Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 WEB
With these words, John warns the faithful of false teachers who deny the divinity of Christ. He encourages believers to test the spirits of individuals professing to teach the word of God to see if they align with the Spirit of God. In the Spirit of God, our brothers and sisters of faith will confess that the Son of God came to earth in the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.
John makes the method of testing a spirit clear. He writes in 1 John 4:2-3, “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit who doesn’t confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God, and this is the spirit of the Antichrist, of whom you have heard that it comes. Now it is in the world already. WEB”
Test All Things
Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good. WEB” When we encounter spiritual leaders who profess to teach the word of God, it is important that we test the spirits to evaluate their message. It is necessary that their words align with the word of God in scripture or we should reject their message.
In other words, we should make a study of the word of God. Doing so, we protect ourselves from false teachers. Jesus warns his followers saying in Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. WEB”
Follow Sound Doctrine
Some are willingly led astray. As we read in 2 Timothy 4:3, “For the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts. WEB” For this reason, we must test the spirits of so called believers to ensure we follow sound doctrine and not the misguided ideas of false prophets.
Both Old Testament and New Testament scripture informs our understanding of God and our Savior, Jesus Christ. When we test the spirits to see if they line up with the word of God, our own understanding of scripture is essential. As we read in 2 Timothy 2:16-17, “Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. WEB”
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the holy scriptures. Thank you for the foundation of our faith, your Son, Jesus Christ. Give me wisdom to test the spirits and share the truth of the gospel. Guide me to live in accordance with your word and will. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: He Will Guide You
