanks to him. ⁷ Then God’s peace will watch over your hearts and your minds. He will do this because you belong to Christ Jesus. God’s peace can never be completely understood.

 

Test #6 Test it with great

 

• How much will it me?

 

Luke 14:28-30 New International Version

²⁸ “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

 

• If I say yes to this what do I have to say no to?

 

• Is this a now thing or a later thing?

 

• When I get to heaven will I be glad that I did this?

 

1 Corinthians 3:12-14 New Living Translation

¹² Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. ¹³ But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. ¹⁴ If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward.