The Holy Spirit And Unholy Spirits

1 John 4:1-6

BIG IDEA: Exercise your Spirit-led ability of discernment between truth and error

A lack of discernment is to the Christian what a lack of an immune system is to the human body- without it, you’re susceptible to all kinds of spiritual junk. 

Doubt: Did God really say? (Genesis 3:1)

Distort: you shall not eat of the tree, neither shall you touch it, (Genesis 3:3)

Deny: she took the fruit and ate (Genesis 3:6)

2 Biblical Tests: 

1. Does it confess the real Jesus? (vv. 2-3)

Hebrews 2:17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect so that he might become a merficul and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 

2. Does it exalt the apostolic message? (vv. 4-6)

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to Him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned (1 Cor 2:14).