Shalom stories

Faith should bring people closer to God, not make them prisoners of fear, control, or human authority. Unfortunately, spiritual manipulation can occur when someone uses God's name, Bible verses, prophecies, or religious positions to influence others for personal gain. The Bible encourages Christians to develop spiritual discernment and examine what they are taught. Protecting your faith begins with knowing God's Word, understanding your identity in Christ, and refusing to let another person take the place of God in your life. Here are six biblical ways to protect your faith from spiritual manipulation. 1. Know the Word of God One of the strongest protections against spiritual deception is understanding Scripture. When you know what the Bible teaches, you are better prepared to recognise teachings that contradict God's truth. Acts 17:11 describes the Bereans as examining the Scriptures daily to determine whether what they heard was true. Do not accept every teaching simply b...

Prophecy is discussed throughout the Bible, and many Christians seek God's guidance through prayer, Scripture, and spiritual counsel. However, the Bible also warns us not to accept every message simply because someone claims it comes from God. In 1 John 4:1, Christians are instructed to test the spirits rather than believe every spiritual claim. This raises an important question:  How can Christians test a prophecy according to the Bible? Biblical discernment helps believers examine spiritual messages carefully, avoid deception, and remain grounded in God's Word. Let's explore six biblical principles for testing a prophecy. 1. Test the Prophecy Against Scripture The first step is to examine whether the message agrees with the teachings of the Bible. Second Timothy 3:16 teaches that all Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, correction, and training in righteousness. A person may claim to have received a revelation, dream, or message from God. However, that cl...