Two Spirits
1 John • Sermon • Submitted
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· 10 viewsBe careful who you listen to because not all spirits are from God, but God has given a clear way to tell them apart. If they profess Jesus is both God and human they are true. If they do not then they are against Christ.
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Introduction
Introduction
Last week we focused on how we can be confident that we belong to the truth, to Jesus. We were reminded that we can be confident in having a personal relationship with Jesus and can come to him confidently because of what Jesus did on the cross.
One of the key ways we know we belong to Jesus is that we have been changed and he does good works through us by the working of his Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the number one way we know we belong to Christ. According to it is how we know we live in him and he lives in us. Because he gave us his spirit to live in us.
This is where we pick up this week. John goes off on a little tangent about spirits. How to tell them apart, why it is important to be aware of them, but also he gives us that most beautiful scripture for us to hold onto. “greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world.” We are reminded of the power of Christ, but also the power we have living in us through the Holy Spirit. But we have to pay attention to the messengers we receive.
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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.
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.
They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.
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.
Not every message is from God
Not every message is from God
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.
Spirit, message, messenger
Test the spirit of the one who ends
Spirit- actual supernatural beings Good (Holy SPirit) bad Demons, devil
message- Message given by Holy Spirit or message of deciet
messenger- sent by Holy Spirit or Satan
All three.
Test the spirits
Make sure they are from God
Many false teachers have gone out.- This one hits John’s heart the most. These false teachers that led people he loved away from Jesus, but John is not giving up on his church
A message from God comes from a messenger of God.
A message from God comes from a messenger of God.
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,
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 John 4:
They must acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.
Jesus Christ- not his last name, but his title. The appointed of God. The Messiah. God himself.
Has come in flesh. Is and always will be human and God.
The basis of our faith. God became flesh and dwelt among us. .
Just as sin came into the world through one man, One man defeated sin and brought justification. .
Jesus the man paid for the sins of all humanity.
The opposition to the gospel are the antichrists. We spoke a lot about them in .
There are people actively speaking against the truth. We know that. We see that. We are aware of that most of the time. But John is reminding us that we can never stop testing the spirits of the messengers.
Those spirits are always trying to break up the body of Christ. To destroy his people. To move people away from the truth.
OVERCOMERS
OVERCOMERS
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.
1 john 4:
We are from God.
We have overcome them
GREATER is the one that is in you than the one that is in the world.
What a great verse. A great promise for almost every situation. When the antichrists lie to you about hopelessness. When the antichrists lie to you about loneliness, death, illness, hatred whatever. Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.
Nothing on, above or below the earth can overpower God. Nothing on, above or below the earth can even slow him down. Nothing on, above, or below has any power over him. and therefore, he has power over all those things. Nothing can stand against him. NOTHING
But they try. So watch out.
They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.
1 John 4:5
Hard truth: if the world listens then it probably is not from God. Because those that belong to God are in opposition to the things and the ruler of this world. They sound good, they even sound right to those who do not belong to God, but they are partial truths and often outright lies.
They speak from the viewpoint of the world.
Selfishness.
Self Reliance
Self gratitude
self gratification
Self Fulfillment
Self Centered ness
list of things God will give those over to who are lost
Self, self, self
Those that are lost listen to them.
BUT
Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world!
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:
When we belong to God we listen to God. Also, those that listen to God, belong to God. That seems kind of obvious, but I think we forget this important message.
Those that belong to God listen to God.
This is a great thing. We know we belong to God because we trust what Jesus did for us and have made him the Lord of our lives. But sometimes we might be confused as to a message from God. Which direction, what is next, how do we know. God gave us his spirit to guide, direct and empower us but he also gave us brothers and sisters to help us along the way. We are all going the same direction when we are in Christ. When we are listening to his voice we will be doing things for him.
If you want to know
The things he tells us to do are in opposition to the world.
They are selfless,
Service,
humility,
TRUE love.
Laying down our lives for others.
But most of all laying down our lives for Christ.
We are not alone. We have been given the Holy Spirit to get us through life. But we are at war. War with spirits that are against God. They are labeled in the body as antichrists. Simply put, they are anti the work of Christ.
I have a few questions for you:
What lie are you believing from an antichrist? Do you believe you are worthless? Do you believe you can’t be healed? Do you believe you are alone? Do you believe you can do it on your own? Those are lies of the antichrists.
What do you need to do to
We are not alone. We have been given the Holy Spirit to get us through life. But we are at war. War with spirits that are against God. They are labeled in the body as antichrists. Simply put, they are anti the work of Christ.
But the good news wins. Jesus wins. Why?
Because Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.
PRAYER
What do you need God to overcome in your life?
What do you need God to overcome in your life?
What do you need to do to