Do Not Believe Every Spirit, But Test The Spirits – 1 John 4:1-6

Test The Spirits Says The Lord. 

The Bible tells us to test the Spirits because false prophets are among us. 

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.

1 John 4:1

Matthew 24 begins with Jesus prophesying of things to come. His disciples responded with these questions, 

"Tell us, when will these things be? 

And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"

Matthew 24:3b

In response, Jesus zeros in on the heart and nature of the last days with a clear and precise warning saying, 

"Take heed that no one deceives you.”

Matthew 24:4

Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

Matthew 24:11

For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs 

and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Matthew 24:24 

Deception may very well be the best one-word description of the characteristics of the end times. And as we can see, false prophets carry a very effective message of deception. 

So You And I Must Know God’s Word And Test The Spirits. 

 Know God’s Word 

Reading, studying, and knowing God’s Word is one of our greatest defenses against falling in a false prophet’s trap. But so often we take for granted and overlook the greatest treasure of God’s word that is more available and accessible than it ever has been. The reality is we can hear from God any day, any time, for any reason, by simply choosing to open the Bible and spend some time reading His word. 

Most of us have more than one Bible in our homes, but even if we don’t, we have smart phones or access to a computer. Electronic Bibles and Bible Apps can be downloaded in just a matter of seconds.

Online Bible Resources

• YouVersion is a Bible App I like to use. 

• Download a list of my favorite Bible resources, online Bibles, and Bible study tools.

Test The Spirits

Before we dive deep, take a minute to read 1 John 4:1-6 and then pick back up right here. 

Since John wrote about testing the spirits so that we may identify false prophets and false teaching, let’s take a moment to define false prophets according to the original Greek language. 

There are two meanings for false prophets in the original Greek language: 

1)    acting the part of a divinely inspired prophet while pretending to foretell things to come

2)    teaching false doctrines in the name of God

False means lying, deceitful, and false. This definition reveals the reason God’s word tells us not to believe every spirit, but instead to test the spirits.  Testing the spirits means examine, prove, or scrutinize the spirits as one would do with metals. In other words, we can’t accept what everyone tells us at face value, but must filter and decipher the teachings presented to us through the test of God’s word. 

Acts 13:4-12 tells a story of a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. I think it is interesting that his name actually meant, Son of Jesus. Reading the story, I saw several things that stood out to me about Bar-Jesus. He was a sorcerer, and he was in the company of a Roman ruler, the proconsul of the Island of Cyprus. This proconsul sought to hear God’s word, while Bar-Jesus opposed God’s true messengers. Acts 13:8 tells us that Bar-Jesus sought to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 

The false prophet connected his identity to Jesus and at the same time was also identified as a sorcerer. Sorcerer was a name given in that day to the wise men, teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, augers, soothsayers. As you can see that definition covers a broad spectrum of what roles Bar-Jesus may have played. 

We can’t miss the fact that as a false prophet, he opposed God’s true messengers and sought to keep others from the faith.  

Let’s Look At What Else The Bible Tells Us About False Prophets: 

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, 

but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You will know them by their fruits.

Matthew 7:15-16a

Matthew 7:15 tells us we won’t be able to discern a false prophet by simply looking at their outward appearance. Instead, we must look to what kind of fruit they are producing.  Good fruit or bad fruit is how we determine whether they speak from a heart of deception or truth. And remember, God’s word is truth. When someone tells you they have their own truth that is not based on God’s word, that may sound good, but I would warn you that deception is at the core of such statements. 

Woe to you when all men speak well of you,

for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

Luke 6:26

Speak well is in regards to what is seen outwardly in one’s character which goes right along with Matthew 7:15-16. In this social media age, anyone can present themselves in any light they so choose and they can look like a really good person doing it. However, the question we must answer as we look at their lives is, “What kind of fruit is being produced?” 

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

2 Peter 2:1

2 Peter 2:1 also reminds us outwardly a false prophet of teacher can look on the up and up, but secretly bring in destructive heresies. That is the epitome of deception and the true nature and character of the devil, i.e. the father of all lies, a murderer, the thief who only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. 

The other thing that stands out to me in 2 Peter 2:1 regarding the secret method of bringing in destructive heresies is that at some point the secret is let out of the bag. The false prophet ultimately and eventually denies the Lord. Deception happens secretly. When we are being deceived we don’t realize we are being deceived. Like sin, deception may start small, but it grows. 

This brings me back to our greatest weapon, the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17b 

For the weapons of our warfare are not canal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

My dear Sister we desperately and urgently need to put the word of God in our hearts and mind diligently and daily. 

Much Love & Blessings!

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