TESTS THE SPIRITS

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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Did you hear anyone making wild claims about the total solar eclipse this last week? 

Drama

I heard lots of people, in real life and online, making way too much of the shadow that was cast by the moon onto North America. Some people just said weird stuff because they love the drama of the occasion but others said some stuff that went too far. 

I heard people speaking in the name of Jesus, people who claimed to be Christians, saying wild and unfounded things about the nature and purpose of the eclipse. They preached fear and judgement and used this naturally occurring phenomena to justify their remarks. 

What are we to do with these people?

There seems to be more and more pseudo-prophecy going around all the time and it leads many to live in a state of fear. Others get so tired of all the chatter that they tune out to legitimate truth that the Lord wants his church to hear.  

Passage

In the passage that follows we hear a message from the Apostle John that speaks to this very issue: 

1 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. 

(1 John 4:1-3 NIV11)

False Prophets

Let’s start with the source of this example of falsehood and deception. In verse one we are told that there are people out there in the world that are faking their prophetic gift and that these people are not speaking on behalf of the true Holy Spirit. 

The Greek word used here is that of… ψευδοπροφῆταἰ  – Pseudo-Prophet.   

This is one of those words that is simply not translated from Greek into English. It is just sounded out phonetically into English and we pretend we understand what it means. 

To be a Pseudo-Prophet is to be someone who is pretending to speak on behalf of the Lord. Or perhaps someone that thinks they are hearing from God but in reality, they are not. 

Some of these pseudo-prophets are harmless, speaking about dreams and images that they believe the Lord gave them and there is nothing behind what they say. Others however are using the name of God to push an agenda that has nothing to do with the will of God. 

The Test

I love how practical John is being about this problem. He tells the church that there is one way to know whether or not someone is or is not a real messenger from God. 

Verse 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”

When someone comes to me with a “word” from God, I listen for how their message brings glory to Jesus Christ. If their message is about politics or world events, I know what to do with that pseudo-prophecy. 

But if their message speaks to an issue or a need that brings glory to Jesus Christ and advances his work of building the church or bringing life and grace to others, then I am all ears.  

Already

It is instructive for me to know that even in the earliest days of the church of Jesus Christ, the enemy was at work using people who look like they are walking with Jesus to sow seeds of doubt and confusion in the church. It is not just us that the devil attacks in this way, it has always been his purpose and agenda to put us to the test. 

Paul

To add to the wisdom of John, I want to remind you of a lesson that the Apostle Paul once gave to Timothy, his friend and fellow minister:

16 Avoid godless chatter,  because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene.

(2 Timothy 2:16-17 NIV11)

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, help me to not just absorb everything that comes my way. Give me your wisdom and discernment. Help me see the truth about those who present themselves as your mouthpiece. Help me to check my own words and to avoid godless chatter!

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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