Test the Spirits

1 John 4:2-3 "This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Evert 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.""

   Lord, You are my precious savior, my sovereign Son of the living God, God incarnate, God-Man, and the only savior of mankind.  Satan is a liar and the father of lies.  He wants to thwart Your plan and deceive as many of Your human creation as possible.
   We have a horrible bumper sticker that I normally see on the back of a big pickup truck that says, "The one with the most toys wins".  It's like Satan believes that he with the most souls sins.  In his arrogance and pride, he does not want to admit that he is defeated.  On the other hand, he does know and wants to take as many human souls with him to burn in hell with him as possible and in any way possible and sees that as some sort of worship for himself.  Pride is so evil and destructive!
   Because of the Fall, we have four groups of people:

1. The first have never heard of You at all so they have made gods of their own because man was made to worship.
2. The second group are those who have heard of You, but have been deceived into thinking that You are simply a man, a good man and teacher, and maybe even a prophet, but certainly not the God-Man and God incarnate.
3. The third group is possibly the most sad of all.  They are the ones who claim to believe in You, but do not believe that salvation is by grace alone.  They believe in works.  They believe You were born incarnate but are now questioning the Virgin birth, or believe there is something other than simply trusting You for Your completed work on their behalf for salvation.  They believe they must work and do enough good in their lives to outweigh the bad in order to earn entrance into heaven; or they believe there are levels of salvation based on their performance to gain the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  This group breaks my heart most of all because they are the most deceived.
4. Then there is this fourth group who are true believers who know You and have an intimate relationship with You because they have been born from above.  They believe that they have absolutely nothing to offer You at salvation but their pathetic sinful soul, but believe solely in Your completed atoning sacrifice on their behalf that You accomplished on the cross.  They believe what Your word says that our best works are like filthy rags and it is not by works that we have done, but by Your mercy You saved us.

   Lord, simply by Your grace and mercy I am one of the last group.  I came from group four.  Thank You!  Please keep me from pride, Lord.  Keep its evil tentacles from snaking their way into my heart and life.  Without You and Your Holy Spirit within me I am nothing and can do nothing of worth without You.  I want You to rule over my heart and life at all times.  Help me, Lord to always look upward and not outward at others or inward too much so that I might be deceived.
     Psalm 139 asks that You search me and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts, see if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.  That is my prayer today and every day.