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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Israel was always a little hard headed when it came to consistently obeying God. No doubt God used them as an example to us all in that we are all the same when it comes to sin--we desperately need a Savior. Israel had chance after chance to change her ways and do God's bidding. Inevitably she would fail. While Jesus was walking along one day he told a story about a vineyard and how it would be taken away and given to others who would bear fruit in it. The analogy was immediately understood by the religious leaders and they were furious. He used the story to prophesy that He would give His Spirit to the Gentiles. He also expected them to bear fruit--the fruit that would come from walking in the Spirit. The lesson here is that God expects all Christians to bear fruit, but it is often those who think they are the most "religious" who do not. Sitting around thinking that since you are "saved" God doesn't expect much of you is a serious mistake. Moreover, it's one of the signs that you don't have the Spirit at all. "Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the Scriptures: '"The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes" 'Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone [Jesus] will be broken to pieces [become repentant and change], but he on whom it falls will be crushed." Matthew 21:42-44 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
I do my best to live a righteous life, but as far as I can tell, I've never made it through a whole day without messing it up somewhere! Thanks be to God that the righteousness I wear is not my own, but that of Jesus Christ. Sure, I need to keep on trying and praying and reading and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead me, but even when I make a mistake I'm still righteous. All who trust in Jesus are righteous because it doesn't rely on our deeds. If we could have done it on our own, then Jesus would not have needed to give His life to make us right with the Father. "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:21-24 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
Even though I'm a pretty solid guy, I cannot even come close to bench pressing 300 pounds. I have a good friend that is nowhere as big as I am that can do that (and more) in his sleep! He had a goal years ago to be a weight lifter and so he works out every single day. He's absolutely built! I, on the other hand, struggle to work out at all! If you want to build physical strength, then you'll probably want to go into weight training. As you push through the different thresholds of your weakness, you'll become stronger. Surprisingly, if you want to build spiritual strength, the process is quite similar. As you work out spiritually, you'll study and pray. Then as you seek to serve God you'll undoubtedly face situations where your body or your mind say you can't (or won't) make it. As you push through those thresholds you'll find that God gives you incredible strength. You'll also gain both strength and faith for the struggles to come. As the process continues, one day God will be able to use you for some seriously heavy lifting! "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
Fasting is not something many Christians are very familiar with today. Maybe it's the fact that we're just too busy, that fasting is not really talked about much, or maybe that it involves planning and self-sacrifice. At any rate, even the thought of going without food for even a meal or two is not high on many lists. About 10 or so years ago I was challenged to complete my first fast with a group of people from my church. It was one of the toughest things I've ever done, and we didn't even fast that long. I remember the prayer time during that fast even to this moment. It was sweet, and the experience was a huge faith builder for me. Later, I started doing fasts by myself without telling anyone but the Lord about it. It's been a while since I completed my last fast and I've been troubled by my lack of desire to do another one. Whenever this happens (like with reading my Bible or praying), I've learned that it's time to make a plan to do it anyway--the love for the task will return soon! This week I realized that God had answered several prayers for my family and our ministry, and that although we've been making great strides, that's caused us to come under attack. What a great time to go to God in prayer, and fasting is an excellent way to punctuate the desire to deal with Him personally. I don't generally do this, but if you have prayer requests or would like to help me in this tough time in our ministry, please go to our website and download a personal letter and form I've put there just for you. "So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes." Daniel 9:3 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
Is there something or someone that makes you feel more comfortable? When you're feeling stressed out is there a place you run to (either real, or in your mind) that seems to help? I took a class once where the teacher wanted us to imagine our "beautiful place" and go there in our minds whenever things were tough. I guess I wouldn't throw the whole concept out now that I'm a Christian, I just prefer to prayerfully sit and talk to Jesus about what's going on. After I've been at His feet, I always have a sense of what direction He would have me take in life. When I used to leave my "beautiful place", I would always find the situation I was avoiding was waiting for me and was often even worse when I got back. What's more, I was no more ready to deal with it. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
I heard an interesting statistic on a commercial. It was for one of those weight loss clinics. They boldly stated that people who joined their program lost three times as much weight as those who didn't. My guess is that those who joined also kept the weight off as long as they had the support group in tact. If this is true for a weight loss clinic, it's also true for the church. Although people endlessly complain about some of the stuff that goes on in church, none of that stuff is caused by God. And yet if you belong to a Bible-believing church, joining in with the imperfect but growing brothers and sisters, you will find your faith will inevitably grow leaps and bounds over trying to go it alone. "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:25 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
I get a lot of interesting mail from teens (and adults) and I don't mean to make light of it, but I've gotten a slew of it lately asking questions like, "I'm masturbating a lot and I don't know how to stop" "My boyfriend and I are having oral sex and I feel bad about it, but I don't know what God thinks" and "How can I stop watching television shows where I find myself aroused sexually?" Honestly, does anyone really believe that God has not already spoken to someone asking such questions? God's answers us much better than we want to admit. The problem is we don't like the answers because they will cause our flesh to suffer. Unless we die to self, we simply are not on the same page with our Lord. Speaking of "simply," here are some simple answers to those questions. Turn off the T.V., find something else to do with your hands, and separate yourself from anyone who wants you to compromise yourself sexually. "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." Galatians 5:19-24 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
We are incredibly valuable to God, but not because we bring anything of value to the relationship. We are tainted by sin, and it is only by His grace we even keep our breath. The pride and arrogance in us sometimes causes us to think differently. We come to God with what we think are our "good deeds" or with our talents or abilities and present them as though He owes us. He does not. Some even consider their financial position or their family’s stature should gain them something with God. Coming to God with such insanity and trusting in it even after you've been presented with the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the same as out rightly refusing His offer of Grace. We have nothing to offer... and yet once we embrace Him, we have everything to offer the world. Receiving Him requires two open and empty hands. "Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, 'Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?' 'Why do you ask me about what is good?' Jesus replied. 'There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.' 'Which ones?' the man inquired. Jesus replied, '"Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother," and "love your neighbor as yourself." 'All these I have kept,' the young man said. 'What do I still lack?' Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.' When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." Matthew 19:16-22 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
Weeding a garden can be hard work, especially when someone is coming along and sowing the seeds of weeds when you're not looking! It's so difficult in fact, that God Himself will be doing the weeding of His garden. He knows if we try to separate the "wheat from the weeds" we'll inevitably pull up the good crop with the bad one. In the garden we know as the church, no doubt some of the weeds that are planted will work themselves into leadership positions. We've all no doubt seen the results of this mockery. Again, we can take great comfort in knowing that Jesus Himself told us that the gates of hell would not prevail over the church, and He'll be along soon enough to do the weeding. Trust in His Word, and lean on leadership that you know does the same thing. The others... Yea, pray that God will provide someone else to be a spiritual leader for you! "He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit." Matthew 15:13-14 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
