Who's Spirit Are You Following?

Introduction

I live with joy on the fact that God is on the throne and in control. However, no believer should be ignorant to the fact that the forces of Satan and the spirits of evil do roam this earth with a hunger to infiltrate the hearts of men with a counterfeit of God’s truth.

Notice how quickly John mentions evil spirits after introducing the Holy Spirit!

Our enemy’s purpose is focused on deceiving the human race!

Historical example: No sooner did God sow C. H. Spurgeon (1834–1892) and D. L. Moody (1837–1899) into the world than Satan sowed another crop of tares—Robert Ingersoll with his oratory and his bitter hatred of Christianity; Joseph Smith (1805–1844) and the even more formidable Brigham Young (1801–1877) and the Mormon cult; Charles Taze Russell (1852–1916) and the Jehovah’s Witnesses; Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910) and so-called Christian Science.

No sooner did God plow up the field and sow into the world the modern missionary movement—pioneered by men like William Carey (1761–1834), often called the father of modern missions; Adoniram Judson (1788–1850) of Burma fame; David Livingstone (1813–1905); Hudson Taylor (1832–1905)—than Satan sowed another crop of false apostles into the world—Karl Marx (1818–1883), whose teaching spawned Soviet and Chinese communism, which has kept millions in atheistic darkness for two or three generations; Sigmund Freud (1856–1939), motivated by a bitter hatred of Christianity, calling religion “the neurosis of humanity,” an extension of “the father ideal” as a refuge from fear; Bertrand Russell (1872–1970), a pacifist with radical views on religion and morals; H. G. Wells (1866–1946), whose vitriolic hatred of God and Christianity was coupled with great ability and success as an author; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who became spiritualism’s greatest spokesman. [Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring the Epistles of John: An Expository Commentary (1 Jn 4:1). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.]

1) Don’t Be Fooled

“Beloved”

John is speaking to those who have been given spiritual discernment.

He provides them with NEGATIVE instructions: Don’t believe every spirit.

spirit = supernatural being n. — any immaterial, supernatural entity that is self-aware with powers to affect the course of human events.

“Try” = to examine (check out) v. — to observe, check out, and look over carefully or inspect.

2 Corinthians 11:13 (KJV 1900) — 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

1 John 2:18 (KJV 1900) — 18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

False prophet = false prophet n. — a deliberately deceptive person pretending to be a prophet.

World = world system n. — the people constituting the world whose values, beliefs, and morals are in distinction and rebellion to God’s.

APPLICATION

Believers bear this responsibility because they are equipped to discern (parents, businessmen, politicians, teachers, healthcare, etc)

“Believe”

For a parent to believe = family believing

For elders to believe = the church believes

“Try the spirits”

Not just for the individual, but those in headship of the family and church.

This requires an effort of cooperation between, you, the Holy Spirit, His word and fervent prayer.

Not only a commitment of the one making the decision, but also those who are his/her brother/sister.

Luke 22:31–32 (KJV 1900) — 31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

“False prophets”

They look the part and play the part.

They NEVER have your best in mind.

GOOD DIRECTION = consulting those (leaders) the Lord has gifted His church with; within the church he has placed you.

Hebrews 13:17 (KJV 1900) — 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

2) Evidence of God’s Spirit

The Genuine believer has nothing to fret.

John says there is a sure way to KNOW whether a spiritual influence is of the enemy or of God’s Spirit.

Remember who they are primarily being influenced by; the Gnostics.

They denied neither would confess the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

Essence of teaching TODAY:

Influenced Muhammad, Christian Science, Mormons, etc.

I believe John would agree to this statement: Turn a deaf ear to anyone who preaches ANY VARIANT to the complete person of Jesus Christ.

Those who are truly led by the Spirit will NEVER DENY the incarnation of Jesus Christ!

No incarnation = No regeneration

No incarnation = No atonement (No death)

No incarnation = No resurrection (No life)

The Bible only speaks of Jesus in the COMPLETE sense.

To remove the incarnation of Jesus Christ is also to remove the very life of which we are to “put on,” “be conformed too,” and to follow.

This promotes a “subjective” lifestyle.

APPLICATION

Illustration: There have been voices from certain people from birth you have learned to recognize. This was accomplished by spending intentional quality time with them.

The Spirit’s voice is also a voice you begin to learn and recognize as you grow from your spiritual infancy.

As you grow in your reading and meditating on God’s Word, God’s Spirit will speak those familiar words into your heart throughout your life.

3) No Fear In Knowing God

A. We are indwelled with an invincible Spirit

John is saying, “Never be afraid of those who stand in opposition to you”

John brings out this truth of INVINCIBILITY.

The believer has overcome due to the strength of the Holy Spirit within them!

Satan doesn’t stand a chance against the Holy Spirit.

KNOW THIS: all the powerful attributes Satan has are dedicated to hold captive the soul of man.

Mark 5 we find Satan assigning 6,000 to just one man!

APPLICATION

You might ask, “How does one apply this invincibility when Satan’s spirits are actively trying to sway me?”

You have the WEAPON Jesus had — Ephesians 6:17 (KJV 1900) — 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Quote: And although Satan may not be afraid of us, he is desperately afraid of God’s Word, God’s Son, and God’s Holy Spirit. “Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.” [Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring the Epistles of John: An Expository Commentary (1 Jn 4:4b). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.]

B. To know God is to hear God

The devil knows the kind of “Jesus” the world will hear and welcome.

Watered down, mere man, poses no threat to world policies, pleasure, philosophies, pursuits, etc.

The Jesus of: Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, Christian Science, liberals, spiritists, etc.

They can appear very successful.

Quote: “Eliminate the obligation of righteousness, the necessity of the spirit of love, and faith in the Divine personality of Jesus Christ, and there remains a teaching which ‘the world’ applauds, in which it finds an echo of its own sentiments” (William Ramsay)

Quote: For a Christian teacher to be “of God” is for him to derive his commission, his message, and his inspiration from God. (Curtis Vaughan)

“Hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error”

John is saying, “All we need to do is know the TRUTH about the person and ministry of Jesus to be able to recognize error.

Illustration: An anxious passenger approached the captain of the ship on which she was voyaging. The ship was approaching a headland, and the breakers were dashing themselves to foam on hidden reefs on every hand. The passenger asked, “Captain, are you sure you know where all the rocks are?” “No, madam,” the captain replied, “I do not know where all the rocks are, but I know where the deep water is!” That’s all that is required of us. If we stay with the Spirit of truth, we shall not have to spend much time studying the subtleties and absurdities of the cults. [Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring the Epistles of John: An Expository Commentary (1 Jn 4:6b). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.]

Conclusion

So, what is our great assurance today as believers?

You and I are indwelled with God’s Spirit who will never speak lies to us about Jesus and His will for our lives.

God’s Spirit is the ONLY reason we stand INVINCIBLE against the spirits of false teaching.

If you have been truly born-again, you will never mistaken the voice of your Father as He guides through this difficult life.