1 John 4:1-6

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.  By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.  Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.  We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

The primary difference between believers and unbelievers besides the obvious difference of belief is the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers.  Satan is a spirit who seeks to deceive the world and thwart the faith.  The Holy Spirit is at work to do just the opposite.  There are at least three truths about the Spirit that helps us to distinguish between Him and the spirit of this world.

THE SPIRIT OF GOD CONFESSES CHRIST: There are spirits that are not from God that look to deceive and destroy the message of the Gospel and those who believe.  False prophets abound with messages that contradict the message of the true followers of Christ.  There is also the Spirit of God that leads us into truth.  The distinguishing factor between the Spirit of God and the spirit of antichrist is that the Spirit of God affirms that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to earth as a man, took on flesh at the incarnation, lived a sinless life, died for the sins of the world, and was raised again.  This truth about Jesus is vital to the faith and it must be absolutely affirmed or else the message is contrary to the Gospel and does not come from the Spirit of God.

THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS GREATER THAN SATAN: While there are two spirits: the Spirit of God and the spirit of antichrist, these are not equal spirits.  The Spirit of God is eternal and a member of the Trinity possessing all the attributes of God and is God.  The spirit of antichrist is a created being who has fallen and has all the limitations of a created being.  Evil spirits are powerful, but they do not compare in strength or in greatness to the Spirit of God.  Believers in Christ have been set free from the power of sin and darkness.  We are no longer under the domination of evil spirits who seek to deceive and destroy.  We are inhabited by the Spirit of God who is far greater in every way.

THE SPIRIT OF GOD LEADS US TO LISTEN TO TRUTH: The spirit of antichrist speaks lies to the world, and they believe those lies because their hearts and minds are darkened.  We have the Spirit of God who leads us into truth and reveals the truth to us.  The true ministers of the Gospel are empowered by His Spirit, and they proclaim the truth.  The world will reject this message because they listen to the spirit of antichrist.  When we hear the truth of the Gospel and understand the revelation of the Spirit, we have affirmation that the message we hear is true and from God.  

APPLICATION: Discern between truth and error based on the message of Jesus Christ.  Don’t be flippant about evil spirits but don’t live in fear of them either.  Have full confidence in the superiority of the Spirit of God.  Believe the truth and seek for the Spirits affirmation as we listen to ministers of the Gospel.

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