Test the Spirits

Introduction:

Spiritual Realm

What are demons actually doing?

How do you tell if someone is led by the Spirit or by the devil?

It is trickier than you might think

Prophecy

“God told me”

“the Holy Spirit is speaking to me”

Systematic Theology: Biblical & Historical Evaluations and Conclusions

That there may be real contact with evil spirits (demons) in some forms of spiritualism, parapsychology, psychic prophecy and other occult practices may not be denied. It is also certain that much, if not most, is quackery, deceiving people by trickery—in either case to be strictly avoided.

1 John 4:1–6 LSB

1 Beloved, 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. 2 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, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. 4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are from God. The one who knows God hears us; the one who is not from God does not hear us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Test the Spirits

1 John 4:1 LSB

1 Beloved, 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.

Believe or trust

In Christianity, we are skeptical of people in a healthy way

Spiritual world

False prophets have gone out

Jesus Test

1 John 4:2 LSB

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

1 John 4:3 LSB

3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

the Jesus test is essentially does a person believe the truth about Jesus Christ

Verse 2 gives the example of the incarnation likely because of the background of 1 John

Verse 3 takes this concept more broad

Denial of Jesus is a for sure mark of a not the Holy Spirit but the devil

Hearing Test

1 John 4:4–6 LSB

4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are from God. The one who knows God hears us; the one who is not from God does not hear us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Vs. 4 is necessary because of demonic influence

It is scary out there

Holy Spirit is in believers and much stronger than the demonic powers

Vs. 5

Vs. 6

Difference in our home

Those who hear God hear us, but those who do not hear are not from God

This is how we tell the difference

Application

Centrality of Jesus Christ

What do you believe about Jesus Christ

Different Religions

Things to look for:

Incarnation

God/Man

Paid for sin

Actually rose

Focus on the Word

Christians need to know their Bibles

You cannot reason with someone if you do not know the Scriptures

Consistency Talk:

Is it being legalistic to know the Bible

Be consistent