I John 4:4

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Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

THE STUDY:

          We can safely assume that “them” is the antichrist. The very ones John has been referring to throughout this epistle. John re-states the fact that they “have overcome them.” They had gained spiritual victory and continued to be victorious (as implied by the perfect tense of nenikēkate: have gained and keep the victory). The overcoming of these Christians was not their achievement, but in God’s strength, already real in their lives because God resided in them.^[1]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that as believers in Christ we have the power, wisdom, and strength to live a life that is victorious in Christ. Not by our own power, wisdom, or strength but by the one who dwells inside of us.

CONCLUSION:

          An American with an English gentleman was viewing the Niagara whirlpool rapids, when he said to his friend: “Come, and I’ll show you the greatest unused power in the world.” And taking him to the foot of Niagara Falls, “there,” he said, “is the greatest unused power in the world!” “Ah, no my brother, not so!” was the reply. “The greatest unused power in the world is the Holy Spirit of the living God.

          Let today be a day we operate in the power of the one who dwells inside: JESUS! Through his power, wisdom, and strength may we see His glory!

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 (139). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

I John 4:2-3 (Part 2)

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By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

THE STUDY:

          Yesterday we looked at the positive aspect of knowing the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. Today we are going to look at the negative aspect of this: every spirit that does not confess Jesus. Would it be wrong to say that if you don’t confess then you are basically denying Christ?

           To begin with, the Spirit of God must be distinguished from false spirits. This is particularly necessary because many false prophets have gone out into the world. The touchstone by which these spirits (false prophets) are to be tested is their attitude toward the incarnate person of Jesus Christ. The failure to acknowledge (homologei, “confess”) that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is precisely what exposes the spirit of the antichrist, which John had already warned his readers about.^[1]

          John repeats a thought he expressed earlier in the epistle: “The antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come” (2:18). Now he says, “The antichrist … is coming and even now is already in the world.” That antichristian spirit is here already and expresses itself underhandedly and often violently against Jesus Christ and his followers.^[2]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that as a believer we should confess Jesus. He should not be something that is tiptoed around but yet someone who is talked about and shared in everyday occurrences.

CONCLUSION:

          Someone has said that the Gospel in the first century was carried by a good system. It was called the teleperson system, and it truly got results, better than we do today with our telephones, televisions, and so on. The woman of Samaria carried the Gospel after her meeting with Christ by the teleperson system. It is said that “many of the Samaritans … believed on Him for the saying of the woman” (John 4:39). —Mrs. J. Shields

          Let today be a day we profess Christ not just in our actions but our words as well. Let people know you are a Christian!

  

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

 

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^[1] Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (1 Jn 4:1–3). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[2] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (326). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

I John 4:2-3

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By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

THE STUDY:

          When it comes to false prophets, verse 2 is not hiding some secret formula in detecting them. John states it very clearly, “every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God”! We can assume that John was dealing with a specific issue that was detrimental to the spiritual walk of the believers.

          The Christian recognizes the Spirit of God in anyone who openly confesses that Jesus Christ is both human and divine, and that Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God, “has come in the flesh.” Here we have the established principle for testing whether a particular teaching comes from the Holy Spirit ^[1]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away with the understanding that anyone who acknowledges that Christ is both human and divine is a prophet of God! We can only assume that this is the key foundational belief for a prophet of God.

CONCLUSION:

          One afternoon in 1965, Daniel Waswa, a citizen of Kenya, struggled up a hill and was crucified by his wife at his own direction. As he hung on the cross, he told the gathered crowd, “I am dying for the sins of all Kenyans.” After nailing her husband to the cross, the woman collapsed on the ground and died, apparently from shock. Waswa’s neighbors knew this was no spur-of-the-moment act. He had talked about it for a year and had told them he had been called by God for this purpose.

          They begged him to let them take him down. He refused all requests. Finally he was taken down still alive, but he soon died from the nail wounds which had become infected.

          Superstitious people now make pilgrimages to the spot where Daniel Waswa died and pray for him to forgive their sins.

          In our world today we find so many false prophets and teachings. Let us be reminded though, that Christ is “ … the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7)

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (325). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

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.

I John 4:1

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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:

           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

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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.

I John 3:24 (Part 2)

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Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

THE STUDY:

           In this verse John introduces the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. How does God dwell in the heart of the believer? Through the work and testimony of the Holy Spirit. No believer can ever say that he does not know whether God lives within him. The Spirit of God testifies in the heart of the Christian and gives him this knowledge and assurance.^[1]

          The crowning evidence of this mutuality of life is that God gives the Spirit. Obeying God’s commands and doing what pleases him (v 22) demonstrates faith in God’s Son, Jesus Christ (v 23). God demands that we love one another (v 23). Our obedience to this and, indeed, all God’s commands means we live in him (v 24). The Spirit he gave us (v 24) bears witness to the intimacy of this relationship. It is this Spirit of faith and love who enables us to believe and to love, thus enabling us to know that God lives in us. So God (Father), Jesus Christ (Son), and the Holy Spirit all are affirmed together in this portion.^[2]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that we can rest assure that the love that pours from us bears witness to the one who dwells inside us. Our actions, attitude, and words will demonstrate what and who dwells inside our hearts.

CONCLUSION:

           One summer a man spent some time at Mount Robson, British Columbia, where he camped and lived with fellow mountaineers of the Alpine Club of Canada. On a rainy day a group of them were drinking tea in a tent, when a discussion arose about religion. A young scientist turned to the man with a patronizing air and said, “But you don’t really believe, do you, that Jesus is the Son of God?” he said. “How do you know it is true?” The man simply did what any other convinced man would have done: He looked him straight in the eye and said: “How do I know that Jesus is the Son of God? I know it, because I know Him personally.” For at least a half-minute their eyes locked. Then he turned away. The argument was over.

          I pray this morning you understand that if you have: asked, believe, and have confessed, You then have the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Not a portion of Him but ALL. Why? Because you know Him personally!

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (319). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

^[2] Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3 John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (129–130). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

I John 3:24

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Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

THE STUDY:

          One of the things that I am finding as I study God’s word is that God is a reactional God! James 4:8 “Come near to God and He will come near to you,” and in this passage we read, “Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him.” This is a prime example of God not violating our free will. We are the ones God is waiting on, not the other way around.

          In this verse we read the word “abide” which means to remain in God! Looking at the entire book of I John we can find this word used over 25 times. This is a great indicator that John is trying to make a point: REMAIN IN GOD! John's readers are followers of Jesus but yet they are being led astray by this new view of Jesus (Gnostics). If they remain in God, He remains in them. We can safely say that if they don’t remain in God, He will not remain in them.

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning knowing this, those who keep God’s word in their heart experience God making his home with them. As an eighth-century English theologian, the Venerable Bede, wrote, “Let God, then, be a home for you, and you be the home of God; remain in God and let God remain in you.”^[1]

CONCLUSION:

           I find, in my own life, times when I try to get God to do what I want and not what He wants. These are those times when we must remain in Him. You might be having a difficult time in your life right now or you might come across someone today who is going through a difficult time. Remember to remain in God and He will remain in you.

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (318–319). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.