Pastor Rob Bray | 12-21-25

How to Test the Spirits: Discerning Truth from Deception in a Confusing World

In our modern age of information overload, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood. With countless voices competing for our attention through news outlets, social media, and even our own thoughts, how can we know which messages are from God and which might be leading us astray?

The Reality of Spiritual Deception

The apostle John warns us in 1 John 4:1 that we shouldn’t believe every spirit, but rather test them to see whether they are from God. This isn’t just about obvious false religions or cults – it includes any voice that tries to distract us from Jesus or diminish His divinity.

False prophets aren’t always easy to spot. They might be college professors questioning the historical reality of Jesus, media personalities promoting worldly viewpoints, or even our own thoughts telling us we’ve failed or that God doesn’t love us. Any voice that discourages or distracts us away from Christ carries an antichrist spirit.

How Do You Recognize God’s Voice?

First Test: Does It Testify About Jesus?

The primary test for determining if a message is from God is simple: does it acknowledge that Jesus Christ came in the flesh? Any spirit from God will testify about Jesus, lead you back to Jesus, and honor Jesus as both fully God and fully man.

This means rejecting any teaching that suggests Jesus wasn’t real, wasn’t divine, or was merely a good teacher. The incarnation – God becoming man – is non-negotiable for authentic Christian faith.

Second Test: Does It Produce Love?

John makes it clear that love is the second litmus test. If a message or influence isn’t leading you toward love for others, it’s not from God. This isn’t just sentimental feelings, but sacrificial action that seeks the betterment of others, even at personal cost.

Third Test: Does It Move You Toward People?

God’s Spirit moves us toward relationship and community, not isolation. If any influence in your life is telling you to pull away, hide, or avoid loving again, that’s not from God. The Spirit of God calls us to confess, come to the light, work things out, and reconcile with others.

Why Does Love Matter So Much?

God’s Love Demonstrated Through Action

God didn’t just tell us He loved us – He showed us through action. First, by sending His Son (the incarnation itself was an act of love), and second, by having Jesus die as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. This wasn’t just about getting us into heaven someday, but about giving us abundant life right now.

Making God Visible to the World

Here’s a remarkable truth: while no one has ever seen God with physical eyes, people can see Him through the love His people show one another. When Christians love each other sacrificially – forgiving at their own expense, helping during difficult times, refusing to give up on each other – the watching world gets a glimpse of the divine.

This means our relationships within the church aren’t just nice additions to our faith – they’re essential demonstrations of God’s character to a world that desperately needs to see Him.

What About Fear and Anxiety?

Perfect Love Drives Out Fear

One of the most powerful truths in this passage is that perfect love casts out fear. When we truly understand that God loves us and has already dealt with our greatest problem (sin and separation from Him), what is left to fear?

Fear often comes from focusing on punishment or potential loss. But when we know that God has already taken our punishment upon Himself and promises to work all things for our good, fear loses its grip on our hearts.

The Love Cup Principle

Instead of trying to empty our cup of fear through optimism or practical solutions (though these can be helpful), we need to fill our hearts so full of God’s love that there’s simply no room for fear. The more we know God’s love and show it to others, the less space fear has to operate in our lives.

The Connection Between Truth and Love

John presents a powerful balance: to truly know God, we must both acknowledge Christ AND love our fellow believers. It’s not enough to have correct theology without love, nor is it sufficient to claim love while denying Christ.

This means that someone who claims to be a Christian but harbors resentment, prejudice, or contempt toward others may be deceiving themselves about their relationship with God. Conversely, someone who speaks of love but denies the reality of Christ’s incarnation and sacrifice also doesn’t truly know God.

Practical Guidelines for Daily Life

Choose Your Information Sources Wisely

Consider getting your news and information from born-again, Bible-believing Christians when possible. Filter what you hear through Scripture and the teachings of the apostles rather than accepting everything at face value.

Examine Your Thought Life

Pay attention to the thoughts running through your mind. Are they telling you that you’ve blown it, that God doesn’t love you, or that you should quit? These thoughts don’t come from your heavenly Father, who is patient, kind, and committed to your success.

Move Toward Relationship, Not Away

When conflict arises or you feel hurt, resist the urge to isolate. Instead, work toward reconciliation and deeper connection. This doesn’t mean being a doormat, but it does mean refusing to give up on people the way God refuses to give up on you.

Life Application

This week, challenge yourself to both test the spirits you’re listening to and demonstrate God’s love in practical ways. First, evaluate the voices that have your attention – whether through media, relationships, or your own thoughts. Ask yourself: do they point you toward Jesus and produce love in your life, or do they create fear and move you away from people?

Second, look for specific opportunities to make God visible through sacrificial love. This might mean forgiving someone who has hurt you, helping a neighbor in need, or simply choosing to stay engaged in a difficult relationship rather than withdrawing.

Ask yourself these questions: What voices am I trusting that might not be from God? How can I better demonstrate God’s love to those around me this week? What fears am I holding onto that God’s love could drive out? Am I moving toward people in love, or am I isolating myself when things get difficult?

Remember, true faith both confesses the real Jesus and expresses itself through real love. When we get both of these right, we become conduits through which others can encounter the living God.

Full sermon on YouTube: https://youtu.be/73y-vhV7_rs