Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. – 1 John 4:1
God has a unique relationship with His children, and it is the relationship with Himself through the Holy Spirit who comes to indwell each person who believes. There are scores of other spirits at work in the world, intending to influence you, deceive you, corrupt you, and destroy your witness. They may sound convincing when they present themselves: “Since God is a loving God, he would want me to be happy!” Be aware that this was never promised. While the Lord wants you filled with His joy (Psalm 32:11, 71:23), which comes from the inside out, happiness relies on externals. Another enticing thought is, “I don’t think it is really necessary to believe all of the Bible.” Be mindful of the reality that, “All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). He certainly could not inspire untruths.
Test the spirits, the apostle John says. In the verses following today’s, he writes, “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God”(vv. 2-3). Discerning the truthfulness of that “confession” is key to testing false spirits. Some might say, “Sure, Jesus is God incarnate,” but their actual beliefs are proved by their actions. In verse 6, John says “Whoever is not from God does not listen to us.” These are people who do not want to hear the true Gospel of the incarnation, life, miracles, death, resurrection, ascension, and return of Jesus Christ.
God has come in the form of the Holy Spirit to aid you in discerning truth from error. Pay attention and learn to listen to Him. Pray and study the Word of the Lord. Guard your heart and avoid that which is untrue. Intercede for government authorities to have open ears and open hearts to receive the Gospel and receive the True Spirit of God by believing.
Today’s Verse: 1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 1 John 3:23-4:6
23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
