GOD’S TRUTH ABOUT CHRIST OVER THE WORLD’S VIEWPOINT OF CHRIST
SCRIPTURE:
“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 of truth and the spirit of falsehood.” (1 John 4:1—6)
OBSERVATION:
John writes this to his friends, cautioning them about believing and accepting every spirit. Every spirit speaks about what people hear and teachings that are contrary to what they have already been taught. There were many counterfeits teachers even in the time of John and the early church. John starts cautioning his friends, saying;…DO NOT BELIEVE EVERY SPIRIT, but TEST THE SPIRITS to see whether they are from God.
We are absolutely responsible for what we allow to influence our life. Not every spiritual message is from God. There are MANY FALSE PROPHETS THAT HAVE GONE OUT INTO THE WORLD…These false prophets went out from the church. I am reminded of these words of Paul to the Corinthian believers…”For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” (2Corinthians 11:13—15)
John also let us know how to discern and 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 that Jesus is NOT from God is the spirit of the anti-Christ. There is a denial of Christ now among many churches, and so call Christian leaders of influence.
The spirit of anti-Christ is already operating in the world today. They are no longer for Christ leaders but denials of Christ. John said they went out into the world. The question that I asked myself today is, “Where did they go out from?” We are not to fear them because greater is Christ who is in us than them who are from the world.
They are from the world because they are speaking from THE VIEWPOINT OF THE WORLD, AND THE WORLD LISTENS TO THEM. I am reminded that we are in danger of THINKING AND SPEAKING of the WORLD’S VIEWPOINT that we can’t discern the difference what is truth and falsehood. John reminded me that the way to discern falsehood is whether the person is listening to what they already taught about Christ or whether they are speaking the WORLD’S VIEWPOINT that denied Christ came from heaven. Many are taught about Jesus but deny the virgin birth and Jesus being born in the flesh. Sadly many believers are taking on the world’s viewpoint over God’s truth.
APPLICATION:
I will choose God’s truth over men’s well-researched wisdom that draws from other human viewpoints. I will continue to trust God’s word over what some churches and the world are pushing today. So many times, I am challenged by the world’s viewpoint of who Christ is instead of trusting God’s word over man’s. Today, I will stand firm in God’s truth.
PRAYER:
Jesus, thank you for reminding me that your word is the truth that sets me free from what the world is pushing. I pray that you continue to lead me in your truth and wisdom. Teach me to be a discerning follower of you, knowing the difference between the world’s spirit and your truth. I declare today that you are my God, and your truth is what I live for. Amen!
