Testing the Spirits

Introduction:

· A story of a gullible younger brother, or an unkind older brother

· Discernment matters: Social media, can you trust people, .

JOHN DESCRIBES DISCERNEMT THAT HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE OUR LIVES. SO LET’S LOOK AT THE URGENCY, THE CRITERIA, AND THE POWER

I) The Urgency: Why Do We Need to Test the Spirits?

A. The origins of the Spirits

i. The “spirits” are the voices that represent the “gods” of our age

1. False prophets were voices of a wide range of “spiritual” beliefs (vs. 1)

2. Blogs, Podcasts, Preachers, Authors sound Christian, represent worldview

ii. These “spirits” originate in “God” or “the world” (vv. 1, 3, 4, 5)

1. Yet, these ideas can be “from God” or “from “the world” or “antichrist”

2. How do we know what is right, biblical, genuinely Christian?

B. The Power of these “spirits”

i. Such voices are attractive and the world is drawn to it (vs. 5)

1. Teachers promise: Your best life; happiness; ideas that are easy to accept

2. Listeners are drawn to them: Best-sellers; followers; TV audiences

ii. Yet, such voices are not the voice of God

1. But many such ideas have let the voice of our culture define them

2. EXAMPLE: If you lean to the left (sexuality) or the right (nationalism)

THE SPIRIT OF THIS AGE CAN LEAD A PERSON AWAY FROM THE GOSPEL.

II) The Criteria: How do we Test the Spirits?

A. “Testing” Helps us determine what is “Solid” (vs. 1)

i. Testing means sifting to keep what is true, discard what is not

1. Christians may disagree on many things; testing identifies essential.

2. EXAMPLE: boulder scrambling in Coos Bay

ii. Various ways of testing

1. “Is it popular?”: Do many buy into this idea? (but: is that reliable?)

2. “Does it work?” Does it give what’s promised? (but: is the promise legit?)

B. Testing identifies the essence of the Gospel

i. Testing discerns true from orthodox faith (vs. 2-3)

1. Every religion has to have some answer for “who is Jesus?”

2. The spectrum runs from “good man” to “divine among many”

ii. We test the spirits to identify Jesus as the messiah in the flesh (vs. 2)

1. Jesus is the Messiah who fulfills God’s promise to accomplish salvation

2. Jesus is the eternal God who took on human flesh to enter our world

NOW, I KNOW WHAT SOME OF YOU MUST BE THINKING.

III) The Power: How does testing transform us?

A. “But isn’t it arrogant to make such exclusive claims?”

i. Isn’t Christianity exclusive to make such a claim?

1. One of the biggest objections to Christianity is that it claims the only way

2. Fair question yet all religions make conflicting claims, we can’t avoid this

ii. Isn’t Christianity arrogant to make such a claim?

1. How can Christianity claim to have THE truth

2. The story of the blind men & the elephant

B. The Gospel Reveals a message that humbles & Transforms us

i. The gospel humbles us by pointing to the voice of one who knows & loves us

1. To be “from God” requires that we are born of God (see 3:9)

2. So we can take no credit for who we are

ii. The gospel humbles us by establishing a basis for acceptance outside ourselves

1. All other religions teach something you must do

2. The gospel points us to Jesus because HE HAS DONE IT!

Transition:

Conclusion

Discern the truth & power of God’s word!