I understand... I just have no clue how we are to test the validity of anothers vision. I know how to test the preacher who says in the name of Jesus the Holy spirit commanded one to kick another for healing... this is contrary to the Holy Spirit & I therefore reject this preacher as a false profit. I wasnt just being contrary... I want to know how do we test a vision. I received a vision in prayer about my mother in law it was the first and only time I've received a vision. It was of a lava rock tumbling & tumbling until it was a beautiful polished oval stone. I'm not sure how to test that vision but I was certain it was from the Lord as it came in a time of prayer.
I am glad that you are inquiring about this issue as it is very important especially at such a time that we are in now. Now Imoss I am going to address a few things and I don't want you to think I am personally accusing you of these things. I am only bringing these things up as examples in order to make my point.
The first thing I will say is why do you think just because you had a vision during a time of prayer that it came from God? There is nothing in Scripture that says such a thing. I am not saying your vision was
not from God; I am only saying that you cannot be certain it was from God simply
because it was during a time of prayer. We all know that lost people pray to God. The Bible says the prayers of the wicked are an abomination to Him. Again, I'm not saying you are lost/wicked, or that your prayer was an abomination. I am simply saying that a prayer in and of itself guarantees nothing.
Secondly, the only basis we have for testing anything, whether it be testing the preaching of a minister, the vision of a prophet, or whatever the case is...the only basis is
the word of God. This is the ruler by which we measure what is from God and what isn't. We must acknowledge that the word of God stands above all things, including independent visions, dreams, sermons, catechisms, whatever. If something does not align perfectly with Scripture, then we know without a doubt it is
not from God. The Bible gives us an armory of defense in Ephesians 6, but the
only method of offense we have is the "sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God." The Scriptures are our weapon to cut through the curtains of darkness in order to discern between truth and deceit.
How do we test using the word of God?
1. We test the
content of the vision/sermon/catechism/dream. What is it about? Does the vision say something biblical? Does it say something unbiblical? Does the sermon teach a biblical doctrine? Or an unbiblical one? Whether or not the content aligns perfectly with Scripture will determine if this vision/sermon/etc is from God or not.
2. We test the
circumstances of the vision. How did the vision come about? Did it come about like visions came about in Scripture? How was the person affected? Were they affected like those who received visions in Scripture were affected?
3. We test the
claims of the vision. Is what the vision claimed coming to pass? How specific are the vision's claims? The Bible declares that if what a vision claims does
not come to pass, then it is a false prophet whom God has not sent. A key flag to look for here is how
specific or
vague the vision is. Whenever God spoke a vision to the people, it was always, though sometimes difficult to discern, nonetheless a very specific event foretold which indeed came to pass. Many people who have not received a vision of God will utter a vision that is just vague and bound to occur simply because of the odds of it happening regardless. Such as, "There is a mighty thunderstorm coming upon us..." - Well, of course, we live in a region on the globe where thunderstorms are frequent during the right time, some small, some mighty.
This is all I can think of at the moment. But if you follow along with these guidelines and test all things by Scripture, you will do fine.
