Scripture: 1 John 4:1-6
On Denying the Incarnation
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 of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
Observation:
“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.” (1 John 4:2-3)
Application:
Today’s reading from 1 John 4:1-6 is all about having a spirit of discernment. We should test everything that we hear to see if it actually comes from God. John writes that “Every Spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. If the incarnate Jesus is not acknowledged, then that spirit is a false spirit, and God is not in them. He then goes on to write: “… the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) We need not listen to or be swayed by any falsehood because the Spirit of the Living God who is in us, is greater than those who are in the world. Listen to God’s Spirit in you and not in the testimony of the world being led by other spirits.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, give us a Spirit of discernment that we may recognize the teachings and direction that come from you. Help us to dismiss any false teaching, recognizing that it does not come from you, but the world. For greater are you Lord, who is in us, than he who is in the world. Amen.