View Video Blog, Right Click Link: I John 4:1
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:
Again, John starts with the word, Beloved (Beloved
ones)! This term of affection, however, is immediately followed by stark words
of warning. This section of the letter is a call for discernment. Wrong spirits (pneumata) would surely bring John’s hearers to spiritual harm. The
connection of this passage with 2:16–23 is clear as it again deals with
christological error.
This is the
only instance in the Johannine writings where readers are admonished to not believe (mē … pisteuete). However, it clearly echoes Jesus’ warnings in the
Synoptics. He warned his disciples “do not believe” when false reports of
Christ’s appearing come to them (Matt 24:23, 26; Mark 13:21). John had just
commanded his readers: “believe in the name of his Son” (1 John 3:23; also
5:13).[1]
WHAT WE CAN WALK
AWAY WITH ….
- We walk away this morning with the understanding that we should not trust every Spirit but have discernment. Discernment is defined as: The act or process of exhibiting keen insight and good judgment. Keenness of insight and judgment. Listening to wrong Spirits can cause great harm.
CONCLUSION:
There have been many times in my walk with
Christ that I have entered a room and, in my spirit, felt an evil presence. In
those occasions I have listen to that discernment and left the room. To often, in our
culture today we find that God people don’t discern the spirit they may encounter and in turn they get hurt, abused, or even lost.
Let today be
a day we listen to the Spirit that lives inside all believers. Remember
this verse,
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
Blessings my friends
Pastor Rod
[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.
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