Dear friends, 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. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

1 John 4: 1-3

If there’s ever been a time when we needed to test the spirits, it is now. We live in an age when we can no longer be gullible and undiscerning. As the writer of this first letter of John points out, false prophets have already gone out into the world. These false prophets are exactly that, false. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15), mimicking the real thing, if we are not careful, we too will be deceived (Matthew 24:24). These are the messengers who say one thing and yet do another, or they say one thing today and the exact opposite the next day. Do not trust them no matter how convincing they sound or no matter how large their following. The bible exhorts us to judge them, not by their “sweet syrupy words” but by their fruit (Matthew 7: 15-20). After all words are cheap.

What is the litmus test? It’s pretty straightforward, “Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God….” This is a confession of the heart, not of the mind. For our whole faith hinges on this one truth, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Thus Jesus, who is fully divine, came down to this earth in full human form, as reparation for our sin. He became the perfect sacrifice, once for all, so that we might be reconciled to God the Father. Any spirit that does not acknowledge this truth, is not from God.

Fortunately, we do not need to go down this road alone. Jesus has already sent us the ammunition we will need. With so many demonic and deceiving spirits on the loose, we would fall prey without the help of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13). Only with the Spirit’s help, can we test every spirit to see whether it is from God or not. May the Lord, fill us with a deep hunger and thirst for the Presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Spirit of the Living God fall afresh on me. Let me not take another step without your companionship and guidance. Give me heavenly wisdom so that I might discern your Spirit from the false spirits roaming throughout the world. Breathe upon me this day and every day so that I might always walk in step with you. Amen.