1John 4

Test the Spirits

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

We must know our God and his word. We must know what Jesus has accomplished in removing us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His Father. We are God's family, we have his Spirit of truth to guide us and to help us discern false from true spirits. This is judgment, knowing truth from falsehood.

John 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
John 9:40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
John 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
John 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

1 John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1 John 4:3 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.

One test to identify false spirits of the antichrist, is the test of Jesus Christ. Do they confess that he is God's son came in the flesh, shedding his blood for sins and has risen from the dead on the third day? This is the power for a new life. One more test of the spirits is can they say that Jesus is Lord.

1 Cor 12:3 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.

The Holy Ghost testifies of Jesus, false spirits will not do this.

1 John 4:4 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.
1 John 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

Yes, greater is God in us then the god of this world. Greater is the power of God, the Holy Spirit in the Christian, then the spirit(s) that are in the deceived of the world. There will always be a spiritual battle until Jesus comes, then we will have perfect peace. There will always be wars and Israel as God's covenant people will always be opposed by satan. Only in Jesus are we equipped for the battle, wearing the whole armour of God and guided by his mighty Spirit.

The world says it seeks peace and tolerance. They know not what their spirit is about. He is a destroyer and a divider, a liar and a thief. You cannot find peace with the god of this world, only in the God of all creation and truth, mighty and Holy, the great I Am, and that through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 John 4:6 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.

In a chat room, it is easy to know someone with God's Spirit. The spirit of truth discerns the spirits. Every room has division and false words of men of pride, this is the spirit of antichrist. When all are of one accord and of one spirit, there is peace and the power of God for salvation, healing or whatever the need. God moves through the unity and prayers of his people. Beware of false ones, discern the spirits and seek the love and unity of God's people through his Spirit.

Gary

Love is of God

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

The world speaks of love and seeks love. Yet, most think in terms of physical relationships. I have talked to many who were abused in the name of "love." This was only lust at anothers expense. Another is "love crazy," seeking indiscriminate sex. What the world describes as love is only romance and passion.

The love that comes from God is pure and good, the very nature of God. We are commanded to love one another as God has loved us. God's love is spirit and is the gift of the spirit and only comes from God. Everyone that loves with this love is born of God. The following is an explanation of the types of love;

What is Love?

In our language, we have only one word, love. In the Bible the original Greek words used for love were at least four different words and meanings.

The first kind of love used by many is "Pathos" It means passion, a physical lust. Let me tell you about this kind of love. Lust love cares only for its own desires, often hurting the one it uses for it's own pleasure. This love is lust towards another. When others use you for their own pleasure and then leave you. This is not a good love. Actually it is not even love as used in the Bible.

1 Thesalonians 4 :5 not in the passion of lust like heathen who do not know God;

The second word used for love is "Phileo". This kind of love is friendship, to be liked by another. To be approved of, gentle affection like a hug. It is a kind welcoming love, sometimes a gentle kiss, like on the cheek. Gentle words to make you feel good. Kind deeds, like making you tea and talking.

John 16:27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

The third word for love is "philadelphia" like the city name. This is brotherly love. The Bible says we are to love our neighbors as our self, this is brotherly love. It is a love between brothers and sisters of kindness and good works. It is the kind of love shared by Christians together as one heart, in the family of God. Here is a Bible verse about this kind of love:

Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

The forth kind of love is "agapao" love. This is God's love. Let me use a verse with this agapao love.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

It is a love that wants good towards another. It is a sacrificial love, putting the others needs first. This love does not take from another. It is a love given by God, that desires the very best for you, to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly

These are four kinds of love. The first is what the people of lust say is love, but it is a destructive lust. The other words for love are good and should be received.

1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Sometimes people have been hurt and they close off there hearts to where nothing can reach them. Hearts of stone, yet, when God comes to them through Jesus, tears begin to flow, the heart is cleansed of past hurts and a new ability to love comes to them.

1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Jesus is our propitiation, the way and the means for our forgiveness, we receive a new eternal life and love in our hearts.

Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1 John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

It is a command, to love one another. It is only possible through the new life in Christ and by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

I love you Lord, thank you for your great love given freely to all who are in Christ Jesus.

Gary

Dwelling in GOD, He in us

1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Jesus is our saviour from sin and it's eternal punishment.

1 John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

John 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

The Holy Spirit is witness to Jesus, the spirit does not testify of himself. God the Father and God the Son abide in us who believe through the Holy Spirit. When Jesus came to earth and took on the form of a human, His Spirit came into a body of flesh, subject to the natural world. He grew tired, he hungered, he suffered all things for us and died for our sins. Now Jesus comes to us again in the Holy Spirit. So, at first the Spirit of Jesus dwelt alone in one man, now he dwells in many who have been bornagain by his Spirit.

Rom 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience (Adam) many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

1 Pet 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1 John 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Having believed in Jesus, we have known and believed God's love for us. God's love is Jesus. He that dwells in Jesus, (love) dwells in God and God in him. Our love is perfected as we become as Jesus in the world. We shall not be judged as sinners, but examined for our Spiritual fruit, to receive rewards.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Perfect Love

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

You need not fear in God's love, you need not fear for this love. To love as Jesus loves, casts out fear. If we become as Jesus and love as he loves, we shall have no fear. Fear has torment, if we dwell in fear we cannot be made perfect in love. Fear is from the darkness, Jesus is from the Light. Fear God only and obey him. Fear will keep us from God and fear will keep us from his plan for our life. In Jesus we walk through our fears that are left over from the past, we become perfect as Jesus and fear has no place in us.

1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

This is an important little verse, we love God, because he first loved us. Love must be received from God before we can give it to back and to others.

My father was a strong man of few words. When at the age of nineteen and being treated for cancer, he and Mom visited each day for that month of treatment. I had been saved and God's Spirit was in me. I had much love to give, my Father seemed unable to express love in words, until I began to tell him that I loved him. He smiled and returned the words of love. "Jesus has you in his arms."

Love comes from God and is shared.

1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

It is God who loves through us. Often a brother or sister will say, "How come you say you love me?" I love you, because God first loved me. When witnessing to strangers, often the Spirit moves to say I love you and God loves you. They sometimes say, "You don't even know me." Still, love from God flows out to them. Soon tears come, a soft heart, and love fills their hearts. I have gained a new brother or sister, so easy to love, for God's love returns to me.

1 John 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

This is a commandment. If we are forgiven and loved, we can love our brother of faith also. What of those who are not lovable?

Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Mat 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Mat 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

We don't love their wicked ways, but we love their souls, for if they continue in sins they will perish. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come into repentance. Still we do not fellowship with darkness.

2 Cor 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

No, if they are full of the devil, we do not fellowship with them and invite them into our homes, yet we pray for them. Some we are forced to love at a distance, but good brothers and sisters of a like spirit, we love and enjoy and have fellowship with them. Thank you Lord for your love and your family.

Gary

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