Let us examine everything in order to retain what is good for the uplifting of the Church

Saturday September 2, 2023

Theme : “Let us examine everything in order to retain what is good for the uplifting of the Church” Text : 1 John 4:1-6

1. Beloveds, do not believe every spirit; but try the spirits, whether they are of God, for many false prophets have come into the world. 2. Recognize by this the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ come in the flesh is of God; 3. and any spirit that does not confess Jesus is not of God, it is that of the antichrist, whose coming you have learned, and who is already in the world now. 4. You, little children, you are of God, and you have conquered them, because he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5. They are of the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6. We are of God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not of God does not listen to us: it is by this that we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Let's remember:

We must examine everything in order to retain what is good for the uplifting of the Church. To examine something carefully requires self-control, attention, lucidity and of course the discernment which is the most important. We can as well examine a thing and fail to interpret the result correctly or be misunderstood by our neighbor. This is why this work requires strong assistance from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can convince, correct, teach, translate, enlighten, demonstrate, guide, discourage or encourage, filter, in short, do what the human mind is not capable of better perceiving. In us, the Holy Spirit must occupy a place of choice so that he can easily exercise his routine activity. It is the Spirit of God who discerns all spirits in us and tries them; to show us those who are of God or not. It is He who flushes out the false prophets and other usurpers. It is the same Spirit that works as it is written in 1 Corinthians 12:11. "One and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing them to each one in particular as he will." It is therefore easy for the Holy Spirit to recognize his work or the counterfeit of his work. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus so he confesses Jesus. Those who do not confess Jesus are spoilsports. It is the mark of the antichrist who is already in the world. This is why we must treasure the Spirit of God in our life so as not to be in the service of the devil. Let us examine everything in it, we will listen only to the sound and holy things of God. He who is of God examines everything and retains what is good for the uplifting of the Church. He knows how to choose the good part, it is by this that we recognize the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Excellent Saturday. Amen. Alain Louz.-