Consider the Source…
Oftentimes, we are bombarded with information overload. Our world today is infiltrated with so much content and information which makes our senses run nonstop. Our minds, filled with the information we consume, are just going, going, going! We're always on social media. We're always watching something or listening to something or ingesting something, so we must decipher what to take in and what to leave behind.
We as humans are gates… We must guard our gates.
Our eyes; ears, and even our mouths are all gates; What comes in our gates and even what comes out have a greater effect on you than you may think. Our gates govern what has access to our soul. What we hear and see, if not guarded properly, can plant seeds in the soil of our hearts which can have a dasterous impact on our lives. In Proverbs 4:23 the Bible tells us to guard our hearts with all diligence for from it flows the issues of life, in addition, Luke 6:45, tells us from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So because we must guard our hearts we must always consider the source when ingesting statements, opinions, and judgments from others.
So what do I mean by considering the source…?
During my college days I learned that you must document and record where you gained the information from when writing academic papers or essays. This is called citing your sources. Not only must you cite your sources but you must also ensure you are referencing an accredited source. Websites like Wikipedia are sources but it is not an accredited sources because anyone can write or add to the Wikipedia site… you feel me? So when considering feedback, opinions, and information about yourself, you must always consider the source.
To consider the source is to question the spirit by which they speak, the motive, the relevance and the background of the individual sharing the information. Is this person an acreditable source to speak into your life? Even if the individual is speaking the truth, you must not come into agreement with any statement proclaimed over your life that originates from a wrong spirit; A spirit not of the Almighty God!
So in Acts 16:16-17. It says 'And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
So did the damsel lie? Why was she rebuked?
The damsel spoke complete facts! The Apostles of Jesus were in fact, servants of the Most High God and they were in fact there to show the people the way of salvation which is found in Jesus Christ! So why would Paul be grieved?? The damsel was operating under the wrong spirit! She was possessed with a spirit of divination. The spirit of divination does not come from God! So Paul did what I’m instructing you to do, reject the word, rebuke the spirit, cast that voice out of your life! You dont want to come in agreement with anything not of God beacuse it will be built on a faulty foundation which will surely cause things to crumble and fall in your life.
We often times give our ear to unaccredited sources and wonder why our self esteem, self worth, self image, and self confidence is skewed
We must pray for the gift of discerning of spirits so we can know what we’re dealing with. Its also important to see if a person operates in the fruit of the Spirit. In Galatians 5, the Bible shows us that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The “Fruit” is evidence of the seed’s inner makeup. An apple is the evidence of the seed planted in soil; as are the character traits listed above are evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit on the inside of an individual. If an individual does not display the Fruit of the Spirit, you can just about guarantee that individual has not been baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Beware anyone speaking over your life that does not have the Holy Spirit! Protect your gates and above all, consider the source when receiving information!