Young People's Group

TESTING EVERY SPIRIT

by Pastor Mitch
June 06, 2004

The Importance Of Testing Every Spirit

Falsehood is so rampant in the world today. We must be very careful and discerning. It is crucial that we test the spirit behind a person who claims to be a servant of God. John warned of how there were many false prophets being sent out into the world. Their work has caused many to fall away from the truth.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
1 John 4:1

We must never judge a person by outward appearances and by personal declarations. We must examine and test the spirit behind the person. We must test whether he is truly of God or is of the Antichrist.

“And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” 
1 John 4:3

Behind many false teachers is the spirit of the Antichrist. Young people, we must learn to test every spirit.

Knowing How To Discern The Spirit Behind A Person

We can test the spirit in the following ways:

1. By its regard concerning the Lord Jesus

“Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.” 
1 John 4:2-3

We can discern between a spirit of truth and a spirit of error by the way it regards the Lord Jesus. False teachers taught that Christ did not manifest Himself as a man. They will always try to diminish the truths concerning the Lord Jesus. True teachers will have the highest regard concerning the Lord Jesus. They will always lift Him up as He deserves.

2. By its regard concerning the truth of God’s word

“They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us.” 
1 John 4:5-6

Those who are not of God will not hear when truth is preached or taught. False teachers, on the other hand, will speak those things concerning the world. Everyone who is of the world will hear them. Those who are of God will recognise and listen to truth. When we know God, we will hear and appreciate when truth is preached.

Overcoming The Evil One Through The Help Of God’s Spirit

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 
1 John 4:4

We can overcome the evil one. The Spirit of God who is in us will guide us into all truth. He is far greater than the devil. He will teach us to discern between that which is truth and that which is not. Let’s seek this discernment through the Spirit of God.

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