Exploring 1 John: The Spirit of Truth
1 John 4:1 - Test spirits and prophets with your brethren against scripture and through prayer and discernment.
“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 NASB1995
John begins the fourth chapter of this epistle asking the believers to be unbelievers. Not every spirit or prophet or perceived miracle is from God and they must be tested to see if they are truly from Him. Let’s do a word study on test. This comes from the Greek word δοκιμάζω or dokimázō, with the following Biblical usages; Strong’s G1381 is used 23 times in the New Testament:
to test, examine, prove, scrutinise (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals
to recognise as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy
Many less-than-scrupulous people in the world function quite handily and make big money preying on the gullibility of others. Every day you read about some scam where a person receives a call or an email that they react to (by clicking a link, replying, or answering questions) that results in a criminal being able to access and drain their bank accounts and steal their identity. Recently an acquaintance whom I thought was smarter than these scams had his bank accounts taken over after getting a call that was supposedly from the bank fraud department. He did not verify that the caller was really from the bank or call the bank himself to ask if they were concerned about fraud.
I also read somewhere a while ago that the Nigerian prince or business leader scheme asking someone for a little money now so that you can get much more money in the future is one of the leading sources of income in that nation (and it has spread beyond just Nigeria). The scams get smarter and smarter and I sincerely hope I am never caught up in something that would be devastating personally or financially. And you still have to worry about someone gaining access to your identity and accounts without having you in the loop through constantly-exploited vulnerabilities in electronic systems. As the artwork above demonstrates showing the “dark web”, there is a marching army of miscreants in this world who have forgotten or never knew the commandment that you shall not steal (or they know it, but are so caught up in their evil ways that they would never acknowledge that they are stealing).
In the same way, we can be lead down the wrong path spiritually by spirits that are not from God but are from the enemy or from false prophets or teachers who show an “alternative path” that is appealing to our vanity or love of our sinful lifestyles or our dislike of certain scriptural passages. Recall that previously in Chapter 3, John is talking about our love for the brethren - He is now cautioning us that this love is a possible gateway for those false spirits or prophets because we want to have that love and compassion.
I like what Enduring Word ways about testing these spirits:
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Do not believe every spirit: John warned against believing every spirit; that is, we are never to assume every spiritual experience or every demonstration of spiritual power is from God. We must test spiritual experiences and spiritual phenomenon to see if they are in fact from God.
Many, when first encountering the reality of the spiritual world, are too impressed and amazed to ask whether they are of God. This leads to easy deception.
But test the spirits: This is important because many false prophets have gone out into the world. Even though the early church had a strong life and a large measure of purity, John still knew the danger false prophets and their message was real in the early church.
Test the spirits, whether they are of God: This is the responsibility of every Christian, but especially of congregational leadership. According to 1 Corinthians 14:29 (let the others judge) and 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (Test all things; hold fast what is good), testing the spirits is the work of the body of Christ. This job is to be done using the gifts of discernment God has given to Christians in general, especially the leadership of a congregation.
All prophecy is to be judged by Scriptural standards. It is never to be received just because it is dramatic or given by a certain person. We trust in the principle that God will never contradict Himself, and we know what He has already said in His Word.
2 Peter 1:20-21 tells us true prophecy is never of any private interpretation. This means that there will be agreement and confirmation from the body of Christ, though perhaps (or probably) not everyone will agree or confirm.
Two key tests from this commentary: All spirits, prophecy and teaching are to be judged by scriptural standards and these tests are done through the body of Christ, not through private interpretation.
This is an interesting and important skepticism that we should have as believers, just as true scientists should be skeptical of results or theories that are non-falsifiable (e.g., any condition, event or results can be “explained” by a single theory, even when those conditions are contradictory, like the idea of “climate change”). Whether you are part of a congregation that is cessationist (they believe that miracles and signs stopped with the Apostles after Acts) or you believe that the power of God is still living and moving through us with current signs and wonders, it is always good to test those signs against Scripture, through prayer, and as a group.
We belong to a church that you could say is in the second category and we did have some signs and wonders last year and before that time. Our pastoral teaching staff went through rigorous examinations of those events and compared them to scriptural understanding, then they did a lot of praying, then they finally presented the evidence to the entire congregation in special sermons. Not everyone was convinced, but the tests were done appropriately.
So how do you know whether the voice you are hearing is from God, from the enemy or from your own head? Here’s a great answer from Gotquestions.org:
We all have notions about the truth, but how do we know for sure that these ideas are coming from God? Am I hearing God? Or am I only hearing myself? Worse yet, am I hearing the temptations of Satan disguised as the leading of the Holy Spirit? Sometimes distinguishing our own ideas from God’s leading is difficult. And what if our urges are actually coming from the enemy of our souls and not from God? How do we “take every thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5) when we aren’t sure where the thoughts are coming from?
Most commonly, God communicates through the Bible, His inspired Word, preserved through the centuries for us today. It is through the Word that we are sanctified (John 17:17), and the Word is the light for our path (Psalm 119:105). God can also guide us through circumstances (2 Corinthians 2:12), the promptings of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), and godly mentors providing wise counsel (Proverbs 12:15). If God wants to speak to us, nothing can stop Him. Here are some ways to discern the source of our thoughts:
Pray
If we are confused about whether or not we are hearing God, it is good to pray for wisdom (James 1:5). (It’s good to pray for wisdom even when we don’t think we’re confused!) We should ask God to make His will known to us clearly. When we pray, we “must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6). If we have no faith, we “should not expect to receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:7).
Talk to God in prayer and earnestly wait for His answer. However, keep in mind that God doesn’t give us everything we desire, and sometimes His answer is, “No.” He knows what we need at any given time, and He will show us what is best. If God says, “No,” then we can thank Him for the clarity of His direction and move on from there.
Study the Word
The Bible is called “God’s Word” for a reason—it is the primary way God speaks to us. It is also the way we learn about God’s character and His dealings with people throughout history. All Scripture is “breathed out by God” and is the guide for a righteous life (2 Timothy 3:16–17). While we speak to God in prayer, He speaks to us through His Word. As we read, we must consider the words of the Bible to be the very words of God.
Any thought, desire, inclination, or urge we may have must be brought to the Word of God for comparison and approval. Let the Bible be the judge of every thought. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). No matter how urgent the urge, if it goes against what Scripture says, then it is not of God and must be rejected.
Follow the Holy Spirit’s Leading
The Holy Spirit is God—a divine Being with a mind, emotions, and will. He is always with us (Psalm 139:7–8). His purposes include interceding for us (Romans 8:26–27) and giving gifts to benefit the church (1 Corinthians 12:7–11).
The Holy Spirit wills to fill us (Ephesians 5:18) and produce in us His fruit (Galatians 5:22–25). No matter what decisions we’re making day to day, we can’t go wrong when we exhibit love, joy, peace, etc., to the glory of God. When we have a random thought pop into our heads, we must learn to “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1). Will following this inclination lead to more Christlikeness? Will dwelling on this thought produce more of the fruit of the Spirit in me? The Holy Spirit will never lead us to gratify the sinful desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16); He will always lead us toward sanctification (1 Peter 1:2). Life on earth is a spiritual battle. The enemy is eager to supply diversions to distract us from God’s will (1 Peter 5:8). We must be vigilant to ensure that what we heed is more than a feeling but is truly from God Himself.
Remember, God wants to show us the right path to take. He’s not in the business of hiding His will from those who seek Him.
Awesome advice! Sadly, too many churches now are not testing the spirits or teachers that they now follow because they are eagerly embracing sin (from the error of being “compassionate” rather than loving) and they are diverting their attention to current social justice causes and not to the commandments of Jesus. John was worried about the antichrists and gnostics during his time. Since then, a certain false prophet that appeared in this world since John’s time has led millions and millions of people into darkness and there have been more false prophets that have followed. When I didn’t believe, I said none of them were right. Now that I believe, I know (through the Holy Spirit, prayer, study and discernment) that Jesus, as the Son of God and part of the Triune God, is the answer.
My next devotional examines 1 John 4:2-3 - A test for true spirits from God.
Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear Lord - Please help me to believe and also be an unbeliever of false spirits and prophets through Your wisdom and guidance. Amen.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
The Blue Letter Bible was accessed on 5/26/2024 to review the lexicon for test.
Commentary from Enduring Word by David Guzik is used with written permission.
“How can I know if I am hearing God, hearing Satan, or hearing my own thoughts?” Was retrieved from Gotquestions.com on 5/26/204 (link provided above in the text).