Monday 9 March, 2015
1 John 4:1-6
4 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. 2 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, 3 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. 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit[a] of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
This passage reminds me that the Holy Spirit will not be shouted down. He will not be pushed aside by false spirits seeking to mislead and deceive. Together with my church family we can test teachings we hear against what the Spirit says. We use the scriptures which are the Holy Spirit’s own words and we have the most powerful Spirit living inside us to guide us and point us to the truth.
Lord, I thank you so much that confusion is not part of your plan for us. You have given us your own Spirit. He is greater and will not be brushed aside by deceiving spirits. God thank you for not leaving us alone to defend for ourselves!
Written by Andrew Mellor
As has been pointed out recently many people around the world at the moment are claiming all sorts of things in the name of God. Much of the time these proclamations have nothing to do with the living God but is a way of legitimising personal agendas. The truest way to stand apart is to identify yourself as a servant of Jesus. 2 Corinthians 2:14,15 is an interesting supporting scripture for today’s verse.
Thanks Andrew