1 John 4_1_6 Examining the Spirit

Any given Sunday morning you can turn on the TV and watch the “church services” of the largest “church” in America, Lakewood Church in Huston Texas. You can find their broadcast on a host of different channels, TBN, USA Network, Freeform, TCT Network, and local channels as well. This church runs 52,000 people in attendance on any given weekend. It “pastor” is a great orator, he is clean cut, and always has a smile on his face. He has a net worth of $40 Million and lives in a 17,000 square foot home with 6 bed/baths, 3 elevators, 5 fire places, a guest house and a pool house!

His messages consist of ‘I am blessed, I am strong, I am talented, I am disciplined, I am focused, I am prosperous.” His message is that you have so much good in you that you can speak your desires and God jumps out of a little genie lamp and gives you everything you desire because you are such a noble person and you are created to be a winner and a champion. His message is that we should be obedient not for God but for ourselves, because God is happiest when we are happy. This message is a lie from the gates of hell! Joel Osteen! Many more!

When this pandemic began I really thought that God was calling the world back to Himself and that when churches reopened they would be slammed full just like they were after 9/11. But I’m afraid we have seen the opposite, many have substituted corporate worship with many other things, some have substituted corporate worship with sitting on the couch and watching “church.”

The Bible teaches in this text that many antichrists (fasle prophets) have “Gone Out Into the World.” They teach false doctrines, new doctrines, and they will lead you astray. Because, they are from the spirit of error not the Spirit of Truth.

The Bible teaches; we must try the spirits. What does this mean “try the Spirit.” We must examine them, put them to the test. Every day at the jewelry store, I must items to a test, I test diamonds to see if they are real, I test Gold to approve if they are real.

CPS: I today I want to challenge you to put the teacher of God’s Word to the test, approve if he is from the Spirit of Truth or the spirit of error by examining his beliefs about the Son of God and his message against the Word of God.

Examine the teachers beliefs about the Son of God! Vs. 2-3

EX: Does his beliefs line up with what the apostles taught about Christ Jesus? Vs 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…….. 1 John 1:1-2 the apostles knew Him, Jesus was revealed to them!

The fasle teachers taught, Jesus was born of man, Joseph, and the Spirit of God descended upon Him at the baptism but left Him before the Cross. Making Jesus man of very man but not God of very God.

His Incarnation – I Jn 1:1

His Death – The only way to God is by atonement through faith

Resurrection - eternal life was witnessed by John! 1 Jn 1:2

Return – to make all things right. Slay His enemies and restore His kingdom on earth

Lordship – Lord of all and personal Lord

Examine the teachers message according to the Word of God! Vs. 5

EX: The false teacher’s message will align with what the world says not what the Word says. Its focus will be what the world wants to hear and there may be just enough truth to fool you. Often times it will appeal to physical needs of man not the spiritual needs of man and will most often glorify man instead of Glorifying the Trinity because they speak out of the World not the Word

Attacks the inspiration of God’s Word {2 Tm 3:17} J.W., Moorman, Prosperity Teachers, ANDY STANLEY

Appeal to the attractiveness of the World.

Announces the abundant provisions for physical life

Ill: Empty Wallet

Negates truth of life everlasting!

Application: Be a Berean! Don’t believe anything because man says it but because the entirety of the Bible teaches it!

Conclusion: Put the teacher to the test, often times items come into the store that appears to be real, I have to file into the item to put the acid test to it. We put the acid test to the teacher by examining his beliefs about the Son of God and we compare his message against the Word of God!