Is It Man or God That Gives the Interpretation of Dreams?

Dreams have always played a significant role throughout the Bible. God has used dreams at various times to warn, instruct, reveal future events, and communicate His purposes to His servants. However, not every dream originates from God. Some dreams arise from the natural mind, while others may have deceptive spiritual influences behind them. Therefore, the greatest challenge for every believer is not merely having dreams, but correctly discerning their source and receiving the proper interpretation.

One of the most important questions a Christian should ask is: Who gives the interpretation of dreams, man or God?

The Bible gives a clear answer.

God Alone Gives the Interpretation of Dreams

Throughout Scripture, faithful servants of God consistently acknowledged that the interpretation of dreams belongs to God and not to human wisdom.

When Pharaoh's chief cupbearer and chief baker were troubled by their dreams, Joseph said:

Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, I pray you."

Genesis 40:8

Years later, when Pharaoh dreamed troubling dreams concerning the future of Egypt, Joseph again refused to take personal credit. Instead, he humbled himself before God by saying:

"It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace."

Genesis 41:16

Likewise, when King Nebuchadnezzar demanded both his dream and its interpretation, Daniel acknowledged that no human being possessed such wisdom.

But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days."

Daniel 2:28

Daniel made it clear that the revelation was not because he was wiser than other men.

"But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living."

Daniel 2:30

These passages establish an important biblical principle:

Man may explain what God reveals, but God alone gives the true interpretation.

Without God's revelation, dream interpretation becomes human opinion rather than divine truth.

The Importance of Testing the Spirit Behind Every Dream

Not every dream carries a message from God.

The Apostle John commands believers:

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

1 John 4:1

Although John is primarily addressing spiritual teaching and prophetic influence, the principle applies whenever someone believes they have received a spiritual communication. Every spiritual experience, including dreams that seem spiritually significant, must be tested rather than accepted automatically.

Dreams can produce fear, excitement, confusion, or false hope. Therefore, Christians must seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit before concluding that a dream is from God.

Knowing the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error

John continues by explaining how believers distinguish truth from deception.

We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error."

1 John 4:6

Every genuine revelation from God will agree with God's Word and with the testimony of Christ.

The Spirit of Truth always glorifies Jesus Christ, produces righteousness, and leads believers toward obedience.

The spirit of error produces confusion, deception, fear, contradiction, false doctrine, and rebellion against God's revealed truth.

Therefore, dream interpretation must never contradict Scripture.

If an interpretation violates God's written Word, it did not originate from the Holy Spirit.

Satan Can Produce Deceptive Dreams

The Bible warns believers that Satan often disguises himself to deceive.

Paul writes:

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

"Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness."

2 Corinthians 11:14–15

This principle teaches that appearances alone cannot be trusted.

Just as Satan may disguise himself as an angel of light, he and his agents may seek to deceive by appearing as familiar or trusted figures. For this reason, believers should not assume that every comforting or emotionally powerful dream comes from God simply because it features someone recognizable or appears peaceful.

This is why discernment is essential.

My Personal Testimony

Over the years, I have experienced numerous dreams involving deceased relatives and friends.

Initially, such dreams could easily be misunderstood as genuine visits or messages from those who had passed away. However, as I grew in my understanding of Scripture, I came to recognize that these dreams were deceptive and relatively easy to interpret because they violated clear biblical principles concerning the dead.

God expressly forbids attempting to communicate with the dead.

"or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer."

Deuteronomy 18:11. A necromancer is a practitioner of black magic who claims to communicate with the spirits of the dead to divine the future or uses supernatural forces to reanimate corpses. Derived from the Greek nekros (dead) and manteia (divination).

Scripture also teaches that the dead no longer participate in the affairs of the living.

"For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing... also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished."

Ecclesiastes 9:5–6

Furthermore, Jesus' account of the rich man and Lazarus demonstrates that there is a great gulf fixed between the living and the dead, preventing them from returning to communicate with those on earth.

Luke 16:19–31

Because these passages establish spiritual laws regarding the condition of the dead, I concluded that such dreams could not have been genuine communications from deceased loved ones. Instead, they represented deception that had to be rejected rather than embraced.

This experience reinforced an important biblical truth:

Every dream must be interpreted in the light of Scripture rather than emotion or personal desire.

The Holy Spirit Leads Believers Into All Truth

Ultimately, dream interpretation should never depend upon human wisdom alone.

Jesus promised that believers would receive the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth."

John 16:13

Jesus also declared:

Even the Spirit of truth... he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

John 14:17

The Holy Spirit never contradicts the written Word of God because He is the One who inspired it (2 Peter 1:20–21). His ministry is to glorify Christ, reveal truth, and protect believers from deception.

When we surrender ourselves to His leadership, He grants discernment, wisdom, and understanding concerning spiritual matters, including dreams.

Conclusion

The Bible leaves no doubt that **the interpretation of dreams belongs to God. Joseph confessed it, Daniel confirmed it, and the Scriptures consistently affirm that divine revelation comes from God rather than human intellect.

At the same time, believers are commanded to test the spirits (1 John 4:1), distinguish the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of error (1 John 4:6), and recognize that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14–15). Consequently, every dream must be evaluated against the authority of God's Word.

My own experiences with dreams involving deceased relatives and friends strengthened this conviction. Rather than accepting those dreams at face value, Scripture provided the standard by which they could be tested. God's Word made it clear that communication with the dead is forbidden and inconsistent with His revealed truth. This illustrates the importance of allowing the Bible, not feelings, appearances, or human speculation, to govern the interpretation of spiritual experiences.

Therefore, Christians should neither fear dreams nor attempt to interpret them with their limited understanding of the principles concerning dreams. Instead, they should seek the Lord in prayer, rely upon the Scriptures, and trust the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of Truth to lead them into all truth.

Pastor Kevin L. A. Ewing 

www.kevinlaewing.com 

www.kevinlaewing.blogspot.com 

ewinglakevin@icloud.com

 

 

God Prepares His Servants Before Promoting Them.

"What the enemy intends for destruction, God can transform into preparation." There are seasons in life when it seems as though God has forgotten His children. Doors close without explanation. Relationships are broken. Injustice appears to prevail, and years pass without understanding why God would allow such painful experiences. Yet throughout Scripture, God reveals a profound truth: **He often prepares His servants in hidden places before He promotes them to public places.** No biblical example illustrates this truth more clearly than the life of Joseph. Joseph was the beloved son of Jacob, and from an early age, God revealed through dreams that he would one day be elevated above his brothers (Genesis 37:5–11). Instead of rejoicing, his brothers became consumed with jealousy. They stripped him of his special coat, threw him into a pit, and sold him as a slave to traders traveling to Egypt (Genesis 37:23–28). To their father, they made it appear that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal (Genesis 37:31–35). From a human perspective, Joseph's dreams seemed destroyed. In Egypt, Joseph was purchased by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. Although he had every reason to become bitter, Joseph remained faithful to God. The Lord blessed the work of his hands, and he eventually became overseer of Potiphar's household (Genesis 39:1–6). Then another injustice occurred. Potiphar's wife repeatedly tried to seduce Joseph, but he refused, saying: "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9) When Joseph fled from temptation, she falsely accused him of assault. Without a fair hearing, Joseph was thrown into prison (Genesis 39:7–20). Again, his circumstances seemed to move farther away from God's promises. Yet even in prison, **"the LORD was with Joseph"** (Genesis 39:21). God gave him favor with the prison keeper, and Joseph was entrusted with responsibility over the other prisoners (Genesis 39:22–23). Instead of wasting his suffering, Joseph continued serving faithfully. While imprisoned, Joseph interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh's chief cupbearer and chief baker, giving glory to God by declaring: "Do not interpretations belong to God?" (Genesis 40:8) Exactly as Joseph said, the cupbearer was restored, and the baker was executed (Genesis 40:20–22). Yet the restored cupbearer forgot Joseph, leaving him in prison for two more years (Genesis 40:23; 41:1). Even then, God had not forgotten him. When Pharaoh dreamed troubling dreams that none of Egypt's wise men could interpret, the cupbearer finally remembered Joseph (Genesis 41:9–13). Joseph was brought before Pharaoh, and once again he pointed away from himself: "It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace." (Genesis 41:16) Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dreams as seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine (Genesis 41:25–32). He also proposed a wise plan to preserve food during the years of plenty. Recognizing that God's wisdom was upon Joseph, Pharaoh elevated him from prisoner to governor over all Egypt in a single day: "See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt." (Genesis 41:41) Joseph's promotion was not accidental. The pit taught him humility. Slavery taught him service. Potiphar's house taught him leadership. Temptation taught him integrity. Prison taught him patience. The dreams taught him to depend on God. Every painful season became preparation for the position God had already planned. Years later, Joseph's brothers came to Egypt seeking food during the famine. They stood before the brother they had betrayed, not recognizing him (Genesis 42). Joseph had the authority to punish them, imprison them, or even seek revenge. Instead, after revealing his identity, he spoke words that continue to comfort believers today: "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people." (Genesis 50:20) Joseph saw beyond the betrayal. He understood that although his brothers were responsible for their actions, God had been working sovereignly through every trial to position him so he could preserve many lives—including the very family that had wronged him. Joseph chose forgiveness because he saw God's hand behind the pain. His story reminds us that our greatest disappointments may become God's greatest appointments. As I reflect upon my own life, I see a similar lesson. Earlier in my life, I became involved with two ladies at separate periods in my life who, unbeknownst to me, practiced witchcraft and placed love spells upon me with the intention of ultimately destroying my life. At the time, I did not understand what was happening. I only knew that I was living through confusion, spiritual oppression, deep depression, emotional pain, unexplained fear, and circumstances that I could not explain. Looking back, I now see those years differently. While I do not believe God was the author of evil, I believe He remained sovereign throughout the entire ordeal. Just as He never abandoned Joseph in the pit, the prison, or the palace, I know for certain He never abandoned me. Rather than allowing bitterness to take root, I have chosen not to hate those ladies. Instead, I see that even those painful experiences have become part of my preparation. They awakened me to spiritual realities. They drove me deeper into the Scriptures. They increased my dependence upon God. They gave me compassion for people who feel trapped, confused, or spiritually oppressed, like I once was. Most importantly, they prepared me for a ministry of helping others find freedom through the truth of God's Word and embracing the reality of the spiritual realm. Jesus said: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32) Today, my desire is not to magnify darkness but to magnify the power of God to deliver, heal, restore, and redeem. Just as Joseph used his God-given wisdom to preserve lives during a famine, I pray that God will use my experiences to point others toward the freedom, hope, and victory found in Jesus Christ. Joseph's life teaches us that promotion is not merely receiving a higher position; it is becoming the kind of person who can faithfully carry greater responsibility. Before God entrusts His servants with influence, He often develops their character through hardship. The pit was not Joseph's destination. The prison was not Joseph's destiny. Both were classrooms where God prepared him for the palace. May we remember that when we cannot understand our circumstances, we can still trust the One who is writing our story. If we remain faithful, God can use even the darkest chapters of our lives to accomplish His purposes and bring blessing to others. For the God who prepared Joseph is the same God who continues to prepare His servants today. Pastor Kevin L. A. Ewing www.kevinlaewing.com www.kevinlaewing.blogspot.com ewinglakevin@icloud.com

Stop Fueling What's Fighting You

The best way to end anything is to starve its source of existence. To the average person, this may sound
strange or ineffective. However, if one views this strategy holistically from an everyday life perspective, it will all make sense. If a fish is removed from water, it dies. If we remove oxygen from a fire, it dies. If we remove fuel from an engine, it dies. And if we deprive a person of food, they will eventually die. In reality, whenever we cease to fuel the existence of anything, the basic and natural laws dictate that it must die.

The Bible, which most of you may know I refer to as the rule book, is littered with principles that will bring certain situations to an end or, at a minimum, frustrate their efforts. While these principles may initially seem to place the practitioner at a disadvantage, they establish a path to victory and a more peaceful life.

To better illustrate my point, I’d like to invite everyone to focus on Matthew 5:44, which says the following: "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Again, on the surface, it would appear that this biblical principle for handling our enemies essentially asks us to be a doormat for them and offer no resistance or pushback to their attacks. This is usually the view when emotions and hurt are incorporated into the situation.

However, if we view the scripture mentioned above with wisdom and set our emotions aside, it will begin to make sense to us, leading us to approach situations with a long-term goal rather than a temporary fix that will eventually cause the issue to resurface. So, going back to my initial point, I said, "The best way to end anything is to starve its source of existence." In Matthew 5:44, Jesus is advising us not to retaliate when challenged by our enemies. In fact, He's commanding us to do the opposite of what our enemies are doing to us. While this may appear to be a weak move on the surface, taking the opposite position or refusing to retaliate is a subtle and effective way of disabling your enemy.

You might wonder how this method actually works. It's important to realize that your enemy often hopes you'll respond, because every retaliatory reply they get from you gives them more ammunition. They expect you to react so they can keep testing you. In truth, your responses show them that their actions are getting to you. Basically, by replying, you're giving them the satisfaction they're looking for, which only encourages their foolishness. Here is a more visual look at it. Let's say your enemy is fire, and you are water. Well, when your enemy curses you (fire), the way you extinguish their fire is by blessing them (water). If they are mean to you, you show them kindness, etc. Even if it doesn't seem to be working, continue doing the opposite or not responding at all; eventually, they will become frustrated and back off.

Let us look at some supporting scriptures to further prove my point:

Romans 12:14,19: "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not." "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

Luke 6:27-28: “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

1 Peter 3:9: Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

Romans 12:20-21: To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Proverbs 25:21-22: If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

1 Peter 2:23: When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

Luke 6:34-35: And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

1 Corinthians 4:12-13: and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

Exodus 23:4-5: “If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.

Proverbs 24:29: Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.”

Proverbs 20:22: Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.

Romans 12:17: Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

Proverbs 24:17-19: Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him. Fret not yourself because of evildoers, and be not envious of the wicked,

1 Thessalonians 5:15: See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

As you have read, the Bible is filled with principles and rules to extinguish the flames of our enemies. The common denominator for those who adhere to scripture is that we do not fuel the fires of our enemies. We must not do so, nor allow anyone to encourage us to do so, because we will be in direct violation of the scriptures.

Again, as I would have said before, the best way to end anything is to starve its source. Stop feeding your enemy's attacks. If you want your enemies to stop, then either stop responding to them or respond according to the word of God. As Believers in Jesus Christ, we are to uphold the rules of scripture rather than our emotions.

Kevin L. A Ewing
ewinglakevin@icloud.com
kevinlaewing.blogspot.com
www.kevinlaewing.com

Signs That a Nation is Under The Rule Of Witchcraft Powers!

From a biblical and spiritual standpoint, a nation affected by witchcraft or occult

influences will experience a disruption of divine order, replaced by spiritual deception and manipulation, ultimately resulting in hardship in every area of life for that country. Although the Bible does not offer a specific checklist, it does provide a contextual perspective on political leaders resorting to occult powers to gain political power and the consequences that follow for the people of that country. Below is a summary of key indicators of a nation that has been spiritually enslaved due to witchcraft.

Deception as a Tool of Governance: The core of witchcraft is often defined as anything that leads a people astray through deception, causing a nation to "err" or go out of alignment with truth.

Manipulation, Intimidation, and Domination: These three traits—often called the "three-fold cord" of witchcraft—frequently replace genuine leadership. When a nation’s systems rely on fear and lies to gain control or coercive authority to silence dissent, it is viewed as operating in rebellion against God.

Widespread Rebellion and Stubbornness: Scripture explicitly links rebellion to witchcraft ("For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft," 1 Samuel 15:23). A nation characterized by persistent, stubborn defiance of moral or spiritual laws is often seen as being under this influence.

Spiritual Blindness and Heavy Atmospheres: A "bewitched" nation may experience a loss of spiritual discernment, where theology and intellectualism replace revelation. This often manifests as a "spiritually heavy" atmosphere in which common practices and traditions carry an underlying sense of control. 

Presence of Occult Strongholds: In regions or nations under such influence, these areas may also see high rates of unexplained mental illness along with suicide. 

Erosion of Truth and Rise of Deception: A nation under this influence frequently experiences a loss of truth, where lies, false prophecy, and deception are welcomed, and righteousness is actively opposed. There is always a proliferation of false prophets in a nation under witchcraft attacks.

The Future Generation: It is without a doubt that in a nation under spiritual oppression, the younger population will be severely attacked or indoctrinated by evil at a young age, such as child abuse, trauma, etc. This sets the stage for the child to mature into resentment, rejection, and bitterness. If they are blessed enough to escape this, the next stage will be mental illness, such as anxiety attacks, depression, and severe confusion, which will ultimately lead to rebellion and culminate in suicide.

Unnatural Division and Strife: Intense, unexplainable, and persistent social, political, and familial strife, leading to a complete breakdown of unity.

Colonialism/Imperialism: Scripture stands as clear evidence that when a nation is under witchcraft powers, foreigners will rise to great prominence and dominate, while the natives sit and watch helplessly as they're being overrun in their own country, Deuteronomy 28:33, 43-44.

Inversion of Values: A culture where good is considered bad, and bad is considered good, a man can identify as a woman, and a woman can identify as a man, accompanied by widespread moral decay and apathy.

Untimely Deaths: One of the most common signs of a nation under occult powers would be an increase in deaths, particularly untimely deaths. This is due to political leaders making blood sacrifices to evil altars in exchange for votes and ultimately winning the position they're vying for. A perfect example of this would be when King Manasseh of Israel. He abandoned the God of Israel to serve idols (2 Kings 21:21). His decision as a political leader resulted in much bloodshed in the land (2 Kings 21:16).

Corruption among Political and Religious Leaders: The scriptures clearly show that what affects the head will eventually impact the body. If a nation's leader has used witchcraft to secure an election, it means evil spirits have been unleashed in the land through blood sacrifices at evil altars. This corruption is not limited to political figures; Ezekiel 8 reveals that religious leaders have also become corrupt. The following scriptures highlight principles on how leadership influences flow: (Psalm 133:1-2, Matthew 26:31, Mark 14:27, Zechariah 13:7).


If your country is approaching general elections, please pray for its stability and leadership. I also recommend praying for your family, asking for a spiritual shield of protection around them, especially to guard against untimely deaths caused by the increasing use of witchcraft in pursuit of political power.

Pastor Kevin L. A. Ewing 
ewinglakevin@icloud.com
kevinlaewing.blogspot.com
www.kevinlaewing.com

Is life Truthful or Unfair?

Most people hate the realities life hands them. What is even more interesting is that they chronically complain about the unfairness life deals them, while completely ignoring the fact that they are the number one producers of what they deem unfair.

So, what is this reality of life you may be asking yourself right now? To understand the reality of life, we must first undo our understanding of what it is not. It has been echoed throughout history and even to this day that life is unfair. While this may be comforting, it's usually an attempt to shift accountability and responsibility for life's unpleasant outcomes away from ourselves. The reality is that it isn't about life being fair or unfair. Instead, it's about the truth that life spits in our faces every day, a truth most of us refuse to accept. As a result, we continue to live life with the same people the same way, adhering to the same non-producing advice, which will continue to guarantee us the same unpleasant result we label as unfair.

Fairness and unfairness demand discretion, tact, and prudence. However, these qualities do not define life's core. Fundamentally, life is about what you consistently give to it. What you tolerate, repeat, and defend will lead to the same results. To alter the adverse outcomes you've been experiencing, you need to change what you have been tolerating, repeating, or protecting. Results only shift when the factors that create them are changed.

So, with 2026 fast approaching, are you still determined to keep the same ingredients in your life that have led to the same frustrating results as 2025 comes to an end, which you consider unfair? I mean those negative friends, your reluctance to change what isn't working, and holding onto past hurts, disappointments, and unforgiveness. Can't you see that the results of your life are not UNFAIRNESS but TRUTH screaming at you, insisting that the changes in your circumstances you so desperately desire MUST begin with you and will always be initiated by accountability and responsibility?

I believe Albert Einstein once said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. So, life isn't inherently unfair; instead, it's the person who keeps repeating the same actions in pursuit of a different outcome who is misguided to call life unfair.

Kevin L A Ewing

ewinglakevin@icloud.com

kevinlaewing.blogspot.com

www.kevinlaewing.com

How To Biblically Test The Spirits

One of the initial recognitions we must acknowledge as followers of Jesus Christ is that our priorities and focus must change from a physical emphasis to a spiritual focus. The reason for this is simple: our assessments and judgments should be based on discernment, rather than what is physically presented to us. The idea is to see the root of the situation, instead of being deceived by its surface.

The apostle Paul, in his letter to the church of Corinth, placed emphasis on this revelation when he said, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" Ephesians 6:12.
This verse explains that the actual battle for Christians is not against people but against unseen, malevolent spiritual forces, such as principalities and powers, which are organized in a hierarchy of evil spirits that oppose God's purposes. The context, following this verse in Ephesians 6, is the call to put on the whole "Armor of God" to withstand these spiritual attacks and stand firm against the devil's schemes.

Having considered the above, today we shall examine the biblical standard for testing the spirit, as advised by the apostle John in 1 John 4:1: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." Well, according to the Bible, we, the Believers of Jesus Christ, must adopt a spiritual perspective in our assessment, which is initially achieved by focusing on the fruit or what is consistently being produced from whatever we are judging. This is done by comparing whatever message, actions, behavior, etc, to Scripture, to determine if what is being displayed aligns with Scripture. An example of this would be a person who consistently lies. Well, as a believer of Jesus Christ, we focus on the fruit of this person, which in this case would be their consistent lying. Having discovered the fruit, we now focus on its root or origin, which we achieve by referring to Biblical protocol as stated in Ephesians 6:12. This tells us that our battle is not with flesh and blood (Human beings). So, even though this person is producing the fruit of lying, the reality is that there is a spirit behind this, known as a lying spirit. The Bible references this spirit in 1 Kings 22:21-23.

I must add that one must be Biblically knowledgeable and use the Bible as their benchmark when it comes to testing the spirits of a person, thing, environment, family, etc. Secondly, consistency is also crucial when it comes to testing spirits. What I mean by this is that spirits are consistent in whatever it is that they specialize in. For example, a lying spirit will always be consistent with lying. A jealous spirit will always be consistent with jealousy, etc. So, as it relates to Human beings, spirits begin their programming from the heart (mind) of a person. The victim, in turn, unknowingly becomes a puppet to the spirit, hence the consistency of the person's behavior.

Jesus indirectly referenced this in Matthew 7:16-20, "
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Essentially, Jesus is saying that you can test, prove, or determine the source of anything by examining the consistency of the fruit it produces. A spirit from God will align with biblical truth, produce good spiritual fruit, and confess Jesus as Lord. Conversely, a spirit that denies these truths or promotes ungodly actions consistently is not from God.

So, in conclusion, “test the spirits” means evaluating what is being taught against the clear and definitive teachings of the Bible. It means that every doctrine preached from the pulpit or elsewhere must be compared to the truths written in Scripture. Additionally, no individual, regardless of their title, social status, or popularity, is above the word of God. Therefore, all preachers and doctrines must be consistently tested against God's word.

To “test the spirits” also means that all things, including natural or supernatural activities and encounters, must be examined and measured against the teachings and principles of God’s word. We live in a world where those claiming to speak for God often make unbiblical claims of spiritual authority, manifesting in visions, dreams, miracles, and new revelations or prophecies. As a result, all these phenomena must be tested and compared with the truth and principles outlined in the Bible. The Bible remains the ultimate authority on all matters and serves as our standard for discerning truth from error.

Kevin L A Ewing
ewinglakevin@icloud.com
kevinlaewing.blogspot.com
www.kevinlaewing.com

Life's Ups and Downs are Preparing You For The unexpected.

If someone had asked me twenty years ago, "Do you see yourself being a Pastor?" I would have confidently said no! Looking back, I can see the journey that brought me to this surprising calling. What is even more amazing is that, looking back on my life, it is clear to me that everything I experienced was leading me to this unexpected stage of my life.

The Bible tells this story about Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. The story reveals that he had a series of dreams that foretold him becoming a great leader one day. While his dreams revealed what he would become, amazingly, his dreams never revealed what he would experience before becoming this great leader.

In reality, this is how God sometimes operates regarding our lives. God will give you a snapshot of your destiny that will later motivate you as you enter the rough, exhausting, frustrating, and perhaps embarrassing stages of your journey. What is even more amazing about this mysterious process is that everything you will experience during this journey will prepare you for what you will become.

So, Joseph's journey began with his brothers' intense jealousy towards him. Part of the reason, of course, was that their father favored Joseph above his siblings. Nevertheless, his brothers plotted to kill him but eventually sold him into Egyptian slavery. He ultimately became a Butler in Potiphar's house, who was an Egyptian official. So here we have Joseph, who his brothers rejected, who now becomes the leader (Butler) in his enemy's house. The Biblical account further reveals that Joseph was so good at his job that the only thing Potiphar knew of was the food on his table, because Joseph took care of everything else. Joseph was then accused of rape by Potiphar's wife. Of course, this was a false accusation because Joseph did not give in to the temptation offered by Potiphar's wife. Joseph would eventually be thrown in prison as a result of this.

While incarcerated, Joseph was surprisingly put in charge of his fellow inmates. Again, we see how Joseph's life challenges, both good and bad, shaped and prepared him for what he would become. Also, while in prison, he used his gift of dream interpretation to reveal the destinies of a few of his fellow inmates.

I see my life as a mirror of Joseph's life. While I had no idea what I would become and, indeed, no intention of becoming what I did, in hindsight I realized that every person, every thing, and every situation led to this. With this understanding in mind, it is difficult to truly despise my past betrayals, frustrations, confusion, disappointments, and countless humiliations.

I mentioned earlier that Joseph used his gift of dream interpretation among his fellow inmates while in prison. This same gift of dream interpretation launched him into leadership by interpreting Pharaoh's dream. Again, as with Joseph, it was my gift for dream interpretation, along with my detailed teachings, that launched me into the limelight. At the same time, my journey was very challenging and confusing. There is absolutely nothing I would change because I know they were all supervised by God to align me with His divine will for my life. I have since coined the phrase, "The will of God supersedes any personal plans I may have for my life."

I want to encourage someone who feels like their life is a sentence of misery and frustration, and cannot make sense of what seems like a cycle of nonsense. You must convince yourself that God has a plan for your life. According to His word, he plans to prosper you and provide you with the excellent end" Jeremiah 29:11. Secondly, you must further convince yourself that because God has a plan for your life, nothing in your life is happening by chance or accident. He promised you that all things, including good and evil, work together for your good.

Finally, according to the Bible, "A man's gift will make room for him and bring him before great men" (Proverbs 18:16). After all the molding and grooming through life circumstances that I am sure may not seem favorable to you at that time. God will use the gifts and talents that he has given you to springboard you into your destiny. So, rather than focusing on why these things are happening to you, the reality is that it's happening for you.

Say to yourself, "Heavenly Father, forgive me for complaining about my life circumstances. I know you have a plan for my life and that you supervise who comes in and out of it. Please, Lord, help me discover my gifts and callings, and help me focus on them during my grooming and molding. You will use these gifts and talents to launch me into my destiny and bring me before distinguished people in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Kevin L. A. Ewing

ewinglakevin@icloud.com

kevinlaewing.blogspot.com

www.kevinlaewing.com