Do Not Believe Every Spirit
1/6/2018

 
"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" (1 John 4:1)

Satan is committed to rebellion against God.  His tactics have not changed from the first temptation in the Garden of Eden.  His strategy has been the distortion of God's Word and this is why John warns us to test what we hear.   Just because someone says he is presenting the Word of God from the Bible is no reason to believe that what he is saying is necessarily true. Everything that we hear needs to be tested because there are many false teachers.

 

John argues in verse 6of this same chapter: "We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error" (I John 4:6).  Who is the "us"?  It's the apostles.  We the apostles are from God. John is saying if you know God you will listen to our teaching.  The apostles are from God and are faithful teachers because they were guided the by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus said to them, "I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come" (John 16:12-13).  Peter said, "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (2 Pet. 1:20-21).  Therefore, those who are faithful teachers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ will teach in accordance with the apostles. False teachers will show they're really of the world by rejecting the apostles' teaching.

 

We face the problem of some who reject the whole idea of testing teachers because they do not believe doctrine is important.  They will argue that all we need to do is, "love for one another."  While that is a true statement (that we are to have love for one another) it is meaningless without definition, or without true doctrine, to define it.  For example, what is the meaning of "love"?  How do we apply "love" to our relationships?  Where are we going to find the answers to these questions? Paul stated plainly, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  Unless we study the Scriptures and desire the knowledge that comes thereby we cannot test the teachers we hear. 

 

 

TEACH ME THY WAY, O LORD

Teach me Thy way;

Thy gracious aid afford,

Teach me Thy way.

Help me to walk aright;

More by faith, less by sight;

Lead me with heav'nly light,

Teach me Thy way.

 

When doubts and fears arise,

Teach me Thy way;

When storms o'erspread the skies,

Teach me Thy way.

Shine through the cloud and rain,

Through sorrow, toil, and pain;

Make Thou my pathway plain,

Teach me Thy way.

 

Long as my life shall last,

Teach me Thy way;

Where'er my lot be cast,

Teach me Thy way.

Until the race is run,

Until the journey's done,

Until the crown is won,

Teach me Thy way.

 

 

 

"Daily Devotions by Guy Roberson"






Direct Page Link
Powered By
TheLordsWay.com
Click here to host your
own church web site today!