God is Greater Than Condemnation and Counterfeits

Devotional

Day 1: God is Greater Than Our Condemning Hearts

When your heart accuses you and shame or doubt creeps in, remember that God is greater than your heart and knows everything about you—your failures, your struggles, and your deepest secrets. He is not surprised by your weaknesses, nor is He waiting to condemn you; instead, He has already provided a Savior who took your place and absorbed the wrath you deserved. The assurance of your salvation and your confidence before God do not rest on your ability to defend yourself or downplay your faults, but on the unchanging character and grace of the Judge who knows the whole story and calls you His child. When condemnation rises, shift your gaze from your inner critic to the God who is greater, and let His truth speak louder than your shame. [17:19]

1 John 3:19-20 (ESV)
"By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything."

Reflection: What is one specific accusation or feeling of shame your heart brings against you? Can you bring it honestly to God in prayer today, trusting that He is greater than your heart and already knows the full story?

Day 2: Confidence Before God Unlocks Obedience

When condemnation is replaced by confidence in God’s love and forgiveness, it unleashes a new desire to obey Him—not out of fear, but out of joy and assurance. This confidence leads you to believe in Jesus, abide in Him, and pursue spiritual practices like prayer, worship, and reading Scripture, not as burdens but as privileges. The more you rest in your identity as a beloved child of God, the more you will want to please Him and keep His commandments, starting with believing in Jesus and loving others as He has loved you. [20:24]

1 John 3:21-24 (ESV)
"Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 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. 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."

Reflection: What is one spiritual practice (prayer, Bible reading, worship, etc.) that you have avoided because of shame or self-doubt? How might approaching God with confidence change your willingness to engage in it today?

Day 3: Test the Spirits—Discern Truth from Counterfeit

Not every voice, teaching, or spiritual message you encounter is from God; in a world full of counterfeits and false prophets, you are called to test the spirits and examine both the content and character of those you listen to. This means measuring every teaching against the truth of Scripture and the testimony of Jesus Christ, and not being swayed by popularity, charisma, or viral trends. Spiritual maturity involves not just believing what is true, but also refusing to believe what is false, and being vigilant about the spiritual influences shaping your heart and mind. [29:03]

1 John 4:1-3 (ESV)
"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. 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. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already."

Reflection: Think of a message, influencer, or teaching you’ve recently encountered—have you tested it against Scripture and the true gospel of Jesus, or have you accepted it at face value? What step can you take today to examine its source and content more closely?

Day 4: Jesus Is Both Fully God and Fully Man—The Heart of the Gospel

The true gospel centers on Jesus Christ as both fully God (the Christ, the Messiah) and fully man (come in the flesh), who lived a perfect life, died for your sins, and rose again. Any teaching that diminishes either His divinity or His humanity is a counterfeit, no matter how spiritual or appealing it may sound. Your faith is anchored in the real Jesus—God with us, who understands your struggles and has the power to save—and you are called to continually return to Him as the standard for all truth. [36:15]

1 John 4:2 (ESV)
"By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God."

Reflection: In what ways have you been tempted to see Jesus as less than fully God or less than fully human? How does knowing He is both change the way you relate to Him in your struggles and doubts?

Day 5: You Have Overcome—He Who Is in You Is Greater

No matter what condemnation, shame, or external confusion you face, you are not left to fight alone; the One who lives in you is greater than anything in the world. Your victory over sin, shame, and spiritual deception is not based on your own strength or spiritual resume, but on the indwelling presence of Christ, who has already overcome. When you bring your failures, doubts, and disordered loves to Him, He offers healing, forgiveness, and a confidence that leads to true freedom and obedience. [38:34]

1 John 4:4 (ESV)
"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."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel overwhelmed by condemnation or confusion? How can you remind yourself today that Christ in you is greater than anything you face, and take a step of faith in that truth?

Sermon Summary

In 1 John 3:19–4:6, we are reminded that every person is being discipled by something or someone—whether it’s Jesus, our own hearts, or the countless voices that fill our world. The central question is not if we are being discipled, but by whom. Our hearts, the culture, social media, and even our own inner critics are constantly shaping us. Yet, John’s encouragement is clear: God is greater. He is greater than the condemnation we feel within and the confusion we face from without.

There are moments when our hearts condemn us, when shame and doubt creep in, and we feel unworthy or distant from God. This is not a rare experience; even the heroes of faith—Elijah, David, Paul—wrestled with despair and self-accusation. The heart, biblically, is not just the seat of emotion but the control center of our inner life, including our logic and self-assessment. Sometimes, it becomes a harsh prosecutor, reminding us of our failures and sins. The temptation is to either defend ourselves, downplay our faults, or drown out the accusations with busyness or addiction. But John calls us to shift our gaze from the prosecution and our own defense to the Judge—God Himself.

God knows everything. He knows our sin, but He also knows He sent a Savior. Through Jesus, our condemnation is met with grace, and our shame is exchanged for confidence. This confidence before God is not rooted in our performance but in Christ’s finished work. When condemnation is replaced by confidence, we are freed to obey, to abide, and to love as God commands.

But the challenge is not only internal. Externally, we are surrounded by counterfeit voices—false prophets, distorted gospels, and spiritual counterfeits that sound almost right but lead us astray. John urges us to test the spirits, to examine both the character and content of those we listen to. The true test is whether they confess Jesus as the Christ, come in the flesh, and whether their message aligns with the apostolic witness of Scripture.

Ultimately, the victory over both condemnation and counterfeit is not ours by effort, but by the One who is in us. “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” In the face of shame, doubt, and confusion, we are called to bring everything to God, trusting that He is greater, and to anchor ourselves in the truth of Jesus Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. God is Greater Than Our Condemnation Even when our hearts accuse us and shame feels overwhelming, God’s knowledge and grace surpass our self-judgment. The Judge knows the full story—our sin and our Savior. Instead of defending ourselves or drowning in guilt, we are invited to bring our shame to God, who replaces it with confidence and freedom. This is the foundation for a life of prayer, worship, and obedience. [17:19]
2. Test the Voices That Disciple You Not every spiritual-sounding voice is from God. We must be discerning, examining both the character and content of those we allow to shape us. The true test is whether they confess Jesus as the Christ, come in the flesh, and align with Scripture. Spiritual maturity means not just believing, but also knowing what not to believe. [26:15]
3. Confidence Before God Unlocks Obedience When condemnation is silenced and confidence in God is restored, we are set free to obey, to love, and to abide in Christ. This confidence is not self-generated but comes from knowing we are accepted and loved by God. It transforms spiritual practices from burdens to delights, and obedience becomes the overflow of assurance, not the means to earn it. [20:02]
4. The Local Church Is Essential for Discernment Testing character and content is nearly impossible in isolation. The local church provides the context where lives are known, accountability is real, and teaching can be measured over time. In a world of viral voices and distant influencers, deep roots in a local body are vital for spiritual health and discernment. [31:59]
5. Victory Is Found in Christ, Not Ourselves Our ability to overcome condemnation and counterfeit is not based on our spiritual resume, but on Christ in us. “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” This truth calls us to humility, dependence, and hope, knowing that our victory is secure in the One who has overcome. [38:15]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:35] - Assurance and Condemnation
[01:09] - Testing the Spirits
[01:30] - Overcoming by God’s Power
[02:17] - Everyone Is Being Discipled
[03:27] - Navigating Internal and External Voices
[04:11] - God Is Greater Than Condemnation
[07:08] - Heroes of Faith and Despair
[09:54] - The Heart as Prosecutor
[12:28] - The Courtroom of the Soul
[16:42] - Shifting Focus to the Judge
[20:02] - Confidence Unlocks Obedience
[23:02] - God Is Greater Than Counterfeit
[26:15] - Testing the Spirits and Discernment
[31:59] - The Importance of the Local Church
[38:15] - Victory in Christ Alone
[41:14] - Bringing Shame to God

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 John 3:19–4:6 (ESV) —
> By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 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. 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.

> 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. 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. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

> 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. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 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.

Observation Questions

According to 1 John 3:20, what does John say about God when our hearts condemn us?
What are the two main things John says we should test when we hear spiritual messages or teaching? (Hint: see 1 John 4:1-3 and the sermon’s explanation)
In the sermon, what examples were given of “voices” or influences that disciple us besides Jesus? [02:48]
What does John say is the result of having confidence before God, instead of condemnation? [20:02]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon describes the heart as both a “control center” and sometimes a “harsh prosecutor.” What does it mean for our hearts to condemn us, and why is it important to shift our focus to God as Judge? [16:42]
Why does John urge believers to “test the spirits”? What dangers are present if we don’t do this, according to the sermon? [26:15]
The sermon says that confidence before God “unlocks obedience.” How does understanding God’s grace and acceptance change the way we approach spiritual practices like prayer, Bible reading, or church attendance? [20:02]
Why is the local church described as essential for discernment and testing the character and content of those who teach or influence us? [31:59]

Application Questions

The sermon says everyone is being discipled by something or someone—Jesus, our own hearts, culture, or social media. Who or what do you think is discipling you the most right now? How can you be more intentional about letting Jesus and his Word shape you? [02:48]
When your heart condemns you or you feel shame, what is your usual response? Do you tend to defend yourself, downplay your faults, or drown out the feelings with busyness or distraction? What would it look like for you to bring your shame honestly to God this week? [15:55]
The sermon challenges us to “test the spirits” and not believe every spiritual-sounding voice. Can you think of a time when you were influenced by a message, book, or online teacher that sounded right but was actually off? How did you realize it, and what helped you discern the truth? [26:15]
The pastor said that confidence before God leads to a desire to pray, read the Bible, and obey—not out of duty, but out of delight. Is there a spiritual practice that currently feels like a burden to you? How might remembering God’s grace and acceptance change your motivation? [20:02]
The sermon emphasized the importance of the local church for real accountability and discernment. Are you connected deeply enough in the church to know the character of those who teach and influence you? What steps could you take to build deeper relationships and accountability? [31:59]
“He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” Is there a specific area of shame, doubt, or confusion where you need to trust that Christ in you is greater? What would it look like to bring that area to God this week? [38:15]
The pastor encouraged us to pray honestly, even if we feel distant or ashamed. What is one honest prayer you could bring to God right now, based on where you are spiritually? [22:09]

Sermon Clips

Here's what's interesting about John. He doesn't say, hey, go back at the prosecutor. I mean, get him. He doesn't say, hey, work on your defense. Look at all your behavior. Come with a better resume. Come with a plan. Like, come with some eloquence. No, he doesn't say look at the prosecutor or the defense. He says, look at the judge. Shift your eyes to the judge. [00:16:18] (22 seconds) #GodIsGreaterThanYourHeart

Your prosecutor, he may have all the evidence. He's not your judge. Your defense, you're not the judge. He's the judge. And God is greater than the prosecutor and the defense. Anybody want to say amen today? This is good news. God is greater than both. And he knows everything. So, yes, he knows about your sin, but he also knows he sent a Savior. [00:17:03] (22 seconds) #TestTheSpirits

He knows that, but he also knows, as 1 John says earlier in the text, that he is your propitiation, meaning that he absorbed all the wrath upon himself, not on you, at the cross. And propitiation, this theological word, it's a beautiful word. It means he took your wrath that you deserved, and he exchanged it for favor and grace and love, and that you're a chosen child of God. [00:17:36] (29 seconds) #BewareFalseProphets

Why is it so hard for you to read this book? Why is it so hard for you to come to this building? Why is it so hard for you to talk to God? You talk all the time because of condemnation, because of shame, because you don't bring all that to God. God, you downplay it, you drown it, you slip further in the shame, and you think about, should we go to church today? It's just easier not to go. [00:18:56] (31 seconds) #JesusIsTheChrist

See, John places it out for us. Verse 22, once the condemnation is gone, we have confidence. Verse 21, rather. We have confidence before God. And then what happens? This confidence, instead of the condemnation, it unleashes obedience. Verse 22, we keep his commandments now. We do what pleases him. Verse 23 and 24, we believe in Jesus. We abide in Jesus. We make up our home with Jesus. [00:19:53] (27 seconds) #StayRootedInJesus

Some of you are feeling shame right now. Some of you are feeling, your heart is deceptive above all else, Jeremiah said. And you're, it's getting at you all the time, and you're just like, take me, heart. I believe whatever you say. And you need to start measuring that heart against the judge. You need to start taking the prosecutor to the judge and seeing the full story, that God is greater than your heart. [00:21:34] (29 seconds) #GiveItToAGreaterGod

Jesus is the Christ. That's not his last name. That's his title. He's the Christ. The sovereign king of the universe. When people talk about Jesus, if they just talk about him as a good teacher, if they just say Jesus is their homeboy and put it on a shirt, that's not Jesus, the Christ. Jesus is the Christ. He's God. But John says also, he came in the flesh. He's fully God and he's fully man. [00:35:31] (25 seconds)

Some people in John's day were saying, hey, Jesus, yeah, he was God, but he didn't come in the flesh because God couldn't take on flesh. God wouldn't die on the cross. He wouldn't be weak like that. And John's saying, no, you need to test the content. We need to test the content. Are people saying Jesus is God? Are they saying he came in the flesh? He really lived a perfect life that you could not. He really died on the cross. He really had a bodily resurrection. [00:36:02] (23 seconds)

How? By your own spiritual resume and good works. By all of your knowledge of the Bible. By how many Sundays in a row you've come to church and not missed. Is that what it says? No. No. It says you have overcome them. How? For he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Friends, some of you are facing condemnation. Not a long time ago, right now. Some of you are facing doubt and shame. [00:38:42] (37 seconds)

``You know what feels really good? Giving it to a greater God. Amen? Confessing those sins. Confessing those disordered loves. Giving it to God. Talking to God. He already knows it all. Addressing that with God and experiencing healing and forgiveness and freedom from shame and replacing it with confidence that leads to an obedience that's available to you and I. If we go to him, if we go to him, if we go to him, that's what we're going to do right now. It's good. [00:41:33] (30 seconds)

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