Testing the Prophets

Introduction

Would you take God’s Word and find the book of 1 John, please. 1 John chapter 4, vs. 1-6

1 John 4:1–3 ESV

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. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 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.

1 John 4:4–6 ESV

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. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Often, we, as Christians, are called believers, but listen very carefully: Unbelief is a virtue—unbelief is a virtue.

Look at the first three words of this chapter; look at it: “Beloved, believe not”—“Beloved, believe not.” (1 John 4:1) Now there are wonderful things we need to believe, and the Christian life is the life of faith. And the Bible says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6) But now, remember this: We’re not told just to believe anything. Faith is no better than its origin, and faith is no better than its object. Somehow we get the idea that we’re supposed to believe anything and everything because we are believers.

Now, let me say again what faith is. Faith is not just simply deciding on what you want to believe and then believing it. Or faith is not trying to make yourself believe what you feel is not true. As a little boy said, “Faith is believing what you know ain’t so.” That’s not what faith is, either. Faith is getting a word from God and acting on that. That is Bible faith.

Without faith, it’s impossible to please God.

So, that’s very dangerous for you to live without faith. But there’s something else that’s even, perhaps, more dangerous, and that is to believe and put faith in the wrong thing.

Look at the scripture again:

1 John 4:1 ESV

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.

Now the apostle John is warning us about false prophets. It’s very interesting, because if you will read 1 John, you will find out that the word love is a significant word. And the last part of this chapter again deals with love. But right in the middle of this passage on love, he warns about false prophets, because sometimes we’ve gotten the idea that in order to be loving we have to be “softheaded.” Now, friend, we’re to have a soft heart, not a soft head. Because we’re loving, that doesn’t mean that we have to put our arms around everybody else and say, “Well, God bless you. Your faith is just as good as mine. We’re all un-­American if we think there is any difference.”

Now, folks, everything spiritual is not of God. He says test the spirits. You know, I’ve been amazed not only that some people will not believe; I’ve also been amazed at what some people will believe.

(samples of conspiracy theories)

Now the devil had rather get you to believe a wrong thing than to do a wrong thing. Did you know that? Why? Because the thought is the father of the deed. If he can get the wrong thoughts into your mind, then he doesn’t have to worry about the deeds.

“As a man thinketh…so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7) You sow a thought; you reap a deed. You sow a deed; you reap a habit. You sow a habit; you reap a character. You sow a character; you reap a destiny. It all begins with a thought.

So the devil wants to set up a false belief system. So God tells us here to test our faith. And, by the way, the faith that can’t be tested can’t be trusted. Put it to the test.

We need to be able to discern the difference between a true prophet and a false prophet. Behind every prophet there is a spirit: either it’s the spirit of Satan or it’s the Spirit of the Almighty.

How do you test a prophet? I want to mention three or four ways. These are not specifically in our text. And then we’re going to come to our text itself and then sharpen the focus a little more. But let me give you some ways to test a prophet and whether or not he is of God.

A. Test Prophets by Their Method

First one: Test them by their methods—by their methods. Put in your margin Jude verse 4, no chapter; there’s just one chapter—Jude verse 4.

Jude 4 ESV

For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Now the key to that verse and the reason I wanted to use it is he says, “There are certain people have crept in unnoticed/unawares.” Unbelief, false doctrine, is very subtle. It just sort of comes in the side door. It just slips in. It creeps in. They are creeps. That’s what Jude is telling us. Think, first of all, of their method. They are very subtle. You know, the Bible said of Satan in the garden, he is “more subtil (or crafty) than any beast of the field.” (Genesis 3:1) “He is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44) And the best lie sounds the most like the truth. So, put down, number one, their method: They are very subtle.

B. Test Prophets by Their Motive

Letter B: their motive. 2 Peter 2: 2-3

2 Peter 2:2–3 ESV

And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Now false prophets always are greedy, and with slick talk they make merchandise of gullible people. So this is their motive: They are out to exploit people. Now they may make merchandise of you financially, they may make merchandise of you politically, or they may make merchandise of you personally.

C. Test Prophets by Their Morals

You have to watch their method. You have to watch their motive. And here’s the third thing: You have to watch their morals. In that verse I gave you—in Jude verse 4—the Bible says they turn “the grace of our God into sensuality.” (Jude 1:4) What does that mean? It means “immorality.” They say, “Oh well, you’re saved by grace, so therefore, you can live any way that you like.” And many times, they live any way they like. It comes out. You can test them by their morals.

D. Test Prophets by Their Ministry

Also, you can test them by their ministry. Matthew 7: 15-16

Matthew 7:15–16 ESV

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

He’s saying, don’t just look at them, look at who is following them! Check out those who are the fruit of their ministry. Measure those who are following him. Like pastor, like people. Like prophet, like followers.

E. Test Prophets by Their Message

However, the main way that you are to test them is by their message. Look, if you will now, here in 1 John again—chapter 4, verses 2 and 3:

1 John 4:2–3 ESV

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 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.

about antichrist. The prefix anti means “against” and it means at the same time “instead of.” It has a double meaning. And that’s the way Satan does his work. Satan is against Christ, so he brings in a substitute instead of Christ. He does not deny religion; it is his chief tool. His method is not so much a denial as it is a misrepresentation. And so you might ask a false prophet, “Do you believe in Jesus?” and he’ll say, “Of course I believe in Jesus.” But notice what Paul says—and put this scripture down—2 Corinthians 11 and verse 4:

2 Corinthians 11:4 ESV

For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.

Paul is saying, “You are so foolish that you might let somebody come along and tell you about another Jesus. You might let somebody come along and lead you to another spirit. You might let somebody tell you about another gospel.” And Paul goes on to say that “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14) Now all of that is just setting up the text this morning. Now in order to test anything, you have to have a standard; you have to have a measuring rod; you have to have some criterion in order to test. Isn’t that right? All right now, when John tells us to believe not every spirit, but to test the spirits—try the spirits—whether it’s Christ or antichrist, he gives us three major tests—okay?— three major tests. How do you test the spirits? How do you know?

All right now, I want to give you these three major tests..

I. You Test a False Prophet by the Word of God

Look, if you will again, in verse 6.

1 John 4:6 ESV

We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Now John was an apostle, and he, with the other apostles, brought the Word of God. As a matter of fact, when we started in this little book of 1 John, in the first chapter—in 1 John chapter 1, verse 1—he says, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you.” (1 John 1:1–3)

Now the apostles were those who saw Jesus, who heard Jesus, who were anointed and appointed to bring the Word of God, the prophets who wrote the Old Testament, the apostles who wrote the New Testament. This church is squarely “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets” who brought to us the Word of God.

It’s intimidating preaching God’s word, I take it seriously The only way I can speak with authority, is because I’m preaching what they said—what they said. The church is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets.” (Ephesians 2:20)

So, when I have some prophet who comes along, some spirit who comes along, how do I check him out? I check him out by the Word of God—by the Word of God. The devil came to Jesus in the wilderness to tempt Jesus. How did Jesus deal with the devil? By using the Word of God. Three times Jesus said in those three temptations, “Satan, it is written…”; “It is written…”; “It is written.” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10)

And I know it’s hard, because the devil makes it his full time job to confuse these words, and twist them. But we have to get rid of the noise, get alone, pray and read it, and follow it as best we can. Believe me, I don’t know everything about the Bible, but I try and use it as my guide. It’s my spiritual sword. Now if you don’t know the Word of God, you’re going to be a sitting duck for these false apostles, and you’re not going to know how to test the spirits or try the spirits. So, first of all, how do you test? By the Word of God. Everything else we have is going to follow out of that.

II. You Test a False Prophet by the Son of God

That’s the second test: by the Son of God. Look now, if you will, in verses 2 and 3:

1 John 4:2–3 ESV

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 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.

Now I want you to slow down with me and look very carefully because John is very exact in what he says. Now John uses two names—Jesus, which is His human name; and Christ, which is His divine title—and he puts them together. Christ is not His last name; that is His title. He is Jesus Christ. He is man and Messiah at the same time. Jesus is His earthly name. Christ, which means “Messiah,” “the Anointed One,” “the Appointed One,” is His divine title.

Now there’s never another one like the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the God-­Man. Jesus is God in human flesh. And this is the fundamental doctrine of our faith: God stepped out of heaven and took upon Him human flesh. We call that the Incarnation. Carnis means “flesh.” The Incarnation—He took human flesh. When God became a man, when Jesus Christ took upon Himself humanity, He did not take it while He was here on earth and then lay it aside and go back to heaven. He took His humanity back to heaven with Him. For all eternity He will be a man. I hope that will sink in.

Don’t you let somebody come along here and parade about the fact that, “Oh, we believe in the man Jesus, the great prophet, the great teacher,” and deny His deity. It is a heresy to deny His humanity. It is a heresy to deny His deity.

2 John 7 ESV

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

Now we talk sometimes sentimentally about little babies coming from heaven. They don’t come from heaven; they come from Mama’s womb. Now I thank God that they are formed there in the mother’s womb, and that is a miracle. But the Lord Jesus Christ, when He was born at Bethlehem, was the One who created His mother, and He was as old as His Father. He did not have His beginning at Bethlehem; He had His birth at Bethlehem. He existed before Bethlehem.

Now, what are we talking about? We’re talking about “don’t believe every spirit. Try the spirits—test the spirits—whether they are of God.” How do you do it? Number one: by the Word of God. Number two: by the Son of God.

III. You Test a False Prophet by the Spirit of God

Now here’s the third way— Now, go back to 1 John chapter 4, and look, if you will, in verses 4 through 6:

1 John 4:4–6 ESV

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. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Now you test by the Spirit of God. The Bible says, “A threefold cord is not [easily] broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12) And what is the threefold cord that we have? The threefold cord that we have is the Word of God, the Son of God, and the Spirit of God. Now you will never understand the Bible unless the Holy Spirit teaches you So you’ve got to have not only the Word of God that tells about the Son of God, but you have to have the Spirit of God to help you understand the Word of God to know the Son of God.

Now all of this is together. Jesus said in John chapter 10—not 1 John, but John chapter 10—something very beautiful—verses 4 and 5.

John 10:4–5 ESV

When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Do you know the voice of the Holy Spirit? Do you know the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ? You see, it is the Holy Spirit of God who takes the things of God and makes them real to you. John 3, verse 27: “John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” (John 3:27) The only way that you were able to make Him Lord of your life is the Holy Spirit of God enabled you to do that. And so we have the object of our faith, the Lord Jesus; we have the record of our faith, the Word of God; and we have the energizer of our faith, the Holy Spirit of God, who illumines us and takes the things of Jesus and shows them to us and makes them real to us.

Conclusion

• Now I have a radio in my home. My radio has two bands: AM and FM. And I can tune into the signals that come in AM, or I can tune into the signals that come in FM. If you have a radio and it’s anywhere modern, you have those two parts—those two channels—the AM and the FM channel. And both of them are constantly sending out signals. Now today, there are two signals coming out in the world: the AM—that’s the antichrist message; the FM—that’s the Father’s message. And they are being broadcast all the time. There’s the spirit of antichrist just coming out in the world. It is all over. It’s in the air like a fungus.

And the polite, politically correct thing is to say, it’s all the same, this is true to me and this is true to you.

they can’t both be right. There is a right; there is a wrong. There is the Spirit of Christ; there is the spirit of antichrist. The Bible is the Word of God, Jesus is the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit of God will help you to understand that.