What Spirit are You Following?

Intro

The Truth, to many it has become overrated. To some, it has become a way to earn millions by twisting it. To plenty, the Truth, real Truth doesn’t exist. And to a few, a remnant of followers, the Truth is what we stand on, what we live by, what drives us. The Truth of the Word of God is all there is to live for.

False prophets, or false teachers, snakes in the grass, wolves in sheep’s clothing. They’ve existed as long as Truth has, yet, in recent days, they are being flocked to.

People don’t want to call out famous or popular preachers for fear of lawsuit, and that can happen, sure. However, God makes it clear in His word that false teachers are real, and as your pastor, it is my duty to warn you to watch out.

Exalting Jesus in 1,2,3 John (Test the Spirits! They Are Not All from God! (1 John 4:1–6))

In 2013, Christian rapper Shai Linne stirred quite a controversy with his song “Fal$e Teacher$.” It is a critique of the prosperity gospel, … and [h]e says,

Don’t be deceived by this funny biz,

if you come to Jesus for money, then he’s not your God,

money is!

Jesus is not a means to an end, the Gospel is.

He came to redeem us from sin, and that is the message

forever I yell!

If you’re living your best life now you’re heading for hell!

Turn off TBN, that channel is overrated.

The pastors speak bogus statements, financially motivated.

It’s kind of like a pyramid scheme.

Visualize heretics Christianizing the American dream.

It’s foul and deceitful, they’re lying to people,

teaching that camels squeeze through the eye of a needle!

Now, I know nothing about this rapper or his reputation, so let me clearly state: I am not promoting him or telling you that I approve of his music; however, what a verse…

False teachers are among you. Whether they are mistaken or they are intentional. Whether they present a false version of the gospel or live anti-gospel, they exist. Be aware.

1 John 4:1-6

Test the Spirits

We live in a confusing world, there is no way around that fact. And, in this world, we will be exposed to many “spirits” if you will. Beliefs, ideas, ideologies, and people who all proclaim to be the way, the truth, and the life. They claim to be all you need.

While we navigate here in this life, we must be aware that there are things going on behind the scenes, spiritual things. These spiritual things take control of people’s lives and we must be discerning.

False teaching has existed from the very beginning of time, all the way back in Deuteronomy the people of God were warned about false prophets. People who come in the name of God but teach not the things of God.

So, test the spirits, test the teaching, and test the teacher.

When I was in school, we had to do science experiments and in these experiments we had to test hypotheses and theories, but in each test, we had to have something to test it against, some constant that never changed so that we could tell what the reaction meant.

When we hear preaching, teaching, or any type of talk at all, we must weigh it against Scripture before believing it. You will hear a lot of things in this life, many of those things you will be called to believe and make a lifestyle. But, when we test the teaching and the teacher and weigh them against Scripture, we will know whether or not the truth is being preached.

I think of the People’s Temple in the 1970’s. Now, I wasn’t alive back then but I have studied them some and … wow, if people would have just tested the spirits, tested the teaching, and tested the teacher.

Jones promoted teachings that seemed biblical, but weren’t really fully biblical when weighed against Scripture, and a thousand or more people lost their lives.

In our world today, there are preachers and teachers who you must be aware of. They teach not the truth of Scripture, but a twisted view that brings them great riches and fame. So, be aware. Test what you hear against the Word of God and if it does not hold true, throw it out!

One author words it this way

There is a tendency with most people to ascribe any unusual phenomenon to God. Such a lack of discernment opens the door for false teaching and provides an opportunity for demonic activity to invade the church. Remember: spiritual or religious activity is not necessarily godly activity! Watch and wait. Look and listen. Evaluate the message and the messenger by the Word of God. False prophets are deceptive in their message. And they have their own Great Commission, having been sent out “into the world.” Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in 1,2,3 John (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2014), 93–94.

So, how do we test the spirits? We will know what these false truths are, for those false teachers will make them clear. And, as much, if not more than we know those false truths, we must know the real truth. The Truth of Scripture is out #1 weapon in fighting false teaching and spirits and our #1 armor in protecting us from those same lies.

Beware the Spirit of the Antichrist

1 John 4:2–3 “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 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.”

As we work to test the spirits and false teachings, we must be aware of what those teachings look like.

Before we beware and avoid the spirit of the antichrist, we must know the true spirit of God. The one who knows what the spirit of God looks like will better be able to discern what the spirit of the antichrist looks like.

John makes it clear, the one who confesses the truth of Scripture is of God, He belongs to God, he teaches the truth of God and the clear salvific message of Jesus Christ. This is evidence of the spirit of God in an individuals life.

The one who does not, the one who preaches prosperity, the one who affirms sin, the one who preaches anything contrary to the word of God belongs not to God or His spirit, but the spirit of the antichrist.

A quick point of clarification here, the spirit of the antichrist and the antichrist himself are two different things. Since the first century, people with a spirit “against Christ” existed and taught, and today they still exist.

Beware of the prosperity preachers, beware of the Joel Osteens, the Jesse Duplantis’, the Benny Hinns, the Kenneth Copelands, the Steven Furtics.

Beware of the many who preach for earthly gain and not kingdom building.

When we beware the spirit of the antichrist, we must confess the truth of the Gospel instead. Jesus Christ, God incarnate, has come in the flesh to be a perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of your sin if you just believe and repent through confession.

There is no promise of health, there is no promise of wealth, there is no promise of a pain-free existence. These concepts exist within the spirit of the antichrist.

The antichrist has not yet come, but his spirit is here and his spirit has gripped people and pulled them away from truth since the beginning of time. So, beware. Test the spirits.

Trust the Greater Spirit

1 John 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.”

As we beware the spirit of the antichrist, we must trust the greater spirit.

Remember, John is talking to Christians here and he says “remember! Greater is the spirit that is within you (the HS) than the spirit that is within the world (the spirit of the antichrist).”

When we are faced with spirits that are not of God, we must rely on the ministry of the Word of God and the Spirit of God to help us discern. And, when we discern properly, we must remember that it was not our wise cunning that helped us to figure out whether or not that teaching or teacher was of God, it was only the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

This doesn’t say “greater are YOU that he that is in the world” rather, greater is HE that is in you that he that is in the world.

You have the greatest blessing on earth, the Holy Spirit. So, allow Him and His Word to guide you as you navigate the world and the many confusing spirits within. You cannot navigate it alone, so, because God has overcome these spirits in the person of Jesus, trust in His Spirit to help you overcome them as well.

What Spirit are you Listening to?

1 John 4:5–6 “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 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.”

Folks, today you have a choice. Listen to the truth of God, or the truth of the spirit of the antichrist. Listen to true teachers and preachers of the Word (even if they hurt your feelings) or listen to the preachers and teachers who tell you what you want to hear.

This doesn’t just apply to the those who claim to be preachers, this applies to any and everyone you will encounter.

Where does your primary influence come from? Is it Donald Trump? Kamala Harris? Taylor Swift? Post Malone? Is it Chris Tomlin or TobyMac? Or is it Jesus Christ and His word?

Yes, you should vote, yes you should listen to wholesome music. But you should examine your life this morning and see where the majority of your influence is coming from and if it isn’t Jesus and His word, then you need to change.

What spirit influences your life and decision making?

In your schools, in your workplaces, there are going to be people who claim to have it all figured out, they will claim to know the truth and proclaim the truth, they will claim to have all you need, but unless it can be founded by Scripture, we cannot trust it. You cannot trust it.

What Spirit are you listening to? The spirit of the world? the spirit of sin? the spirit that affirms all?

Or, the spirit of God who loves all, who provides, who saves? The spirit who convicts sin? the spirit who has your best interests in mind.

This passage is very simple this morning. There are many in the world who claim to be of Christ, they claim to be Christians, they claim to be preachers, some even claim to be the Christ. But their message is not the Message we see in the Scriptures. If their message is not Jesus dead, buried, and risen again for the forgiveness of your sins, then the message and the messenger are false.

Don’t fall for it. Test the spirits. Beware of the spirit of the antichrist. Trust in that greater spirit within you. And don’t fall for the gimmicks in the world that point to anything but Christ.

Conclusion

False teaching goes beyond the walls of the church, but it also resides in many. It permeates our culture. It is strong and it is prominent. There are far more false teachers in the world today than biblically sound teachers and preachers of the Word of God.

You will hear false teaching and preaching. You will hear politicians and celebrities that will try to convince you of certain ideologies that are not of God. And your decision to discern or not will be vital to your eternity.

So, test the spirits. Beware of the false teaching in the world today. Trust in the Holy Spirit for discernment. And, ask yourself this morning. What spirit am I listening to? The Spirit of God, or the spirit of the world?

SONG

This morning, I challenge you to go from here and examine your life. To what and whom are you listening? Is it the truth, or a lie? What spirit are you following?

Know the truth of the Gospel: you are a sinner in desperate need of saving, however, due to your imperfection, you cannot do it yourself. So, Jesus, having compassion on you, took pity and came to earth to live a perfect life and die a death that paid the price for your sin. If you just believe on Jesus as Lord of your life and confess your sins to Him you will be saved.

So, believe and repent. Confess your sins and turn your life around to live for Jesus.