Test the Spirits
Test the Spirits
John wrote thus: "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)
John warned us to test all spirits because there are many false prophets. Only the spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ came in the flesh is from God.
False Prophets in Sheep's Clothing
The Lord Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree produces good fruit, but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit. A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them." (Matthew 7:15-20).
Jesus had already foretold that there would be false prophets who come in sheep's clothing but are inwardly ravenous wolves. A sheep symbolizes a gentle, true believer, while a wolf represents the deceitful false prophets. Therefore, these false prophets may appear outwardly as kind and faithful believers or even as godly people, but they are actually servants of Satan, who devour and destroy from within.
Today’s believers often neglect the warning given by the Lord Jesus, who taught that one can know them by their fruits. Just as a tree is known by its fruit, so too is a person known by their actions. However, fruit does not appear immediately; it requires time to grow. When the Lord Jesus spoke of guarding the flock, He meant to be watchful over those who seem like sheep on the outside but are wolves within. It also refers to preachers who speak smoothly and sweetly in their sermons. Therefore, we should not trust someone merely because they speak well; instead, we must examine their actions. Many people immediately trust those who speak eloquently, yet when warned, they do not accept it and even misjudge those who give such warnings.
The Misuse of the Name of Jesus
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)
From the above words of Jesus, we see that false teachers can misuse the name of the Lord Jesus. These people claim to prophesy in His name, drive out demons in His name, and perform many miracles in His name. However, the Lord Jesus will tell them plainly, "I never knew you; Away from me, you evildoers." Here are some important points we must be aware of:
1. False teachers can misuse the name of the Lord Jesus.
2. They can give warnings or preach in His name.
3. They can drive out demons and perform miracles in His name.
4. Jesus calls them "evildoers" and says to them, "Away from me,"
He will say, "I never knew you." Therefore, not everyone who uses the name of Jesus is to be trusted. Not everyone who performs miracles is to be trusted. We must carefully examine whether they truly come from God.
In summary, it's essential to test those who claim to act in the name of Jesus by their actions and alignment with God's will, rather than merely by their words or miraculous deeds.
Great Signs and Wonders Will Be Performed
Jesus warned that as His coming draws near, false prophets and counterfeit teachers will rise up. They will deceive many people. For they will come in the guise of Christ and perform great signs and wonders so convincing that even the elect may be deceived if possible. I have already told you about these things. (Matthew 24:11, 24-25)
According to this warning from Jesus, as the time of His coming draws near, false prophets will multiply. These people will perform great signs and wonders so powerful that they may even deceive those who are chosen. This is something we must pay special attention to. Many people easily believe in someone simply because they see a few unusual things or miracles performed, without needing to witness great signs.
Why Do People Believe?
Why do people believe in false doctrines? There are many reasons for this. Among them are:
1. Not Reading the Bible
This is a primary reason. Whether they are nominal Christians or new believers, those who do not read the Bible cannot distinguish between false teachings and the truth. As Scripture says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (Psalm 119:105). Those who do not read the Bible are like people walking in darkness—they don't know they're going astray.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.(Hebrews 4:12). Only through Scripture can we discern between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
But how can one distinguish spirits if they do not read the Bible? When Satan tried to tempt Jesus (Luke 4:10–11), he quoted Psalm 91:11, but Jesus countered him with Scripture. Jesus defeated Satan three times by quoting the Word of God.
Therefore, without reading and understanding the Bible, people are vulnerable to deception and cannot discern between truth and falsehood.
2. Reading the Bible but Not Knowing the Truth
Some believers read the Bible, yet they do not thoroughly study it and therefore cannot discern the truth. They should be like the people of Berea. The Bereans were more noble than those in Thessalonica because they received the Word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were really true (Acts 17:11). It says that the Bereans examined the Scriptures every day—not just occasionally, not superficially—but diligently and thoroughly.
Those who lead people astray are not human beings but evil spirits. Therefore, only by studying the Bible can we recognize the deception of these evil spirits. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy in this way:
"You, however, know that those who are in God’s household are not defiled like the rest of the world. They are to be teachers who correctly handle the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). Paul encouraged Timothy to be a teacher who accurately divides the Word of Truth without fear or hesitation.
Believers too must strive to rightly divide the Word of God and discern truth from error.
3. Reading the Bible with a Biased Mindset
Even though someone reads the Bible, if they do so not to understand its true meaning but rather to satisfy their own desires and preferences, they will not be able to grasp the truth. In such cases, evil spirits can easily deceive them.
Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:15-16).
Therefore, when reading the Bible, one must do so with a stable and open heart. Otherwise, reading the Bible can become a tool for self-destruction rather than spiritual growth.
4. Being Young in Spiritual Matters
Those who are young or immature in spiritual matters tend to crave the milk of the Word rather than solid food. As a result, they do not discern between true and false teachings and accept everything without discrimination. In Scripture, there is much to say about the story of Melchizedek, but you find it difficult to understand because your minds are still childish (Hebrews 5:11-14). Although you have been in the role of a teacher for a long time, you were first taught simple truths and now need to learn more complex ones. However, like children who only want milk and not solid food, you lack the ability to distinguish between good and bad things.
A mature person, on the other hand, is able to discern between good and evil and feeds on strong spiritual nourishment. Just as a child in the physical world is easily deceived and believes everything they see or hear, many believers today are spiritually immature and unable to make proper distinctions. They place more trust in what they see with their eyes, hear with their ears, or feel with their bodies than in what is written in Scripture.
Furthermore, children often desire what other children have. Similarly, those who are young in spiritual matters tend to crave whatever others say without discernment—without distinguishing between good and evil.
5. Prioritizing Experiences and Feelings Over Scripture
One of the main reasons people accept false doctrines is that they place more importance on personal experiences and feelings than on Scripture itself. God values faith more than feelings, as He said through His servant Jesus: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). This means that even though seeing with our eyes or touching with our hands can lead to belief, true blessedness comes from believing without having seen.
God loves faith based on the Word more than faith based on feelings. Experiences and emotions can be misleading—they may even come from evil spirits. Therefore, we must always test these things against Scripture to see if they align with God's truth.
6. Believing That the Bible Is Incomplete
Satan makes every effort to discourage people from trusting and using the Bible. His argument is that God is so great and mighty, and His works are far beyond what is written in Scripture. Therefore, relying on the Bible does not mean we can fully understand all of God’s will. If we reject the Bible, we are already going astray.
Jesus Christ Himself defeated Satan by using Scripture (Luke 4:4-12). Anyone who wants to discard the Bible is, in fact, aligned with Satan. Why does Satan want to reject the Bible? Because the Bible is the Word of God, and he fears it greatly.
7. Blind Trust in the Spiritual Leader
Everyone who follows false doctrines is usually attached to the spiritual leader. After accepting the teachings of an individual, people no longer question whether those teachings are true or not and simply follow that person blindly. This is extremely dangerous. False beliefs can lead to broken marriages, fractured friendships, and most seriously, a loss of God’s blessings and even spiritual harm. One may return to the right path with deep wounds and scars.
Therefore, like the believers in Berea, we must carefully study Scripture and examine whether the teachings of preachers align with it (Acts 17:11).
8. Fear of Being at Odds with the Majority
People may also go astray simply because they are afraid of being out of step with the majority. However, the truth is that what the majority desires is often contrary to God’s will. Even though the Israelites were a united people, they constantly opposed God. The prophets too often found themselves at odds with the crowd. In Jesus’ time, the majority rejected Him.
Therefore, we should not fear being different from the majority; rather, we should be concerned about opposing God. For this reason, I warn against following the crowd out of fear of being at odds with them—this can lead us down the wrong path.
9. Prioritizing Personal Desires Over God's Will
When a person puts their own desires above obeying God’s will, they are prone to going astray. Even though God promises to give what we ask for, He will not grant our requests if they do not align with His will. When people do not know what is truly good or bad for them, they often pray according to their fleshly desires. However, when God does not answer such prayers, Satan may instead provide what they want—something that seems good but leads them astray.
Therefore, it is essential to understand God’s will and live in accordance with it, rather than pursuing our own selfish desires.
10. Because They Desire the Praise of Men More Than the Praise of God
People desire the praise and honor given by fellow humans more than the praise and honor given by God. Jesus said, "How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?" (John 5:44). People want only what is praised by others. Therefore, if it does not come from God, it is of no importance; they care only about being respected before men. Because of this, they go astray.
11. Because of the Dominion of Evil Spirits
Some people go astray because of the dominion of evil spirits. Evil spirits also possess power.
12. Because They Desire Only Signs And Wonders
Many Christians do not read the Scripture or listen to God's Word, but instead long for power and miracles. In such cases, they pray to God for power and miracles. However, when God does not grant them, Satan gives them instead. Paul said, "Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Corinthians 1:22-24). The Jews have always sought signs from God in order to believe in Him. Seeking signs is an insult to God's glory because it implies that God cannot do what He says, or that He lies, or that He is not trustworthy enough for people to believe without seeing a sign. Even today, there are many who, like the Jews of old, seek signs and believe in them. These people go astray by believing in the signs shown by Satan.
They seek miracles to prove Jesus:
Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (Matthew 12:38-40).
Here, Jesus calls those who seek signs—scribes and Pharisees—an evil generation. Therefore, we can understand that God does not desire those who do not believe what is written in Scripture but instead seek miracles.
13. Because They Are Attached to Worldly Things and Not to Heavenly Matters
False teachers usually focus more on earthly matters rather than heavenly ones. They emphasize wealth, health, and the resolution of personal problems. These topics appeal to people's desires and attract followers. Therefore, they do not show interest in spiritual or heavenly matters. Those who preach and those who follow have similar goals, so they support each other. Jesus called such people "those who build their houses on sand." He said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27).
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