Discerning Truth: Testing Spirits in Today's World

Devotional

Day 1: Testing for Authenticity

In a world filled with numerous voices claiming divine authority, it is crucial to test the spirits to discern their origin. This involves a continuous process of evaluating teachings against the truth of Scripture, much like testing the authenticity of currency. The metaphor of testing coins for authenticity serves as a reminder that not all that glitters is gold. Just as counterfeit markers are used to verify the genuineness of currency, believers must use the truth of Scripture to test the authenticity of spiritual teachings. This is not a one-time task but a continual process, as false teachings can be subtle and pervasive. [12:18]

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (ESV): "But test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil."

Reflection: Think of a teaching or belief you have encountered recently. How can you use Scripture to test its authenticity today?

Day 2: Confession and Consistency

The legitimacy of a prophet is determined by their confession about Jesus and the consistency of their message with Scripture. A true prophet will confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, a foundational truth of Christianity. This confession is not just a verbal acknowledgment but a heartfelt belief that transforms one's life. The consistency of their message with Scripture and the evidence of their confession in their life are key indicators of their authenticity. This discernment requires careful examination of both the content of their message and the fruit it bears in their life. [24:52]

2 John 1:7 (ESV): "For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist."

Reflection: Reflect on your own confession of faith. How does it align with your daily actions and decisions?

Day 3: Trusting the Indwelling Spirit

Believers have the Holy Spirit within them, which is greater than any spirit in the world. This indwelling Spirit provides the strength and assurance needed to overcome false teachings and spiritual deception. The victory over false prophets and the spirit of the Antichrist is not achieved through human strength but through the power of the Holy Spirit. Trusting in the Holy Spirit means relying on His guidance and strength to navigate the complexities of spiritual discernment. [37:00]

1 John 2:27 (ESV): "But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him."

Reflection: In what ways can you rely more on the Holy Spirit's guidance in your daily life today?

Day 4: Listening to the Right Voice

By examining who is listening to a particular message, we can discern its origin. True believers will affirm the message of the apostles and the teachings of Scripture, while the world listens to its own. This requires a discerning ear to distinguish between the voices that align with God's truth and those that do not. Listening to the right spirit involves being attuned to the voice of God and His Word, rather than the clamor of the world. [46:04]

John 10:27 (ESV): "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."

Reflection: Consider the voices you listen to regularly. How can you ensure you are attuned to God's voice today?

Day 5: Vigilance in the Battle for Truth

The battle for truth is ongoing, and believers must remain vigilant in testing the spirits. This is not a suggestion but a command, as false teachings can lead people astray and have eternal consequences. Remaining vigilant means being proactive in discerning truth from falsehood and being prepared to stand firm in the truth of the Gospel. It involves a commitment to continually seek God's truth and to guard against the subtle deceptions that can infiltrate our beliefs. [49:37]

Ephesians 6:14 (ESV): "Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to remain vigilant in your pursuit of truth?

Sermon Summary

In today's exploration of 1 John 4:1-6, we delve into the critical task of discerning truth from falsehood in a world saturated with voices claiming to speak for God. The passage warns us not to believe every spirit but to test them to see if they are from God. This is crucial because many false prophets have gone out into the world, spreading teachings that can lead believers astray. In John's time, the reach of false prophets was limited, but today, with the internet and social media, false teachings can spread rapidly and widely. Therefore, it is more important than ever to be vigilant and discerning.

The first step in this discernment process is to test the spirits. This involves evaluating the teachings of those who claim to speak for God. John uses the metaphor of testing coins for authenticity to illustrate how we should examine the teachings we encounter. Just as a counterfeit marker is used to verify the genuineness of currency, we must use the truth of Scripture to test the authenticity of spiritual teachings. This is not a one-time task but a continual process, as false teachings can be subtle and pervasive.

The second step is to discern the spirits by examining the content of their message and their confession about Jesus. A true prophet will confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, a foundational truth of Christianity. This confession is not just a verbal acknowledgment but a heartfelt belief that transforms one's life. The legitimacy of a prophet is determined by the consistency of their message with Scripture and the evidence of their confession in their life.

The third point is to trust the Holy Spirit. Believers have the Holy Spirit within them, which is greater than any spirit in the world. This indwelling Spirit provides the strength and assurance needed to overcome false teachings and spiritual deception. The victory over false prophets and the spirit of the Antichrist is not achieved through human strength but through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Finally, we must listen to the right spirit. The world listens to its own, but those who are from God will listen to the truth of the Gospel. By examining who is listening to a particular message, we can discern its origin. True believers will affirm the message of the apostles and the teachings of Scripture.

Key Takeaways

1. Test the Spirits: We are commanded to test every spirit to discern whether they are from God. This involves a continual process of evaluating teachings against the truth of Scripture, much like testing the authenticity of currency. [12:18]
2. Discern the Spirits: The legitimacy of a prophet is determined by their confession about Jesus and the consistency of their message with Scripture. A true confession is heartfelt and transformative, affecting every aspect of one's life. [24:52]
3. Trust the Holy Spirit: Believers have the Holy Spirit within them, which is greater than any spirit in the world. This indwelling Spirit provides the strength and assurance needed to overcome false teachings and spiritual deception. [37:00]
4. Listen to the Right Spirit: By examining who is listening to a particular message, we can discern its origin. True believers will affirm the message of the apostles and the teachings of Scripture, while the world listens to its own. [46:04]
5. Remain Vigilant: The battle for truth is ongoing, and believers must remain vigilant in testing the spirits. This is not a suggestion but a command, as false teachings can lead people astray and have eternal consequences. [49:37]
** [49:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:44] - Introduction to 1 John 4:1-6
[01:13] - The Challenge of False Teachings
[02:36] - The Modern Spread of False Doctrines
[03:49] - The Difficulty of Discernment
[05:32] - Testing the Spirits
[07:55] - Understanding 'Spirit' in Context
[10:00] - The Role of Prophets and Spirits
[12:18] - The Process of Testing
[14:03] - Continuous Discernment
[16:55] - The Responsibility of Believers
[18:02] - Historical Context of False Prophets
[20:21] - Spiritual Activity vs. Godly Activity
[24:07] - Discerning the Spirits
[35:27] - Trusting the Holy Spirit
[43:11] - Listening to the Right Spirit

Sermon Clips

Dear friends do not believe every Spirit but test the spirits to see if they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you know the spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus has come in the flesh is from God. [00:06:11]

We are commanded to test the spirits to see if they're from God or not. But what does it mean to test the spirit? How do we distinguish between the spirit who is from God and who is not? But before we even get into that, we need to define what John means when he says spirit. [00:09:40]

John warns his readers to exercise discernment because they're going to encounter people claiming to speak in the name of God. But believing every Spirit, well, that would show a certain level of gullibility. Not everyone claiming to speak in the name of God does. [00:11:49]

The test of knowing where the person and their message originates is that first part of examining to know if they're from God or not. You have to examine the content of their message, examine their confession about who Jesus is. This test is what's called a christological one. [00:24:55]

John reminds them that they are from God, which is evidenced by their hate of their sin, as we saw in chapter one, by their desire to live in the light and their desire to love one another. Plus, when times got tough, they stuck it out because they loved their brothers and sisters in Christ. [00:35:57]

John reminds them of the true source and the secret of their victory. You see, they're not necessarily more intelligent or more skilled than the false prophets, but they are possessed and indwelt by the one who is the Holy Spirit. You see, and that is who secures their victory. [00:35:57]

The one who is in you is greater than the one in the world. He's referencing Satan. Now, I don't know if I have a life verse or not. Sometimes people ask me that, Yoki, what is your life verse? And I'm like, depends on what stage of life I'm in. [00:38:18]

The world is the devil's domain, and this philosophy is an expression of his values and agenda. According to scripture, Satan attempts to kill and to steal and to destroy, but he is rendered powerless by the greater spirit of God that lives within the believer. [00:42:16]

John shows that the difference between the false prophets and the true believers lands in their origin. After addressing you, referring to the Believers, he moves on to a they, the false prophets and all who reject that Jesus came in the flesh. They are from this world, John says. [00:43:19]

When you see who is listening, you can tell where that message came from. Those who belong to that worldview will embrace their teaching. So we should never be surprised when the lost think like lost people. We should never be surprised when unbelievers live like unbelievers. [00:46:11]

John started this section by telling us that we must test every Spirit, test every person who says that they're proclaiming the word of God. And here in these final words, John summarizes his intentions and claims that this is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. [00:48:39]

The spirits may be tested by first examining their confessions, which comes through human instruments, and then by examining the character of their audiences who is listening to them. We can know the true from the false, the spirit of God from the spirit of the Antichrist. [00:49:38]

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