Hey everyone! I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on how important it is to truly understand if a spiritual message, vision, or even a prophecy is genuinely from God. It’s so easy to get swept up in things that sound good, but as we’re warned in 1 John 4:1, we need to test the spirits. And one of the most powerful scriptures that helps me with this is John 16:13-14. This passage, where Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit, is a real game-changer for discernment. It says the Spirit of truth will guide us into all truth, not speak on His own authority, but speak what He hears, and declare to us what is to come. Crucially, it emphasizes that the Spirit 'will glorify Me [Jesus].' This is such a critical filter when you're asking yourself, 'how to test if a message is from God.' Think about it: if the Holy Spirit's primary work is to glorify Jesus, then any message claiming to be from God must ultimately point back to Him, His character, His sacrifice, and His teachings. If a message centers on a person, an experience, or anything else more than it centers on Jesus, that's a significant red flag for me. I've learned that messages claiming to be from God must be tested by the Bible, and this verse gives us a clear biblical standard: does it glorifies Jesus? I remember a time when I heard a teaching that seemed really profound, but something just felt off. When I brought it back to John 16:13-14, I realized that while it had some good points, it spent very little time actually exalting Jesus. Instead, it focused heavily on a new technique or a charismatic leader. That’s when the Holy Spirit, through this very scripture, helped me see it wasn't aligning with God's truth. So, when you encounter a new teaching, vision, or prophetic word, pause and ask yourself: Does it glorify Jesus? Does it elevate Him, His finished work, and His character? Or does it draw attention away from Him towards something or someone else? Does it align with His Word? Does it uphold the principles found throughout the Bible, including the Ten Commandments? Any true message from God will never contradict scripture. Does it bear good fruits? (Matthew 7:15-23 comes to mind here!) Does it foster love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in those who receive it? Or does it lead to fear, division, or spiritual pride? By using John 16:13-14 as a foundational test, alongside other scriptures like Isaiah 8:20 and 1 John 4:1, we can become much more discerning. It helps us stay rooted and sharp, protecting ourselves from deception and ensuring we're truly following the voice of our Good Shepherd. My personal experience has shown me how vital it is to constantly check the source and measure everything against the ultimate standard: Jesus Christ and His Word.