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.Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
8 sermons cite this verse
… so we've just got to avoid that. And the Bible tells us in 1 John 4, verse 1, don't believe everything you hear. That's a good thing to do on the Internet. Actually, I read a quote the other day on the Internet. Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Abraham Lincoln. That guy was way ahead of his time, all I can say. Alright, I know I'm taking a long time on this, but if you want to be led by the spirit of God, there's some things you have to stop doing before you start doing that. Can't follow culture, can't follow friends who are not following God, can't look to other sources besides God, like all those divination things. four, this is one that would apply to a lot of us, I must stop being led by my circumstances. Now, the other ones may have not been relatable to you, but this one is certainly, I must stop being led by my circumstance. I'm amazed how many believers, the number one way they try to determine God's will is, well, what's my circumstance? You know, I missed the plane, it must be God's will. The heavy traffic, it must be God's will. The offering plate skipped my That was God's will. …
It's probably the most well-known passage on fear, at least for many of us. 1 John 4. 1 John chapter 4 starting in verse 17 love has been perfected among us in this that we have boldness in the day of judgment that's an amazing thing because as he is so are we in this world but I'd love to bring that subject up again but not today there is no fear in love verse 18 perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment but he who fears has not been made perfect in love jump down to verse 20 It's all in the same thought. If someone says, I love God and hates his brother, he's a liar. He who does not love his brother whom he can see, how can he love God whom he cannot see? The whole point is, is that when we confess, we have a spiritual experience, a reality in the unseen realm, it has to be measurable in the scene. How we treat the natural world actually illustrates and exemplifies exemplifies what we are claiming to have happened in our own personal lives. …
… you're like well I can't do that you check the sports scores all day and all night long so do I Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the spirit of God. Every spirit that acknowledged that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and even now is already in the world. But you, dear friends, you've overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world, and they talk from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them, but we are from God. and everyone who knows God listens to us. Everyone who's not from God does not listen to us. …
… Because the Holy Spirit was given to us and abides in us. Then he says, 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. By this you know the spirit of God. 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. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming and is already now in the world. You are of God, little children, dear loved children, and have overcome them. Because are you ready for some great news? He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Anybody thankful for that promise? He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore, they speak as of the world. And the world hears them. …
… I know I'm his disciple because I love other people. Here's 1 John 4. 1 John 4, 20 and 21. Let me read this to you then. And then I will be finished. 1 John 4, 20 says, If someone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar. Go ahead, look around your section. there's a liar somewhere on your row in your section. I didn't call you a liar. The scripture said you're a liar. For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from him that he who loves God must love his brother also. Wow. Let me put that down. I want y'all to go ahead and make a list of all of the people that's on your I do not like list. Go ahead. Write it down. Because today God's going to give you deliverance from that hatred in your heart. Today, because you want God's favor in your life. …
… at least for many of us. 1 John 4. 1 John chapter 4, starting in verse 17, love has been perfected among us in this, that we have boldness in the day of judgment. That's an amazing thing. Because as he is, so are we in this world. But I'd love to bring that subject up again. But not today. There is no fear in love, verse 18. Perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. Jump down to verse 20. It's all in the same thought. If someone says, I love God and hates his brother, he's a liar. He who does not love his brother whom he can see, how can he love God whom he cannot see? The whole point is, is that when we confess, we have a spiritual experience, a reality in the unseen realm, it has to be measurable in the seen. How we treat the natural world actually illustrates and exemplifies what we are claiming to have happened in our own personal lives. …
The cross levels. The cross brings you down. And here's the thing. The cross shows you, thirdly, that you're loved. There's a very profound bit of psychology in 1 John 4. 1 John 4, 17, says, whoever lives in God lives in love. In this love, and this love is made complete, for we have confidence in the day of judgment. Like profound psychology? Whoever lives in God lives in love, and this love is made complete because we have confidence in the day of judgment. Do you know what he's saying? He says, our love for each other is made complete because we know that we're accepted. We know that our conscience is clear. On judgment day, we're going to be able to look the justice of God right in the face because Jesus has died for us. He is saying your love cannot be complete unless you know that you're accepted, unless you know that on judgment day, you will not have any problem. You'll be able to walk right into God's arms. Another way to put it is you can't love completely unless you know you're completely love. That's what it says. There's a freedom that comes from knowing that. …
… your religion is just as good as mine. But the Bible says in 1 John chapter 4 and verse 1, Beloved, believe not every spirit, but test the spirits. try the spirits, judge the spirits, whether they be of God, whether they are of God, because many false prophets are going out into the world. And our Lord Jesus Christ, in this same chapter, you're in Matthew chapter 7, just fast forward on down to verse 15. We'll get to it later on as we preach about it. But our Lord says, beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. I can just hear someone saying, oh, now Jesus, don't judge. Jesus, you just said, judge not. Why? Well, you don't have any right to call them false prophets. Lord, you don't have any right to call them ravening wolves. And what Jesus said, he said, you better watch out. They'll get you. Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. …