False Testimony

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.

In other words, John is saying, 'believe not everything you hear.' See, there are many false prophets "gone out into the world." You might think this to be very basic at first. But how many of you know people who are supposed to be one place when they are actually five others they were never intended to be. So also, these told no one. You do not yet believe me, I know. You know how you creep out of the neighbor's house under the cover of darkness with no one watching. Nor is it because you live there. So, then John is concerned with something more than just the words from out of your mouth. It is important to see that here John is writing from the Words of the Lord. See, you can live by everything he says. You can rest on it, trust it, and take it to the bank. Not doing so impacts others. Now I know some of you are saying, 'why should I care.' Well, there is that one little matter of the false prophets.

Now before I dive into personal matters, let us look at the testimony of Scripture. Remember John Mark the split apostle's assistant seen in the book of Acts. It is clear that everything he went through at the hands of these false prophets and untrue believers had impacted him so profoundly that he no longer felt whole anymore. Could it be this is behind the open invitation to try the spirits here. See, taste, and know that the Lord is good as in Psalm 34:8. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Now I could test his goodness until the end of time. He would still remain the same, always there, and unchanging. See how good God is to his people. I cannot speak of him highly enough. Yet for these other people, some of you need to get around the Lord. The right speaking must line up with the right living which must agree with the Word of the Lord. See, the false spirits waiting to destroy you are many. Have you forgotten the devil's aim to steal, kill, and destroy so soon. Yet you would rather spend your days serving those of his who do such things.

My friends, send those out from you into the world. You have the power and authority in Christ's name. Did he not die to share his authority with you. Was he not raised again so you could live rightly. Why then are you treating him so lightly. You really ought to do as I did and throw the strange men or women out of your house. Now I know some of you might love them. But when you have tried them, know this. Even so did Jesus his churches of Revelation. So intimately did he know their works that nothing escaped him. See, behind those false prophets is a spirit and it is not of the Lord. Else would they speak, prophesy, and love of nothing but him. "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word" that proceeds from "out of the mouth of God" in Matthew 4:4. You have authority, dear believers. Now what will you do with it. Yet when you are under attack by the many without him, rest in this. How many of you know that when you are of God, none can stand against you. When you let him into your house, Satan himself cannot stand before you. Fear will not stand in his presence. Loneliness must flee before him. All your troubles, sighing, and crying must leave in his name. See, the tomb is empty. Sunday has come. God is in the house. Death itself must go. Some of you really ought to trust him more.