"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." - 1 John 4:1
In 1 John 4:1, we are instructed to test the spirits to see whether or not they are from God. But what does it mean to test the spirits? And how do we distinguish between the Spirit who is from God and a spirit who is not?
What Does it Mean to Test the Spirits
1 John 4:1-6 identifies two different spirits. The first is called “a spirit from God,” “the Spirit of God,” and “the Spirit of Truth.” The second is identified as “the spirit of a false prophet,” “the spirit of antichrist,” and “the spirit of falsehood.”
The first is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, who leads us into the truth. The Holy Spirit will never deceive us or otherwise lead us astray. Instead, he will always lead us into the truth and a closer walk with God.
The second spirit that John mentions is a deceitful spirit, a fallen spiritual being working through a false prophet or teacher whose purpose is to lead us astray from the truth. This spirit may look and sound very appealing (2 Corinthians 11:14), but under their sheep’s skin, they are vicious wolves looking to devour the flock (Acts 20:19).
The Applied New Testament Commentary explains: "In John’s time, there were many people who were teaching, preaching, and prophesying through various spirits. It is the same in these present times. We must examine every man’s words. How do we examine them? We examine them by comparing them to what is written in the Bible. If what they say agrees with what is written in the Bible, then we can know that they are speaking through the Holy Spirit.
John says that we must test the spirits to see whether they are from God. When John says test the spirits, he means that we must test what the spirits are saying. We must always examine the words of anyone who claims to be speaking “through the spirit,” because there are many false teachers and false prophets in the world, and they are constantly trying to deceive us."
Let's take a look at some tests you can use to distinguish between the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of a false prophet.
1. What Fruit Does the Spirit Produce?
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns us about false prophets. “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:15-16).
Jesus tells us that one surefire way to recognize a false prophet is to examine the fruit they produce.
In Galatians 5:19-21, Paul lists some of the acts, or fruit, of the flesh. What is significant about this list is that each act is something that works against the unity and edification of the body. They are signs of a person who puts themselves first and uses others to accomplish their aims.
And this is contrary to the standard for greatness that Jesus set. In Matthew 20:26-27, Jesus told his disciples that the key to greatness lies not in being served but in serving others. This is really only something that comes from the Holy Spirit. The Spirit that produces the fruit that enables us to serve and put others first (Galatians 5:22-23).
The false prophet may be able to disguise their fruit for a time. But ultimately, it will be shown for what it is. Don’t be taken in by smooth talk. Pay attention to the fruit that is produced. Is it helpful to the church or detrimental?
2. Do They Preach According to Scripture?
Peter warns us about false prophets who will secretly introduce destructive heresies (2 Peter 2:1). Heresy is a doctrine that is contrary to what the Scripture teaches. Sometimes heresy is obvious, but other times it can be very subtle and have the ring of truth to it.
Listen carefully to what a prophet or teacher is saying. How well does it conform to the Bible? 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that all Scripture is given to us by inspiration from God. And, since God does not lie (Titus 1:2), we can depend on the Bible to always be a reliable guide to truth.
For this test to be effective, we need to have a good understanding of what the Bible teaches. This means knowing more than just a few favorite verses or passages. The false prophet will frequently sprinkle passages into their message that seem to support their position.
But those selected verses are frequently taken out of context or are interpreted in ways that are contrary to the bulk of the Scripture.
Follow the example of the Berean believers who examined the scriptures to verify that what Paul said was indeed true (Acts 17:11). Just because the person preaching or teaching is well known or recommended by a friend is no guarantee that what they are proclaiming is the truth.
Search the scriptures for yourself to see how well what they say conforms to what God’s inspired Word says.
But we need to be careful here. It can be tempting to assume that everyone who disagrees with my understanding of Scripture is wrong. They may be. Or, just as likely, I may be wrong. But what John is referring to here are those who find their "truth" outside the pages of the Scripture.
They may sprinkle selected verses into their teaching, but at its heart, it is contrary to what is found in the Bible. So, be like the Bereans and test what you hear against the Scripture (Acts 17:11). And reject what does not conform to it.
3. Does the Spirit Glorify God?
Another way to test the spirits is to evaluate who they honor. The Holy Spirit, and those led by him, will seek to honor and glorify God. And this is true in everything they say and do (1 Pet. 2:12).
The false prophet, on the other hand, might give lip service to honoring God. But they have no real interest in glorifying God. Instead, the focus of their efforts will be elsewhere.
Their words and actions will demonstrate what is important to them. If they are constantly promoting “their ministry” rather than the Lord’s work or themselves rather than the God of the Bible, that should serve as a warning sign.
4. Do the Spirits Build Up the Body of Christ?
A fourth test is to examine the impact that the spirits have on the body of Christ. In Ephesians 2:11-16, Paul tells us that Jesus has given us apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors/teachers to build up the body of Christ, help it to reach maturity, and attain the whole measure of the fulness of Christ.
A prophet or teacher speaking under the guidance of the Holy Spirit will have a message that seeks to draw the body closer to Christ and obedience to his commission for his church.
A false prophet will not be interested in developing a body that is healthy and committed to the Lordship of Christ.
In contrast, the spirit of a false prophet will be one that is seeking to destroy the church. This will often be done subtly to deceive those who hear them. And, if so, it may be difficult to determine the spirit of the prophet easily.
A local church may be materially prosperous, promoting many ministries, and having a growing membership. But that does not mean that it is a healthy church. The church at Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-22 was all of that.
And yet they took the harshest criticism of any of the seven churches. Jesus had nothing good to say about them. They were spiritually lukewarm, focused more on the external than the internal life of the Spirit.
5. Insight from the Holy Spirit
A final test is one that can be difficult to discern. And that is the prompting of the Holy Spirit. You need first to be in tune with the Spirit, listening to him in your daily life.
And, if you are, he will make clear to you if the one you are hearing is proclaiming a gospel other than the one from Scripture. Listen to that prompting of the Spirit and look for other signs that would verify the Spirit’s warning.
Test the spirits. There are indeed many false prophets out in the world today, deceiving many. Don’t be one of them. Learn to recognize the spirit of a false prophet or teacher and don’t be taken in by them.
A Prayer to Test the Spirits
Dear Heavenly Father,
I come before You with a humble heart, seeking Your wisdom and guidance in accordance with 1 John 4:1. You have instructed us to test the spirits to discern whether they are from You, and I earnestly seek Your discernment and protection in this matter.
Grant me the discernment to recognize Your truth and Your Spirit in all that I encounter. Give me the wisdom to examine every teaching, prophecy, and message in light of Your holy Word, the Bible. May Your Word be the standard by which I measure all things.
I pray for the guidance of Your Holy Spirit to lead me in discerning what is in alignment with Your will and what is not. Help me to recognize any false teachings or deceptive spirits that may try to lead me astray. Strengthen my faith and conviction in Your truth.
Lord, I place my trust in You and Your Word. I ask for Your protection and discernment as I navigate the spiritual influences in this world. Help me to stay firmly rooted in Your love and truth.
In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen."
For further reading:
Does the Holy Spirit Give Us Discernment?
What Does the Bible Warn about False Prophets?
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