I John 4:1 (Part 2)

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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.

THE STUDY:

          Yesterday we walked away with the understanding that we should not trust every Spirit but have discernment. Listening to wrong Spirits can cause great harm. This morning we are going to look at how to test every spirit.

          The spirits out and about in the world were to be carefully examined (dokimazete). In the LXX the word test (dokimazō) sometimes referred to a test to determine that an accurate count of money was made (Gen 23:16; 1 Chr 28:18; 29:4). It can refer to the testing of precious metal by fire to assure its purity (Prov 17:3; 27:21). In the NT the word test relates to character (Rom 5:4) and to genuineness of faith (1 Pet 1:7).^[1]

          Proper testing would discern those genuinely from God in contrast to those who were false prophets. Many believers of Christ were being persuaded to follow these false prophets. John gives them the tools to discern the authentic prophets of God from the false prophets or what John liked to refer to as the “deceivers” and equates them with “antichrist” ^[2]   

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning understanding there are false prophets in the world today. We can test these Spirits to see if they are true prophets of God. We do this by testing their character and genuineness of faith.

CONCLUSION:

          I don’t believe John is telling his readers to live a life that doesn’t trust anyone. We are to live a life that tests everyone. I try to practice a way of life: think the best of everyone until they prove me wrong then forgive them and go back to thinking the best again. This doesn’t mean you go back to the same type of friendship. That friendship has changed but it does mean you go back to the same type of mindset.

          I had a wise leader tell me once, “You give a man enough rope he will eventually hang himself.” I took that to mean, given enough time the true nature of that man will eventually come to the surface. As we test those spirits around us today may our true nature come to the surface as well. May that nature be that of Christ.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (135). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

^[2] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (136). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.