How do you test the spirits?

Service Announcements

Reformation Day (Oct 31, 1517): Luther’s 95 Theses called us back to Scripture and grace through faith in Christ alone.

Thank you for serving: From diapers (Families4Families) to glasses (Tanzania) to the Food Drive—our church loves well.

This week (slides):

Core Seminar on Hermeneutics — You can understand and teach the Bible.

Ordination Service — Wed: Gregory Keelen.

Missionary Send-Off — Andy & Lily Smith to Taiwan.

“If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the Scripture than thou dost.” — William Tyndale (c. 1520s) William Tyndale said this to a scholar who claimed ordinary people didn’t need the Bible.

He gave his life for that cause — his work laid the foundation for the English Bible we have today and for the truth that God’s Word belongs to everyone.

As a plow boy from KY who get’s to lead our study of 1 John today, I am very grateful. (If it was in greek I would struggle - ask Dr. Pellatier at TMU)

In the 1500s, the church needed a Reformation because men stood between the people and the Word. Today we need one because shallow, over-processed “spirituality” stands in the place of personal study—and the spirit of the world is leading many astray

Prayer

Sermon Introduction:

If you’ve ever read one of Paul’s letters, you know he writes like a lawyer building a case; one logical step after another. John, however, writes more like a poet, or maybe like a pastor sitting across from you at the table.

1 John doesn’t move in a straight line; it moves in circles. F. F. Bruce said it this way:

“John does not argue step by step in a straight line, but moves in circles, returning again and again to the same great themes of obedience, love, and truth, each time deepening and expanding them. What at first seems repetition is in fact a spiraling ascent, drawing the reader higher into assurance and fellowship with God.”

If I could put that in simpler terms, I’d say — 1 John is like a cinnamon roll. It circles around and around, but every layer is rich with the sweet themes of love, light, and truth.

And when we arrive at 1 John 3:19–20, John revisits one of those themes — the relationship between our feelings and our faith.

1 John 3:19–20 (KJV)

19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

John is reminding us that the Word of God is more trustworthy than the emotions of our heart. Your heart may change by the hour, but God’s Word doesn’t change at all. Our assurance doesn’t rest in how we feel; it rests in what He has said.

Any Questions? Slide

Scripture is clear enough to lead us to salvation yet deep enough to humble us, draw us to prayer, and make us depend on the Spirit and one another. The Bible is not hard to understand because God is hiding, but because He intends to form humility, holiness, and hunger in those who seek Him—He has given us a Book that demands our serious attention, for the harder we work to understand it, the more of His glory we will see.

1. Don’t believe everything that sounds spiritual — test it.

1 John 4:1 (KJV)

1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

A. We must test because deception is real and around every corner.

John warns, “Believe not every spirit.” — not every spiritual voice is from the Holy Spirit.

What does John mean by “spirit”?

Behind every message stands a spiritual influence, either from God’s Spirit or the spirit of error.

This is a hard saying and one that will be met with resistance.

Tempted to use the one “influence” instead of spirit; hoping to demystify it for you.

Why use the word “spirit”?

Because the battle we face is spiritual, not just psychological or cultural

John wants believers to recognize that behind every message, movement, or teacher is a spiritual source.

“Spirit” points to a personal and unseen power — either from God or from the enemy.

“Influence” sounds neutral, but John says there’s no neutral ground.

Every voice is shaped either by the Spirit of Truth or the spirit of error (v. 6).

Because truth and deception both flow from spiritual origins

By calling them “spirits,” John reminds us that what we believe is spiritually inspired, not merely intellectual.

The Spirit of God inspires the true confession — “Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.”

The spirit of antichrist inspires false confession — denying who Jesus really is.

To “test the spirits” means to discern what spiritual power is operating through a message or movement.

Because we are spiritual beings who resonate with what fills us

John knows believers have the Spirit of God within them — “greater is He that is in you.”

Those who belong to the world naturally resonate with the spirit of the world.

Spiritual discernment isn’t just about analysis; it’s about affection — what our hearts are drawn toward reveals what spirit is shaping us.

Because the world’s influences aren’t passive — they’re spiritually powered

John’s use of the word spirit exposes that the world’s patterns, values, and lies are not random.

They are driven by an active, intelligent evil that imitates truth but denies Christ’s lordship.

To call it merely an influence would understate the danger; to call it a spirit reveals its power and intent.1 Timothy 4:1 “1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”

Why must we test the spirits?

Because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

That phrase “gone out” is loaded with meaning — it’s not just about location, it’s about mission.

To “go out” means they didn’t stay in the truth.

They departed from sound doctrine, from fellowship with the apostles, and from submission to Christ’s Word.

This echoes 1 John 2:19 “19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

Every message we consume today still carries spiritual weight

Not every “inspirational” voice or “positive” message online comes from the Spirit of God.

What we scroll through, sing along with, or share is never spiritually neutral.

We live in an age where content feels endless — podcasts, posts, playlists, and platforms — but every message carries a spiritual current.

Some words are breathed out by the Spirit of Truth — they stir us to faith, humility, and love for Christ.

Others are shaped by the spirit of error — they may sound wise but subtly pull our hearts away from God’s authority.

Some don’t even sound wise. I won’t forget when John asked the teenagers, “Who is little Wayne and why is he so mad?”

That’s why John’s warning still hits home: “Believe not every spirit.”

Spiritual discernment today means asking, “Is there something here to receive, reject, or redeem?”

1 Thessalonians 5:21–22 “21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

Simply: Every “influence” is either helping us love Jesus more or dulling our desire for Him.

B. The Word must be our measure not our moods.

We test by the Word, not merely by our feelings or emotions

Emotions are powerful, and God certainly cares about the emotions of His children.

But emotions must be fueled and guided by truth, not the other way around.

The Bible — not our feelings — is the standard for discernment. Acts 17:11 — “They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

The Spirit never contradicts what He inspired.

Discernment without love breeds arrogance, but love without discernment breeds deception.

Because truth must govern our emotions, not the other way around

The heart cannot love what the mind does not know.

Our feelings are real but not always reliable — they make wonderful responders, but terrible leaders.

Emotion alone cannot be the test of truth; the Word of God must be.

The Holy Spirit moves our hearts through the Word He inspired — never apart from it.

So when we “test the spirits,” we don’t ask, “How does this make me feel?” — we ask, “Does this line up with Scripture?”

While we can study Scripture personally, God also calls us to learn within community — “no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation.” (2 Peter 1:20)

Testing by the Word protects us from two dangers:

Emotional deception — mistaking excitement or sincerity for truth.

Intellectual pride — knowing doctrine but never letting it move the heart.

Carsen and I were at a park one day and to the eventually frustration of a couple of Mormons I had time on my hands. They ask me to sit down and read a page of the book of Mormon. After doing so they kep asking me, “what did I feel?” I chose to first tell them what I thought and then tell them how that made me feel.

The Strategy Behind It

This method is emotion-based persuasion designed to:

1. Bypass theological debate — instead of discussing doctrine or history, it centers the experience on personal feeling.

2. Create a sense of spiritual confirmation — if someone reports feeling peace, warmth, or uplifted, the missionaries will interpret that as “the Holy Ghost confirming truth.”

3. Anchor belief in emotion rather than evidence — feelings become the test of truth, rather than Scripture or sound doctrine.

4. Lay the groundwork for commitment — once the person equates those emotions with God’s approval, it becomes much harder later to question the source of those feelings.

Transitional Statement: The clearest way to expose falsehood is to lift up the real Jesus. That’s why John moves next to the dividing line of all truth — who do you say Jesus is?

2. If it doesn’t point to the real Jesus, it’s not from God.

1 John 4:2–3 (KJV)

2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

3 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.

A. The confession of Christ reveals the source.

What is the central test of a true teacher? — “Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.”

Why is confessing Jesus Christ come in the flesh essential? — Because it affirms His incarnation, deity, and humanity.

What does this reveal about His deity and humanity? — He is fully God and fully man—the only bridge between heaven and earth.

This was certainly the issue of John’s day.

The Gnostics claimed that spirit is good and matter is evil, so they could not accept that the holy Son of God would take on real human flesh.

Some said Jesus only appeared human — like a phantom or spirit being. Others taught that “the Christ” came upon the man Jesus at His baptism and left before the cross.

Both denied the heart of the gospel — that God Himself entered our humanity to redeem it. John wrote this letter to make it clear:

The true Spirit always leads to a full confession of the real Christ —

born of a virgin

living a sinless life

dying a real death

rising in a real body

reigning as the eternal Son of God

The Spirit of God always exalts the Son of God

Every true work of the Holy Spirit points people to Jesus, not away from Him.

John 16:13–14 “13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”

Any message that minimizes Christ’s deity, downplays His cross, or replaces His authority is not from the Spirit of God, no matter how spiritual it sounds.

The Holy Spirit’s voice always says, “Behold the Lamb!”

The spirit of error says, “Behold yourself.”

B. False teachers distort Christ’s identity.

A false prophet is anyone who claims to speak for God but proclaims something contrary to His revealed Word.

1 Timothy 6:3–5 “3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” from such unsubscribe, do not hover or book mark, stop buying their books, stop saying I will eat the meat and throw out the bones.

You’ll find them:

On screens instead of in synagogues,

With podcasts instead of pulpits,

With messages that sound positive but remove repentance, redefine sin, and replace Christ’s authority with self-fulfillment.

The same spirit of deception still works — it just dresses in modern clothes.

The spirit of the anti-Christ wants to distort what it cannot destroy.

Calls Jesus a great teacher but not Lord.

May use His name but redefines His nature.

Preaches a Christ who comforts sin instead of conquering it.

A teacher can say true things about Jesus and still lead people astray.

Truth mixed with error is still dangerous.

Satan himself quoted Scripture (Matthew 4:6).

Orthodoxy in one doctrine doesn’t cancel deceit in another.

The ultimate test isn’t just vocabulary — it’s allegiance.

Do they submit to the real Jesus revealed in Scripture, or do they reshape Him to fit their agenda?

Jesus is often falsely portrayed for many causes.

2 Corinthians 11:4 — “If he that cometh preacheth another Jesus… ye might well bear with him.”

We must live on guard for the spirit of antichrist?

Any teaching that subtracts from or substitutes for the real Jesus.

Vitally important. 1 Timothy 4:16 “16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

Transitional Statment: John doesn’t just warn us about false teachers — he reassures us that God’s Spirit in us is stronger than any spirit in the world.

3. The Holy Spirit in you is stronger than the lies around you.

1 John 4:4–6 (KJV)

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.

5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

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.

A. Who is it that is in us? Who is in the world?

John’s message isn’t “be brave because you’re strong,” but “be confident because God’s Spirit is stronger.”

The indwelling Spirit gives believers:

Victory over deception — “ye have overcome them.”

Discernment in truth — recognizing what is of God.

Confidence in battle — because the presence of God within is greater than any influence without.

The One who lives in you (the Holy Spirit) is greater than the one who opposes you (Satan). The believer’s assurance is not self-confidence but Spirit-confidence.

B. The Spirit helps us discern truth from error.

The Holy Spirit guides us through Scripture, confirming what aligns with Christ.

The Spirit doesn’t give new revelation that contradicts the Word — He gives illumination that clarifies it.

Jesus promised, “When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13)

This roots our confidence not in cleverness but in the indwelling Spirit.

The Holy Spirit distinguishes those who are truly “of God.”

John says, “He that knoweth God heareth us.” (1 John 4:6)

Those who belong to God are drawn to His truth — they hear it, love it, and obey it.

Those who reject the Word to hear and speak of the world reveal that another spirit is shaping them.

5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

Such a strong statement.

Do you speak “of the world?”

Recently heard a pastor preaching about how Christians don’t talk like normal people. I understand to some extent the need to explain our Christianize. But as we spend time reading the Words of God it should change us - and that should be seen in our vocabulary.

C. We know the shepherds voice.

Story from the Gospel of John: In John 10, Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd. He says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

The sheep know the Shepherd’s voice, but they also recognize the voice of strangers and flee from them.

This picture of discernment is exactly what John is teaching here.

Just as sheep must know the shepherd’s voice to be safe, believers must learn to recognize truth from error in a world full of voices.

And that brings us to today’s passage in 1 John 4:1–6.

If we’re going to recognize the Shepherd’s voice, we also need to recognize when another voice tries to imitate it.

That’s why John moves from assurance in chapter 3 to discernment in chapter 4.

He’s saying, in effect, “You can’t follow every voice that sounds spiritual — some lead you closer to Christ, others lead you away.”

So John gives us this clear command — “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but test the spirits.”

Here are some practical steps.

Before we pray together. Let me give some encouragement to the “beloved”

Look Out for Over-Processed Foods in Your Spiritual Diet

Beau gave me a coffeee lesson this week about half-and-half. Some “spiritual half-and-half” doesn’t even need refrigeration — it’s shelf-stable religion, not living truth.

Processed spirituality sounds good, feels convenient, but leaves you empty.

Don’t live off soundbites, reels, or devotionals written by someone else’s faith.

Open your own Bible. Read it slowly. Chew on it. Let the Word feed you. 1 Peter 2:2 — “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”

Learn to Listen to the Spirit of God — and Teach Your Kids To

When someone talks about spiritual things, look for this label: “The Bible says…”

The Holy Spirit never speaks apart from the Word He inspired.

Teach your kids:

What is the Shepherd’s voice — Scripture, clearly spoken.

What isn’t — private interpretation, trending opinions, or vague “feelings.”

In a World of Preferences, Prefer the Truth Over Everything Else

Every influence is moving your heart somewhere — toward truth or away from it.

Develop a love for truth deep enough that imitation won’t satisfy.

There’s plenty of room for preference in style, but not in truth.

Illustration: I’d rather listen to polka music telling me the truth about Jesus than a chart-topper whining about an ex-boyfriend.

The question isn’t, Does it sound good? — it’s Is it true?

Proverbs 23:23 — “Buy the truth, and sell it not.”