Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)
The question arises, how do you test the spirits?
“By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.” (Matthew 7:16-17)
When much light and understanding are derived through experience of desolations and consolations and discernment of diverse spirits.
—Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises, 176
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5-8)
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:7-11)
Discernment of the spirits—a type of spiritual wisdom—is a charism readily given to and received by those who pray to the Father.
The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)
The fear of the Lord is the well-founded fear of the God of justice who threatens, curses, and punishes. The Bible, the Old Testament in particular, is the saga of an omnipotent God who not only rewards obedience to his commands but also punishes wickedness. Indeed, the Israelites are enjoined to obey God out of fear.
See, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse: a blessing for obeying the commandments of the Lord, your God, which I give you today; a curse if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord, your God, but turn aside from the way I command you today, to go after other gods, whom you do not know. (Deuteronomy 11:26-28)
The one who sins shall die. (Ezekiel 18:20)
Obedience to God’s commands is a sign of wisdom.
See, I am teaching you the statutes and ordinances as the Lord, my God, has commanded me, that you may observe them in the land you are entering to possess. Observe them carefully, for this is your wisdom and discernment in the sight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, “This great nation is truly a wise and discerning people.” For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and ordinances that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today? (Deuteronomy 4:5-8)
Obedience does not conclude in fear but leads to the knowledge and love of God. It is this love that casts out the fear of God’s punishments. While fear of the Lord is indeed the beginning of wisdom, knowledge and love of God is the end.
“Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” (John 14:21)
There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)
We grow in wisdom when we live according God’s commands; in doing so, we develop our capacity to discern the spirits, which is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Some attempt to redefine “fear of the Lord” by expunging the sentiment of “fear” and arguing that the concept consists only and entirely of “awe” and “reverence” of God, but this interpretation is incorrect. God is unquestionably to be feared, according to Jesus’ words: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.” (Matthew 10:28) The “one” unmistakably refers to God; it is only God who has the power to eternally condemn a soul to Gehenna, meaning, hell.
The foregoing misinterpretation is soundly repudiated elsewhere:
“Some redefine the fear of God for believers to ‘respecting’ Him. While respect is definitely included in the concept of fearing God, there is more to it than that. A biblical fear of God, for the believer, includes understanding how much God hates sin and fearing His judgment on sin—even in the life of a believer. Hebrews 12:5-11 describes God’s discipline of the believer. While it is done in love (Hebrews 12:6), it is still a fearful thing. When we were children, our fear of discipline from our parents no doubt prevented some evil actions on our part. The same should be true in our relationship with God. We should fear His discipline, and therefore seek to live our lives in a way that pleases Him.
“Believers…have His promise that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). We have His promise that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Fearing God means having a reverence for Him that greatly impacts the way we live. The fear of God is respecting Him, obeying Him, submitting to His discipline, and worshiping Him in awe.”
https://www.gotquestions.org/fear-God.html
—“What does it mean to have the fear of God?” GotQuestions.org, June 7, 2023
Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace. (James 3:13-18)
“Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice”…politics.
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“Desert” photo
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“Lights” image
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“Night sky” photo courtesy of matthewwu88
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Gonzalinho
“Open bible” photo is in the public domain.
ReplyDeleteGonzalinho
Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)
ReplyDeleteThe question arises, how do you test the spirits?
“By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.” (Matthew 7:16-17)
When much light and understanding are derived through experience of desolations and consolations and discernment of diverse spirits.
—Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises, 176
Gonzalinho
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5-8)
ReplyDelete“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:7-11)
Discernment of the spirits—a type of spiritual wisdom—is a charism readily given to and received by those who pray to the Father.
Gonzalinho
The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)
ReplyDeleteThe fear of the Lord is the well-founded fear of the God of justice who threatens, curses, and punishes. The Bible, the Old Testament in particular, is the saga of an omnipotent God who not only rewards obedience to his commands but also punishes wickedness. Indeed, the Israelites are enjoined to obey God out of fear.
See, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse: a blessing for obeying the commandments of the Lord, your God, which I give you today; a curse if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord, your God, but turn aside from the way I command you today, to go after other gods, whom you do not know. (Deuteronomy 11:26-28)
The one who sins shall die. (Ezekiel 18:20)
Obedience to God’s commands is a sign of wisdom.
See, I am teaching you the statutes and ordinances as the Lord, my God, has commanded me, that you may observe them in the land you are entering to possess. Observe them carefully, for this is your wisdom and discernment in the sight of the peoples, who will hear of all these statutes and say, “This great nation is truly a wise and discerning people.” For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and ordinances that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today? (Deuteronomy 4:5-8)
Obedience does not conclude in fear but leads to the knowledge and love of God. It is this love that casts out the fear of God’s punishments. While fear of the Lord is indeed the beginning of wisdom, knowledge and love of God is the end.
“Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” (John 14:21)
There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)
We grow in wisdom when we live according God’s commands; in doing so, we develop our capacity to discern the spirits, which is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Gonzalinho
Some attempt to redefine “fear of the Lord” by expunging the sentiment of “fear” and arguing that the concept consists only and entirely of “awe” and “reverence” of God, but this interpretation is incorrect. God is unquestionably to be feared, according to Jesus’ words: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.” (Matthew 10:28) The “one” unmistakably refers to God; it is only God who has the power to eternally condemn a soul to Gehenna, meaning, hell.
DeleteThe foregoing misinterpretation is soundly repudiated elsewhere:
“Some redefine the fear of God for believers to ‘respecting’ Him. While respect is definitely included in the concept of fearing God, there is more to it than that. A biblical fear of God, for the believer, includes understanding how much God hates sin and fearing His judgment on sin—even in the life of a believer. Hebrews 12:5-11 describes God’s discipline of the believer. While it is done in love (Hebrews 12:6), it is still a fearful thing. When we were children, our fear of discipline from our parents no doubt prevented some evil actions on our part. The same should be true in our relationship with God. We should fear His discipline, and therefore seek to live our lives in a way that pleases Him.
“Believers…have His promise that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). We have His promise that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Fearing God means having a reverence for Him that greatly impacts the way we live. The fear of God is respecting Him, obeying Him, submitting to His discipline, and worshiping Him in awe.”
https://www.gotquestions.org/fear-God.html
—“What does it mean to have the fear of God?” GotQuestions.org, June 7, 2023
Gonzalinho
Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)
DeleteGonzalinho
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace. (James 3:13-18)
ReplyDelete“Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice”…politics.
Gonzalinho