How Will I Know?
Pastor Jim Kilby • January 9, 2023
I received a neat letter from a young woman today. She reminded me that I write a lot about encountering evil, but since evil is often very subtle, she wondered how she'd know it if she encountered Satan or a demon. A great question, and one that every Christian should know the answer to. My young friend is correct, there is plenty of evil in the world. Of course, when you do encounter it, knowing God's Word (and especially knowing God) is our best defense. But, as my young friend pointed out, the subtleties of evil can be quite confusing. Surely, many knowledgeable brother or sister in Christ has met a demon and unknowingly followed their instructions. I believe that most cults are started this way... someone sees an "angel" who they assume is from God. They're assuming is the biggest problem because we're clearly told in Scripture that "Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light" (1 Corinthians 11:14). So what are we supposed to do? We're supposed to ask them? Yep, that's right! We're supposed to boldly ask them who is the Christ. Any other answer than "Jesus" is an automatic indicator of who their father really is. Remember this and put it into practice. And also remember, demons don't come wearing red suits and horns; they come looking just like you and me!
"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them [demons and those who follow demons], because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood." 1 John 4:1-6
Pastor Jim Kilby
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One of the most frequent questions I get from teens is based on their heartfelt desire to lead a loved one to Christ. They'll ask me, "How can I convince them?" as if it were them who was doing the convincing. The Scriptures are quite clear that we are to be busy sharing the Gospel, praying for others, and even doing our best to witness with both our words and our best arguments for the Truth. What it doesn't say is that we are responsible for the seed being planted, for watering it, or even for the harvest. That is the Lord's work. In fact, Jesus was even more blunt when he sent out the disciples on a missionary journey. "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town." Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 10:14) Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
When the United States was very young, the vast majority of the founders called on God Almighty for their strength, their protection and their guidance. Now that the country has vast armies, "Homeland Security" and a great dependence on its own ability to defend itself, God is just not as necessary to the average American. In fact, calling on God has become ridiculous to many. They would love to see the United States become 100 percent secular, totally eliminating God and all references to Him from anything publicly owned. What's more, they're not real happy with Him being referenced on private property either, and some have even taken to harassing the saints. Of course all of this was predicted by our Lord, and you can be sure He still has our back! Throughout the Old Testament His people faced similar situations and He always protected His people over the nation(s) who were oppressing them. The angel who was speaking to me said, "Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, but I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they added to the calamity.'" Zechariah 1:14 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
Although we often claim to know God and His ways, the way we go about things often prove us wrong. Many believe that God requires them to do all types of good deeds, celebrate certain holidays, fast during special times, go to church, etc., etc... It's not that God does not want those things, but He is more concerned about our motives. Far too often we do them to try to get favor from God, when, if we've given our lives to Jesus, we've already gotten His favor! Then, just when we think we're doing great with the whole "good deed thing," we're sinning like crazy with the way we oppress others, gossip, hate, slander... I think you get the message. What God wants is for us to listen to Him, and to do what He says with the right motives toward Him AND the right motives toward others. It's not our fasting (giving up food or other things) that He wants... it's for us to treat others with justice and mercy. Then the word of the Lord Almighty came to me: "Ask all the people of the land and the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned... was it really for me that you fasted? And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?'... And the world of the Lord came again to Zechariah: "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other'... But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit... So the Lord Almighty was very angry. "'When I called they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,' says the Lord Almighty." Zechariah 7:4-13 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
The Scriptures tell us to love God, and to love others. Often loving God is evidenced by our love for others, and the opposite is also true. Although we may say we love God, if we don't love others (especially other believers), we are proven liars by our actions. In loving new believers we need to be extremely careful that we don't cause them to stumble by our actions, our advice, or our false interpretations of Scripture. To do so not only hurts them, but it hurts all members of the Body of Christ. It is actually a sin against the God we claim to love. "When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ." 1 Corinthians 8:12 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
Although I always get plenty of mail when I broach the subject of horoscopes and other fortune telling disciplines, I simply cannot avoid the issue. Many who write me claim that reading their daily horoscope is "just for fun" and "means nothing to them," but many also quickly admit that they read it more religiously than the Scriptures, and even consult it more often than they pray to God. With a growing fascination with mediums and spiritists in the media, I've also seen a similar growth in young people seeking them for advice. For a Christian there simply is no excuse for having "fun" with the tools of demons and devils. "When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! [basically, to the Bible--the Word of God] If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn." Isaiah 8:19-20 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
For Christians who are growing in the Lord, this world will very quickly become a strange place to live. When the world calls you "crazy" for believing in a God you've never seen, you'll not be angry, but feel prayerfully sorry that they've not had their eyes opened too! When they mock you for your stances on moral issues, you'll feel isolated, but sure that your beliefs are Rock solid. When you spend time reading your Bible, praying, and thanking God others will think you're wasting your time. And when you spend time biting your tongue, loving people that others hate, and keeping yourself pure for the Lord, it will only make sense to other believers. Let's face it brothers and sisters, you don't belong here! BUT, you've been left here to shine Jesus' light into the world for all to see. Get busy, 'cause it won't be long before He brings you home where you DO belong! "Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear." 1 Peter 1:17 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
There's a lot of radical misconceptions in the world today about heaven, hell and all things spiritual. Modern novels, so-called "intellectuals" and even some leaders of the church try to reinvent Jesus in a light they prefer to see Him in. Many don't like the fact that Jesus was "without sin" or that He spoke of a real hell with fire in it! Some don't like the narrowness of the path He would have us walk, or believe that Jesus actually died, and rose again from the grave. I'm far from being God (really far!), but even I wouldn't appreciate someone taking a pen and reinventing me, what I stand for, or even one single fact about me. Would you? Imagine for a moment how God thinks about those who try to "reinvent" Him. Friends, we must get serious about the reading of the Holy Scriptures. There and only there will we learn exactly who Jesus was (and is), and who we are in light of His Word. Only there will we gain the knowledge we need to beat down lies that war against the faith. These are the Scriptures that present the good news of what Jesus came to earth to do, and the terrible news of what will happen to those who choose to ignore Him, like it or not. Honestly, how long has it been since you spent some time in them? Then he will say to those on his left, '"Depart from me, you who are cursed, in to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 25:41) Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
The world will tell you that if you want to make a lot of money, you'll either need to take huge risks, have a lot of money in the first place, or go to college and make sure you pick a career that pays well. God tells us that all ability to gain wealth comes from Him, that monetary wealth isn't even important, and that if we do gain wealth and then forget about Him, we'll be worse off than if we never had it! Hmmm.... God's way or man's way? I'll go with God! "You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' "But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who give you the ability to produce wealth, and so firms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today." Deuteronomy 8:17-18 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
"But everyone else is doing it!" How many times have you heard that line before? How many times have you said it? I get a ton of mail from teens who tell me they know they want to stay "virgins" but they want to know more clearly where the line is when it comes to making out (is that still a term these days? Ha!). I even had someone recently tell me that they know Jesus wants them not to have sex, but since "everyone else is doing it" wouldn't it be okay anyway? Wow! I rarely get thrown for a loop, but that one did it! First of all, everyone else is NOT doing it. Secondly, sexual purity is just that--purity! When something is pure, it is without "impurity." Look at it this way. How much dog manure do you like in your birthday cake? Right! Now, do you want dog manure to be anywhere near your cake? Do you want it "rubbed up against" your cake? If you pick the same answers I picked, then you also understand purity! Treat your body the same way until you are married. "I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness." Romans 6:19 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
