FJWL_01:246
         Try the spirits, for there are doubts that are doubts of man, doubts of the mind, and there are doubts of the Devil. How do you know the difference? You try the spirits.
         There are those who question, who do not understand, and who truly seek answers. There are those who say, "I believe, help Thou mine unbelief!" because they do not understand and it is not clear to them. In their heart they believe, and they want to receive. They want to accept and to drink in, but they do not understand. They question, they have doubts, they seek for answers--and they are open for those answers, for they want the doubts dispelled. These are they whose spirits are clean, who are seeking, though they have doubts and questions. In the spirit they are searching for answers, and they are open to receiving that which answers their question.
         Then there are those whose minds are made up and who have made a decision in their heart that they will not receive, for they are closed. They are not receptive and they seek not the answers, but seek to preach their message of defiance and of doubt. Their questions are a false pretense, for their questions pour forth the voice of Satan. So I say, try the spirits.
         The spirit of him that truly seeks an answer is a spirit of hunger; it is an open spirit, a spirit of true questioning, of seeking, of desiring to understand. Then there is the spirit of divisiveness, the poisoning spirit of Satan who seeks to weaken, to destroy, to disassemble. So how do you know? How can you tell the difference? You try the spirit. You test the spirit. What is the spirit? Is it a seeking spirit of questioning, or is it a closed spirit of doubtful disputations?
         Be patient and loving with those who truly seek, and give them the answers. The answers will dispel the doubts and will help them to fade away, for they are met with acceptance and agreement and understanding. But with those whose words echo the thoughts of Satan, these must be challenged and confronted, for those doubts are insidious. They are as a disease that spreads from heart to heart, from spirit to spirit, for these are the workings of Satan. So again I say unto you, try the spirits.
         With the one, be longsuffering and understanding and answer the question. Encourage them along and have faith in them, for though they struggle, yet they have a believing heart and truly seek answers. But with those who spread forth their questions with the intent to damage, give no place, no, not for a moment! But know the difference, try the spirits (ML #3041).



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