Believe Not Every Spirit
Text: 1 John 4:1
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
This verse is timeless. I am sure you have heard the old expression, “Don’t believe everything you hear.” We would be foolish to believe everything that is told to us. That would be acting like a child. Children believe almost anything. But a mature person will not blindly believe anything that he or she hears. Someone said, “It is a good rule of life to believe nothing that you hear and only half of what you see.” There is some truth to that.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
What does that mean? It means to scrutinize information. There is no shortage of information in this day. The Bible says of making of many books there is no end (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Add the internet to that; a platform where anyone can say anything at any time for any reason, and you have the age we live in, the information age. It is now even more critical that we not accept something just because someone speaks it loudly, or convincingly, or emphatically. Passion is not the same as truth. Weight the words of men. Why? Because all men are liars (Romans 3:4).
When I was younger and my great-grandmother was still alive, I remember a funny thing she said. Back then, there was certain newspaper that circulated. It was full of exaggerations, lies, fairy tales and fake news. It was known for these thing. But my great-grandmother came from a different time and age. I asked her if she believed the things that were written iin that newspaper. She said, “Of course. They would not print it if it was not true.” I wish that were the case.
Prove something before you choose to believe something.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
I think it is obvious that John was referring to information coming from those claiming to be of God. Do you realize that God gets credit for things He did not do? Have you ever heard someone say, “God told me to do it.” Did He really? How did they know? Maybe it was not God’s Spirit that told them to do something. Maybe it was another spirit.
I cannot tell you how many times in my life I have heard people claim that God told them to do something, but it was obvious that God was nowhere near them in that decision. You see, God will never tell anyone to do anything that violates His Word. If you want to know God’s will about something. Consider it in light of His Word. If it violates God’s Word, you do not have to pray about it, or ponder God’s mind about it.
Why should be try the spirits? We need to try the spirits because if we do not, we might become deceived. Deception can come from many sources.
We can be self-deceived according to 1 John 1:8 and 1 Corinthians 3:18.
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
We can be deceived by others.
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
We can also be deceived by Satan.
Revelation 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
Because there is so much deception in the world and even in our hearts sometimes, we need to try the spirits.
Here in our text, the chapter begins with the command to try the spirits. How do we do that? How do we try the spirits? John gave us the answer to that question in this chapter. I want to give you four test questions that can be used to try any man, any movement, any ministry, any motive, and any information involving spiritual matters. You can use these questions to help you discern if something is of God or not.
Does it establish Jesus Christ as the Son of God?
1 John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
There are many different “Christian” groups in the world. Since they all do not share the same beliefs – those that line up with what God teaches in His Word, we can conclude that some of them at least, are not telling the truth. There is a group that claims to be witnesses for Jehovah. But we know that is not true because they do not establish Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
1 John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
Consider any group and ask them what they believe about Jesus Christ? Whose Son is He?
Matthew 22:41-46 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
The Lord was trying to tell them Christ was more than the Son of David – He was also the Son of God.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
The Son of God is called the might God, the everlasting Father, the prince of peace. Yes, that verse clearly states that God’s Son is God.
John 14:8-10 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Why would people follow a religion that denies Jesus Christ is God manifested in human form? I’ll tell you why. They have not tried the spirits!
Does it operate against the kingdom of Satan, turning men from the kingdom of this world to the kingdom that is to come?
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1 John 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
There are many “Christian” organizations and “ministries” that do not follow the teachings of the Bible. One teaching is that Christians are not to be like the world. Why do some churches try to mimic the world to reach the world? That is not what God teaches. Some churches are not trying to point men to righteousness. They are just trying to blend in to the world in order to reach the world. You can’t reach the world that way.
Have you noticed what has been happening in professing Christianity? There is a shifting that has been taking place for the last 40 or 50 years.
Instead of a church, it is a worship center.
Instead of a choir, it is a concert or a band.
Instead of a preacher, they have a motivational speaker.
Instead of a song leader, they have a director of worship.
Instead of a sanctuary, they have an auditorium.
Instead of a revival, it is a rally.
Instead of a camp-meeting, it is a conference or a seminar.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
The way to reach the world is to be as different from the world as possible, not the other way around. Why do you think companies change their designs so much? Why do cars look different from year to year? Did they get it wrong last year, so they have to try again this year? No, the reason why they look different from year to year is to attract people. If they cranked out the same old model every year, they would become boring and lose sales.
Believe it or not, that is the argument that churches use to justify being like the world. They say the church is too old-fashioned and that young people have nothing to identify with. The only thing they need to identify with is the truth of God. If the church looks like the world, the world will not see something different. Christians should try and show the world that we have what they do not have. We need to show them that our religion is not just something we do on Sunday, it is what we are. We can never do that by looking like and acting like the world.
Does it affirm the authority of the Scriptures?
1 John 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
John said that those who know God hear the apostles. John was an apostle. The spirit of truth came from the apostles. The apostles penned the New Testament. Therefore, those that hear, believe and obey God’s Word prove they are of God and those who do not hear, believe and obey God’s Word are showing that they are not of God. They might actually be born again. But they are not trying the spirits.
As a Christian you have the responsibility to make sure you are not listening to or following any person or any movement that denies God’s Word.
Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
We should pay close attention to any church, movement, or ministry’s position on the authority of God’s Word. That is one reason I am an independent Baptist. Independent Baptists almost always have this one thing in common, even though there are as many flavors of Baptists as there are any othe denomination. Independent Baptists tend to hold the Word of God as the Final Authority in all matters of faith and practice. You might think all denominations do this. No, they do not. Many hold the church leaders and church councils, and church politics as the final say in all matters. That is wrong.
If the Bible is not the final authority, the movement is not of God, period.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
The Bible teaches truth because the Bible is truth. It teaches that men are sinners, life is short, and we will stand before God one day. It teaches God hates sin, salvation is through repentance and faith – on and on and on…
I am not a Calvinist, but Spurgeon said this, “Never be afraid of your Bibles. If there is a text of Scripture you dare not meet, humble yourself until you can. If your creed and the Scriptures do not agree, cut your creed into pieces, but make it agree with this book. If there be anything in the church to which you belong which is contrary to the inspired Word, leave that church.”
If people would actually heed this advice, the largest churches would be those closest to the teachings of the Bible. Instead, sadly, the largest churches today are those who do NOT follow the teachings of the Word of God. Entire denominations would cease to exist if Christians would simply try the spirits and prove all things!
Does it teach men to love God and the souls of men?
1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Notice the love of men in this chapter.
1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1 John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Notice the love of God in this chapter.
1 John 4:17-19 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.
There are two things in Scripture that always go hand-in-hand with God: Humility and love.
1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
Sometimes we see love but not humility. Other times we see humility but not love. Those that of God have both.
Sadly, there are some denominations, churches, ministries, and people who focus on hate, criticalness, condemnation, and arrogance, instead of the virtues of love and humility.
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Love is the expression of true Christian faith and virtue. Try the spirits. Have you ever seen someone claim to believe the truth, to hold the truth, to have the truth? And yet, their whole message is doom and gloom? Did you know one of the most obvious signs that a group is a cult is how they promote their faith to others? If the message claims they are right and everyone else is wrong, and that message is communicated in criticalness and hatefulness, there is a good chance they are not of God. I say this as an independent, fundamental Baptist who knows full-well how mean-spirited this group can be. God does not teach us to do this.
Ephesians 4:14-15 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Sometimes truth is hard and can be harsh. The message might be so, but the messenger should not be.
Mark 9:38-40 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part.
Our message is important, and so is our delivery of it. We are to be wise as serpents, but also harmless as doves.
Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
We would be so much more effective if we acted more like sheep and less like wolves, more like doves and less like serpents.
Job 26:1-4 But Job answered and said, How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength? How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is? To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?
What kind of spirit comes from your favorite preacher, evangelist, author, or ministry? The world is full of deceivers. How are you going to tell the right from the wrong? How can we know truth from error?
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
- Does it establish Jesus Christ as the Son of God?
- Does it operate against the kingdom of Satan, turning men from the kingdom of this world to the kingdom that is to come?
- Does it affirm the authority of the Scriptures?
- Does it teach men to love God and the souls of men?
Try the spirits, Christian. Prove all things. Hold on to truth and push error as far away as you can.