EVERY SPIRIT IS NOT FROM GOD

Proclamation:

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone into the world.  This is how you can recognize The Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God …”  1 John 4:1-2 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle John, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to all who believed in Jesus, The Christ.  He begins this fourth chapter by telling them not to believe every spirit that confronts them because not all spirits are from God.  The spirit of the antichrist is also in the world. (1 John 4:3)  Those who know God will listen to them, but those who are not of God will not listen to them. (1 John 4:6)  Then he reminds them to love one another and that God is love. (1 John 4:7-8)  He also reminds them that God loved them enough to send His only Son into the world as an atoning sacrifice for their sins. (1 John 4:9-10)

Application:

Those of us who are old enough to remember Saturday morning cartoons, can remember seeing a miniature evil character standing on the character’s shoulder whispering in one ear and a miniature good character standing on the other shoulder whispering in the other ear.  That was an over-simplification of what really occurs but it clearly conveyed the presence of both good and evil spirits attempting to influence us.  Generally, we know which is right and which is wrong, but if we are not sure we should test the spirit to make sure what they are telling us is consistent with The Word of God.  The Bible repeatedly warns us about false prophets.  Not everyone who claims to be a Christian is really one, and what they are teaching is not The Word of God.  That is why we need to read and study God’s Holy Word so that we can discern the truth.  Additionally, when we attempt to tell someone about Jesus, The Christ, and they refuse to listen to us, we need to understand that they are being influenced by the spirit of the antichrist. (1 John 4:6)