Administering Tests

I John 4:1-3

When it comes to tests, I tend to have a "Que sera sera" (Whatever will be, will be) approach. Since I don't really stress, I often do better than I probably should. I recently shared the story of when I started attending college again. I wanted to enter the school of education, but there were some prerequisite courses I needed. I thought one was online, and after two weeks of not seeing anything posted, I decided to call the school. Turns out it was not online, and I had been dropped from the class that I really needed. They advised me to go speak to the instructor to see if he would let me back in.

I entered the office not knowing what to expect. The instructor was very nice. He told me that I could begin that day, but they were having a test, and I would have to take it. I thought, "Great I am going to start with a failing grade." I asked him what the test was over, and he told me. I did not know anything about the subject. I spent the next two hours sitting in the classroom watching YouTube videos on the subject. As the test began, I thought, "Oh well, here goes". Then I did my best. I passed the test with an A. Now, as a teacher, I get to see the other side of tests. It isn't always less stressful than taking the test.

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Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because 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 of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

I John 4:1-3

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We often have the tendency to think that everything we do in life is a test from God. In our passage today, John tells us to give a test. He tells us to "test the spirits, whether they are of God". There is so much noise in our world. Voices telling us what to think, what to believe, what to like, and who to like. We are constantly inundated by would be influencers. I am often surprised by how unBiblical some "Christians'" beliefs are. I put Christians in quotations because, frankly, there is nothing "Christ-like" about their thinking.

John wants us to know that before we heed the teachings or advice of someone, we need to give them a test. The test is very simple, does the spirit confess a view of Jesus that is in agreement with the Word of God? If it does, then we can trust that advice. If it does not, we need to shut that voice out. There is no middle ground.

To know the correct answer when we grade the test, we have to know God's Word. This requires knowing our Bible. Also, if we are doing what John said in the previous chapter, abiding in Christ, then His Spirit will guide us as well. At the same time, when the spirit we are testing gives a wrong answer, we will recognize that something isn't quite right. However subtle the error is, we will be able to pick up on it.

Far too many Christians hear something that sounds good, and they go with it. When someone confronts them with clear Biblical teaching, they shun the teaching because they do not want to hear that they are wrong. All Biblical doctrines reveal to us who God is. To ignore true doctrine is to ignore who God is, or worse, to deny God. That is what the test is all about. The spirit of Anti-Christ is denying the deity of Jesus. It is an all-out attack on God, no different than what Satan did in the Garden when he tempted Eve.

I was recently privy to a conversation with a "preacher's" wife. I, again, use the term "preacher" loosely. This individual had been in Bible-believing, and Bible-teaching churches. However, she had decided that "a loving God would never send anyone to Hell". While this idea is commonly held by those outside of the church, it is inconsistent with scripture. She understood this, and even said she did not believe those scriptures. She decided who God was to her. That spirit that is leading and influencing her is Anti-Christ. She may claim to be a Christian, but she is denying Him with her false beliefs.

Father, there is so much noise in this world. It is overwhelming at times. Help us to keep our guard up. May we always remember that we need to "Be still and know that You are God" (Psalm 46:10). I pray that Your Holy Spirit would warn us when a false spirit is trying to influence us. I pray that we would listen and run from these voices that would lead us astray.