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Today is Ash Wednesday on the Christian Year cycle. A number of Christian group gather for worship for the beginning of Lent. The actual word lent comes from Latin, ver which refers primarily to spring. However, the term as used in church is time of preparation for the coming focus on Jesus' sufferings and death and the glory of his resurrection. Even if you do not observe Lent with fasting and self-reflection the ritual of Ash Wednesday brings before us some vital Biblical truths. Primarily the mark of ash on the forehead carries the truth of our mortality and the need for ongoing repentance in our lives. This podcast looks at the trail of ashes in the Biblical story.

Bible Insights with Wayne Conrad
Contact: 8441 Hunnicut Rd Dallas, Texas 75228
email: Att. Bible Insights Wayne Conrad
gsccdallas@gmail.com (Good Shepherd Church)
Donation https://gsccdallas.org
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJTZX6qasIrPmC1wQpben9g
https://www.facebook.com/waconrad or gscc
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Spirit, Truth and Grace Ministries
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Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

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The writings of the Apostle John gives prominence to the idea of overcoming the devil and world system and the old human nature termed our flesh. We are engaged in a spiritual war consisting of many battles. We can overcome the world, the flesh and the devil in union with our Lord Jesus. We conqueror only because Jesus overcame and our faith is in him. However we cannot be passive in this battle. Our faith must be active in the war. The Lord has gifted us with necessary actions that equip us and build us up. These consist of reading the Bible for understanding of the writer's thoughts, praying which is talking to God as expression of our relationship to him and other believers. A major means is attendance and active involvement in the corporate worship of our God and Savior plus active fellowship with our spiritual family, fellow believers. 1 John 5:3-5 For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers (overcomes) the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? NRSV

Bible Insights with Wayne Conrad
Contact: 8441 Hunnicut Rd Dallas, Texas 75228
email: Att. Bible Insights Wayne Conrad
gsccdallas@gmail.com (Good Shepherd Church)
Donation https://gsccdallas.org
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJTZX6qasIrPmC1wQpben9g
https://www.facebook.com/waconrad or gscc
https://www.sermonaudio.com/gscc
Spirit, Truth and Grace Ministries
Phone # 214-324-9915 leave message with number for call back
Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Send a text

The Apostle John gives an urgent warning to the Christians he has pastored and to us. Many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world but we must not gullibly believe them but we must test them. The purpose of the test is to determine if they are from God or the spirit of antichrist. He gives two major theological test and some related social test.

In this episode of Bible Insights, Wayne Conrad teaches on “Testing the Spirits” from 1 John 4:1–6. He explains that Christians live in an age of many persuasive voices—religious, cultural, and spiritual—and therefore must not be gullible nor cynical, but discerning. John’s command is clear: “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.”

The reason for testing is that many false prophets have gone out into the world. False teaching is not rare, and it often sounds spiritual and convincing. Discernment, however, is not suspicion; it is love guarding the truth.

Conrad highlights several key tests drawn from the text:

1. The Christological Test
The primary test concerns the identity of Jesus Christ. True teaching confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh—fully God and fully man. Any teaching that denies or distorts Christ’s incarnation, deity, humanity, or saving work reflects the spirit of the Antichrist. Redefining Jesus while using religious language is a mark of error.

2. The Apostolic Test
True doctrine aligns with the apostolic witness preserved in Scripture. Those who know God listen to the apostles’ teaching; those shaped by the world reject it. Scripture—Old and New Testaments together—is the authoritative standard for testing all spiritual claims.

3. The Reception Test
The world often embraces false teaching and resists biblical truth. Popularity is not evidence of divine approval. Fidelity to apostolic truth, not success or charisma, is the true measure.

4. The Goal and Fruit Test
The Spirit of truth exalts Christ, produces worship of God, nurtures godliness, and brings assurance through the indwelling Holy Spirit. The spirit of error promotes self-centered independence, false ideas, and deception—even if it appears impressive or spectacular.

The episode concludes by urging believers to:

• Examine doctrine carefully.
• Compare all teaching with Scripture.
• Evaluate whether a message reflects worldly thinking or biblical truth.

The ultimate focus must remain on Jesus Christ—the incarnate Son of God and Savior. By grounding themselves in Scripture and holding firmly to the true confession of Christ, believers can walk in truth and avoid deception.

Bible Insights with Wayne Conrad
Contact: 8441 Hunnicut Rd Dallas, Texas 75228
email: Att. Bible Insights Wayne Conrad
gsccdallas@gmail.com (Good Shepherd Church)
Donation https://gsccdallas.org
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJTZX6qasIrPmC1wQpben9g
https://www.facebook.com/waconrad or gscc
https://www.sermonaudio.com/gscc
Spirit, Truth and Grace Ministries
Phone # 214-324-9915 leave message with number for call back
Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.