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.
1 John 4:1
In this era of hashtags, taglines, and catchy headlines it is easy to be deceived. Deception is not just reserved for unbelievers; believers are fair game as well. In fact, when it comes to false teachings, philosophies, and ideologies, it is only the Holy Spirit who can help us discern the truth. Writing about false prophets and false teachers, the writer of the gospel of Matthew states in Matthew 24:24, “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Yes, that is right, even God’s very elect can be deceived. That’s you, me, and everyone else who calls Jesus, Lord and Savior.
No wonder the writer of the letter of 1 John 4:1 exhorts believers to test every spirit. “Don’t believe every spirit…” Just because someone looks right and sounds right, doesn’t mean they are right. We must test every spirit because false spirits are already in the world leading many astray through false heresies and even denying the Sovereignty of our Lord Jesus (2 Peter 2:1). These same spirits are capable of utterances that may appear genuine but are not (Acts 16:16-18). Further these seducing spirits are capable of reproducing signs, miracles and wonders that mimic the real thing. If all we are looking for are the sound bites, the feels, and the thrills, we will fall prey to these deceptions.
So dear believer, have you tested every spirit, or have you fallen prey to false teachings? Have you settled for what your itching ears wanted to hear or are you pursuing God’s truth? In order to even answer these questions, we must first be filled and guided by the Holy Spirit himself. Secondly, we must be properly acquainted with God’s word (See the Bereans in Acts 17:11). Lastly, we must be bathed in prayer. Only then, can we hope to endure to the end. May the Lord preserve and protect you as you navigate an increasingly deceptive world.
Almighty God, you alone are TRUTH. Let your Holy Spirit fall afresh on me. Saturate my heart with your word and fill me with a deep hunger for prayer so that I might not be led astray. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.