Test The Spirits

In this article I am going to explain how to test or try the spirits to see whether they be of God or not. One thing I can almost guarantee, you probably have never heard what I am about to say because you have been listening to the “theologians” rather than a little child in the Lord. I know I have the spirit of God in this, go ahead, study your bible, check me out, prove me wrong. If you realize what I am saying is true, then you can obey the Word, and not me, and you will NEVER be under a false teacher again! Our main text is found in 1 John 4:1-7; I hope that you will read it completely and carefully, because every word in these verses are compiled of the same thought, there is no change of subject from verse to verse, it all adds to and addresses the same subject. Following this text, we will take it apart and explain each thought, backed up with other scriptures, so that you will see not just myself, but scripture interpreting scripture.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 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. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” (1Jo 4:1-7 AV)

Now let me begin with one phrase of these scriptures and I am going to show you something that you have never hear before!

“Beloved believe not every spirit”. When a person speaks publically about God, he is claiming to speak FOR God. This person may or may not have a large audience, however, if there are two or more present and he is speaking with authority, he is speaking on the record - for God. In other words, if he claims that he is telling you truth that must be accepted, he is just not rendering an opinion, he is not just facilitating a discussion of what could be true, but he is “preaching” that which comes from his heart about God and thereby claims to have the Spirit of God in his words, this man does claim to speak for God.

“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (1Pe 4:11 AV)

Make no mistake, a man who speaks publically about God, with authority, is claiming to speak for God; if he does not claim this, than according to 1 Pe 4:11, he should not be speaking at all. Do not be deceived, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, and a man or woman, that allows themselves to be heard before witnesses, as an approved voice of Truth, does claim to speak for God.

 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” (Lu 6:45 AV)

When a man speaks about God and expects others to hear and heed his words, he is speaking from his heart; this man’s heart is informed by his spirit.

 “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Ro 8:27 AV)

The mind of the Spirit knows what is righteous in every circumstance of our lives, our spirit is opposed to the mind of the Spirit, that is why we must be poor in our spirit and rich in Christ’s Spirit, even the Holy Spirit. When we sing the song “Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit withing me” we are asking God to let us decrease and let him increase, so that our spirit is poor and his Spirit in us is strong. Therefore when we decide what is true or false, what is a right opinion or a wrong opinion about God and Truth, not based on our own spirit, but on his Holy Spirit which testifies of Jesus Christ, the living Word ( Jo 1:1), that anointing which is truth and no lie (1Jo 2:27), we then know the mind of God on every issue.

 “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” (1Co 2:10-11 AV)

“but try the spirits whether they are of God” Our next excerpt taken from our base scripture, is completely misunderstood or disobeyed by current voices of present “Christendom”. What does it mean to “try the spirits” and how do we obey this very important scriptural command?

 “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:” (Re 2:2 AV)

Here are the words of Jesus to the church of Ephesus, where Jesus praised the obedience of the called out ones, the church, when they tried the spirits of men who claimed to speak for God. The word “apostle” means “sent one”; Jesus said “if you receive me, then you receive him who sent me, (the Father) if you receive him whom I send, then you have received me”. (Mat 10:40) Here is where the rebellion, the disobedience to Christ, is demonstrated consistently among those who claim to speak for Christ today; they refuse to try, test and prove other men! Now let me say this as clearly as I can, when a person claims to be approved by God, to speak for him, he is in fact claiming to be sent by God; he may not be claiming the title of an “Apostle”, I find it hard to believe that anyone would make such a claim in this day and age unless they were arrogant, blind and a liar; but none the less, they must be tried in obedience to Jesus, our Lord and Savior. So I ask you, why doesn’t that man you speak so highly of, your pastor, your spiritual leader, the humblest man you know, obey Jesus? Maybe he is not as humble and as godly as you believe? Maybe you have failed to test his spirit?

 “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;” (1Th 5:12 AV)

“Know those who labor among you” When a man reaches the point in his walk with God where he believe that he is approved by God, and receives the desire to serve others with the wealth he has received from Christ, he labors for that meat of the Word, in hopes that he will be rewarded for his faithfulness to the Word and the treasures he has received from Christ alone, not of works lest any man should boast. This man is worthy of a reward for his labor.

 “For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.” (1Ti 5:18 AV)

Now this reward is not just money, it could be, or it could not be as well, the greatest reward in life is not money, but the fruit of the womb, children. Now these children, if they are alive, they will eventually grow up and have children of their own, will they not? They will not be in the house for ever, will they?

 “For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,” (1Th 2:9-11 AV)

The “leaders” of Christianity today, those who have a following, have worked hard to get people to believe in them, they have worked hard to establish themselves as those who speak for God, you are not going to pry that out of their cold dead hands, now are you? These men are greedy dogs, they are afraid to try other men, what if they find out that the man they are trying is of God? Does that mean they will have to share the money? Does that mean they will have to share the glory? What a blow to think that you have worked so hard, put yourself through seminary, only to be supplanted by some young upstart that doesn’t know half of what you do!! These are the thoughts of unfaithful men, these are the thoughts of worldly men who have escaped having their own spirits tried, men who want to be the head of the church, rather than Christ; these men are of an antichrist spirit, they do love their own lives, unlike Christ! They do not allow buying and selling from men who do not have the mark of the beast, the number of man, written in their foreheads or right hands; these men do not trust God; they put their confidence in the arm of the flesh and violence against their brethren!

 “I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.” (Joh 4:38 AV)

The idea that someone else would benefit from their labor, is repugnant to them, they hate this, like all wicked men hate it. As it is in the natural, so it is in the spiritual; in this world men are against trade, so they are called protectionists; any economist worth their salt could tell you that this does not lead to wealth, but poverty.

“There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.” (Pr 11:24 AV)

Do you want to know why Christians are so spiritually impoverished today? I am hitting on the mark right now, are you listening? The greedy leaders are afraid to allow trade, they think their won’t be enough for them, so instead they are impoverished!

“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” (Re 3:16-17 AV)

1 John 4:1-7 looked at closely, continued...

“because many false prophets are gone out into the world”

You refuse to obey the Lord Jesus and try the spirits of men, that is why many false prophets, apostles, sent ones, those claiming to speak for God, are gone out into the world.

Continued...

“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God”

I would like you to believe a little child in the Lord on this, don’t listen to Mr. Theologian, he is completely wrong in his explanation of this. His explanation simply states that a person must confess that Jesus has come in the flesh. Oh how deep! What a rich spiritual understanding! Let me explain the meaning of this: The scripture here states it different than Mr. Theologian, listen carefully, “every spirit that confesseth” not mouth. How do you hear a spirit talk? And what does it mean for a spirit to confess that Jesus has come in the flesh? Well as we previously stated, out of the abundance of the heart, from the things known by the spirit, does the mouth of a man speak.

 “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Mt 12:37 AV)

Simply, when a person speaks the same themes out of their mouth, over and over, it demonstrates what is in their heart. Now it is important to understand that we do not judge a person based on semantics or on inconsequential mis-statements of facts, delivered with honesty and integrity. We do not judge as those who look to, as wicked men do, to find reason to accuse, in order to destroy their opponents. We must do everything in order to commend ourselves before God and man, in all honesty and sincerity, so as to prick the conscience of the guilty, bringing those to repentance who sin against the living truth, whether intentionally or in ignorance.

“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” (1Co 4:5 AV)

When one believes in the Lord and lives by the faith that can only come from God, they do not rush to judgement, they are patient, just as the church of Ephesus was in their testing of those who claimed to be Apostles. It is really easy to be the big guy on the block and you know the weakness of those who follow you; you are just a bully; you don’t have to be patient, you can just push others out of the way, because that is just what you do, you’re a bully and you can rely upon your gang not to turn against you, no matter what! That is not righteous judgement, that is wickedness, and those who stand aside and allow this to occur, are partaking in another man’s sin. If you belong to the Lord, then obey him, wait patiently upon the Lord until the Lord comes to your gathering and brings to light the hidden things of darkness, so when you judge, you yourself will not be condemned.

 “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” (Mt 7:1-2 AV)

Even if your judgement is accidentally correct, yet you entered into judgement in disobedience to the Lord, you are still to blame. How then can you expect the mercy from the Lord that you are so desperately in need of, since you failed to rightly judge another?

What does it mean for a one’s spirit to confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh? As I previously mentioned, it is not just the mere mention that you believe the above recited statement, (I believe that Jesus came in the flesh) it must go deeper than this, now let’s discuss this. When you say Jesus has “come” you are acknowledging that the Father, God, has sent him.(Mat 10:40) You are saying in your spirit that thou art Christ, the Son of the Living God; I acknowledge and surrender to the Lordship of Christ over my life and this gathering or church; not my will but thine be done; to acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, is to make him Lord and the head of your group. Earlier in this article, I said that I would give you a key to never being led astray by false teaching again. Now here is some of the signs to look for that will tell you whether Jesus is the head of your group or men are the head of your group. If Jesus is the head, then your trust is in Jesus, and you know that Jesus is that good shepherd that leads his sheep into good pasture, where brooks of living water run. The hireling cares not for the sheep, but cares for himself.

Now here is where the rubber meets the road, here are the tell - tell signs to look for:

When the man who stands and claims to speak for God, speaks, does his teaching, the whole of it, make Jesus your head or does his teaching secretly, make him the head? Does his teaching, the whole of it, make him the one who came in the flesh from God or does his teaching make Jesus the one who came in the flesh sent by God? Does his teaching bring glory to God alone or does he secretly glorify himself?

When the man is glorified rather than God, the people who are involved in a idolatrous relationship with him just cannot wait to tell you about him, the first thing they tell you is how humble and wonderful this man is; they are made arrogant by this idolatry and will automatically jump on the defense should anyone question their “man”; their spiritual identity is tied into their “main man”, his fame or lack thereof.

 “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1Co 1:12-13 AV)

When Jesus Christ is glorified and the spirit of a man confesses that it is Jesus Christ who came from God and was made flesh, people want to talk about Jesus, because it is Christ in them, the hope of glory. They are not thrown into competition with one another, but they are thrown by this spirit and teaching into love of the brethren; the spirit of men cause a few men fame, the Spirit of God brings all to be counted worthy to share in his sufferings and eventually in his glory. The spirit of men gain a position among men and hold on to it for life and consider all others competition, the Spirit of God is there desirous to bring all to perfection, into the image of the only begotten Son and is primarily interested in the glory of God on the face of this earth.

“Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” (1Co 12:3 AV)

No man can make Jesus Lord among you but by the Spirit of Truth; even the devil can repeat over and over again that Jesus is Lord, but no one through his teaching, by his spirit, can make Jesus Lord among you, but by the Spirit of God; that is how you know which spirits are of God and which are not.

In conclusion 1 John 4:1-7,

If you have carefully read our above base text, then you will understand the whole story, that you are required to try - test the spirits of men; the spirits that make Jesus Lord among you are true, the others are not; when Jesus is Lord among you and not man, anyone desiring to serve the brethren, to speak for God, is tested in obedience to scripture by the body of teaching and words he utters; when Jesus is Lord there is love among the brethren, rather than a spirit of competition and power struggles; when Jesus is Lord it is not about one or two men and their teachings; it is about the Lord and the multi-functionality of his body, EVEN CHRIST IN YOU THE HOPE OF GLORY!!

Amen.

Robert Begnaud