NOT ALL SPIRITS ARE FROM GOD

PROCLAMATION

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  Hereby know ye The Spirit of God; Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.”  1 John 4:1-2 (KJV)

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the Apostle John, under the inspiration of The Holy Spirit of God, to all believers.  John begins this fourth chapter of his first letter by telling the people that not all spirits are from God.  They should test the spirits which come to them to see if they are from God or from the antichrist. (1 John 4:1-3)  John says that The Spirit of God which is within them is greater than the spirit who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)  Then he tells them again to love one another because love comes from God.  Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love. (1 John 4:7-9)  God proved that He loved us by sending His only Son to be an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (John 3:16 and 1 John 4:10)  We love Him because He first loved us.  There is no fear in love.  Perfect love cast out fear because fear is based upon punishment. (1 John 4:18-19) If a man says that he loves God and yet he hates his brother, then he is a liar. Whoever does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. Anyone who loves God must love his brother also. (1 John 4:20-21)

APPLICATION

Decades ago, when cartoon characters were faced with a decision, a devil-like miniature version of themselves would appear standing on one shoulder whispering in one ear, and an angel-like miniature version would appear standing on the other shoulder whispering in the other ear.  While this may not be Biblically correct, it does depict that we get messages from good and bad spirits and we have to choose which one we will listen to.  We are to test what we hear to see if it comes from God and if it is consistent with The Word of God.  If whatever it is goes against God’s Word, then we ought not do it.  And if we do it anyway then we need to ask God to forgive us.  Additionally, there are some people in this world who are under the influence of evil spirits.  They will deny the existence of God and they have no problem with deceiving, mistreating, or taking advantage of other people.  Love is not part of their vocabulary and believers should pray for them but not associate with them.