IS THIS OF GOD?

                                                       1 John 4:1-6; 2 John :7-11

INTRODUCTION: The apostle John here is telling us that before we believe anything and before

we receive anything as truth from God, we need to put it to the test—whether it is from God!

In our present world we have both the Spirit of God and the spirit of the Satan so John says

don’t believe every spirit. We need to listen to God’s Spirit but reject the spirit of Satan:

John 8:31-32. Lies from Satan will deceive you, enslave you and lead you astray. Every

Christian needs to be aware of false prophets: 1 John 4:1; Matthew 24:24; Matthew 7:15.

Today we will look at five tests for true and false prophets.

I. FIVE TESTS FOR FALSE PROPHETS AND TEACHERS.

1. THE TEST OF CONTENT.

First, what is the content of their teaching? 1 John 4:2-3. What do they teach about the

person of Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ is God come in the flesh: John 1:1-3, 14. Second, we test

who hears them? 1 John 4:5. These false prophets speak the message the world wants to hear.

False prophets do not like Christ’s church: 1 Timothy 3:15. Third, the test of greed:

2 Peter 2:2-3. Fourth, the test of character: Jude 4; 2 John 10-11. 5. The test of their fruits:

Matthew 7:15-19.

II. THE TESTS OF TRUE PROPEHTS AND TEACHERS OF GOD!

There are faithful teachers of God today: 1 John 4:6. John says you can tell by two tests which

are the faithful preachers of God: First by their agreement with the Bible: 1 John 4:1-2. The

faithful preacher will always agree with the Word of God. Acts 17:11; 2 John 7-9. A faithful

teacher of God will always teach the same thing about Christ that God’s Word says about Jesus

Christ. 1 John 4:6.

III. THE RESULTS OF FAITHFUL TEACHING AND PREACHING!

People get saved and their lives change by faithful pastor-teachers: We as God’s people

should be overcoming this world: 1 John 4:4. Our overcoming in Jesus is something that has

happened in the past and continues all the days of our lives as we live for Christ’s glory! On the

cross, Jesus Christ shed His blood to pay for our sins. When we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord

and Savior “we become more than conquerors!” 1 John 4:4. Jesus Christ in us is greater than

our weakness and He gives us all we need to be overcomers in this life! We that are in Christ

Jesus need not fear our own fleshly desires, the draw of the world to sin, or the power of Satan

to overcome us. We have the power of Christ in us and His power is more than enough for us

to live holy lives for our God’s glory! We are on the winning side! We weren’t there when

Christ died on the cross for our sins. But we were there when we by faith received Jesus Christ

as our personal Lord and Savior. Yes, the victory was won 2000 years ago but the work still

goes on and its time for you and I to enter into the harvest fields for God’s glory!

Matthew 9:37-38. Are you ready to enter into the game of life on God’s team? Today is the day

of salvation! Today is the day to choose which side you will join in! 2 Corinthians 6:1-2.