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The book of 1st John Chapter 4 vs. 1- 21
The book of 1st John Chapter 4 vs. 1- 21
- The Chapter begins by Apostle John, cautioning believers about *false prophets* who have come to the world, so he is encouraging all believers to test the spirits and see if they are truly from God or not. Thereby guarding ourselves from these.
- So as Christians how do we differentiate between a false prophet and a true prophet of God?
- We can only distinguish between them once we have the spirit of discernment in us and the true word of God.
- Vs 3 he says *“and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.”*
- So we were given a key area to use when verifying if a spirit is of God or not and to demarcate between *holy spirit and human spirit*
- Some prophets use their physical eye to prophesy
- They do not divide between *emotions and the true spirits*
- The world has approved these *false prophets*; they have made rapid progress and have many followers who are also like them.
- Vs 5 says: *' they are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them*.
- The false prophets also use the same ring as God’s prophets so with *the discernment spirit we will be able to tell who is from where.*
- They can also teach about Jesus but they do not confess that he is the *Son of God* and that he is coming back again.
- They do not teach about *the cross or his blood* which was shed for us and the *resurrection power.*
- In 1st Corinthians chapter 12 from vs *7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.*
- Meaning we all have spiritual gifts from the Lord and some end up using their *correct spiritual gifts for wrong things*.
- Human beings desire spiritual things also and some end up doing *spiritual works in the physical way*.
- Some use the gift of Wisdom to prophesy but prophesy is deeper than the word of Wisdom.
- *The more you keep yourself in the Lord the more gifts you get.*
- The word of God is the *test-meter* which we should use to check if we are with wrong prophets or not.
- For whoever comes to you as a prophet should *lead you* to the ways of God and not lead you astray.
- No spirit of God will ignite any *fear* in you, for God is love and compassion
- He took away *our sins* and he suffered for us.
- He is the centre of everything and nothing *shall separate us from his love*.
- From vs 7, Apostle John is teaching us about *love again.* As he had mentioned in the previous chapters.
- He is emphasising that the spirit of God is the spirit of Love.
- He said that *he, who does not love the Image of God in his people, has no saving knowledge of God.*
- It is in God’s nature to be kind and to give happiness.
- For *God's love* is shown always when he forgives our sins and show salvation to sinners.
- God has so shown himself to be *love*, that we cannot come short of eternal happiness unless through *unbelief and impenitence.*
- God’s law is love and with the *perfect love* you will not even have fear in you.
- When you *no longer love* other brethrens it means you are not of God anymore.
- *Genuine love* should be beneficial
- And love is irresistible to the one you gave it to, they will eventually *love you back.*
- John 13 vs … 34 *A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”*
- So by loving his word and following his ways of love, the world will know that we are of him.
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