Lesson 13 Put the Spirits on trial

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

I John 3:24 (And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.) instructs us that the Holy Spirit living in us will assure us of our position in Him. God's Holy Spirit will not allow us any rest except in His will. However, Satan is a great imitator and will try to satisfy us with imitation spiritual things. Many of man's favorite platitudes which he uses to justify his actions are the results of false spiritual values that appeal to the fleshly nature of man. Such as;

I. Charity begins at home - used to justify robbing God and neglecting His work. Compare with Luke 14:26

(Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.)

II A little good in all men - to justify sin because 'it's only natural'.
(Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;)

(Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.)

III Twaddle about the common brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God to justify man's refusal to repent.

(John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.)
And so, many of the 'spiritual' things that appeal to man's flesh, from the social gospel through the so-called 'spirit of Christmas' to the 'spiritual songs' cannot stand the trial of the light of God's Word.
Therefore..........

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Beloved - Recipients of the Divine Agape
Believe not - Imperative mood - gives a command, the urgency of the situation -
Don't you give credit to or be persuaded in your minds.
The lost don't have the power to try the spirits for they are spiritually dead. This is the reason for multitudes being fooled as to the plan of salvation.

Every Spirit - Where did all the spirits originate?

Heb 1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
Rev 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Therefore.......

Try - put them to the test - assay mineral by fire and acid.
Any belief, no matter how precious it may be to you, isn't worth having if it can't stand the test.

Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

Don't judge spiritual things by how you feel about them or how society values them, but judge by what the Word of God says, for the Word, both written and living, is to be the final judge of all things.

Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Many false prophets - - the fallen angels can only work through men. It is MEN, influenced by them who promote those things that will draw men away from the truth.

2 Cor 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2 Cor 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Paul's warning to the elders of Ephesus.

Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Acts 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Peter's general warning

2 Pet 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
The entire letter of Jude - -
They will multiply in the last day

1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

1 John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

The marks of true and false spirits:
Every spirit that confesses - agrees together with God - concerning Jesus Christ in the flesh. He used both the name and the title to emphasize both the person and the office. They cannot be separated.
This agreement must go far beyond the virgin birth to include the entire work of God as He was manifested in the flesh.

The spirit of antichrist is working -

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

1 John 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
1 John 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

These three verses should impress upon us the need for study that we might not fall into the snares of the devil.

NEXT: Victory over the devil