In today’s study we will find how to test others spirits, are they of God or of this world. 1John 4 and verse 1 reads.
1John 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.
Jesus taught about this in Mat.24, let’s pick it up with verse 3 and it reads.
Mat.24:3] And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
This is what Jesus tells us to look for in these end times.
Mat.24:4] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
[5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
[6] And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Many will come in his name, Christians, and one will call himself Christ. He is the antichrist, he is Satan. He comes before the true Christ, do not be deceived, do not fly away, wait for the true Christ. Also, he mentioned many who call themselves Christians will lie and deceive you too. Be not deceived. He finishes verse 6 with “The end is not yet”. We see plenty of wars and rumors of war today, watchmen watch. Back to 1John 4 and verse 2 reads.
1John 4:2] Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
[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.
Only those that confess that Jesus is the Son of God are of God, all others are considered antichrist.
1John 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.
[5] They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
[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.
Read that again if you didn’t understand. It can’t be said any clearer, this is how you know who is of God and who isn’t. Anyone who doesn’t want to hear you talk about Jesus is not of God. Let’s go to John 15 and verse 18 reads.
John 15:18] If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
[19] If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
So, if the world hates you then you know you’re doing it right. Back to 1John 4 and verse 7 reads.
1John 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.
[8] He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
They will gnash their teeth and persecute you.
1John 4:9] In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
God let it be manifested, made known, unto us long ago in Isaiah 7:14 and it reads.
Isa.7:14] Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Prophesied long ago in the Old Testament that Immanuel, God with us, would come in the flesh. Fulfilled in Mat.1:23. Back to 1John 4 and verse 10 reads.
1John 4:10] Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
This word propitiation is G2434, Hilasmos in the Greek, and means; atonement. Now we know the love of God, that he would send his Son to die for our sins.
1John 4:11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
[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.
[13] Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
We have studied this recently but we need to do this one more time. John 14:18-27, Jesus is teaching. John 14 and verse 18 reads.
John 14:18] I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
[19] Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
[20] At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
[21] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Jesus will make himself known unto us spiritually.
John 14:22] Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
[23] Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
[24] He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
[25] These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
[26] But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The Father, the Son speaking and the Holy Spirit, this is the Triune GodHead. This is the Trinity, and they all dwell within us.
John 14:27] Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
How bold we can stand before the antichrist now, knowing this. Back to 1John 4 and verse 14 reads.
1John 4:14] And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
This is why Christians use the fish sypher, or the symbol of the fish. It means; Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.
1John 4:15] Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
[16] And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
[17] 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.
Don’t overlook this. As he is, so are we in this world. Meaning as Jesus was sent into this world so are we sent into this world. He as Savior and we as witnesses that he is the Savior. John 14 helps with this whole chapter, find time and read it.
1John 4:18] 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.
Fear shows weakness and little faith. Fear not for the LORD is with us.
1John 4:19] We love him, because he first loved us.
[20] If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
[21] And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
John has been boldly teaching us this throughout this book. In chapters 2:9-11 and 3:10-15. This is a commandment from Jesus. Another great study today let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible