Test The Spirits | Part 1: Discernment in an Age of Deception

TEST THE SPIRITS

Part 1: Discernment in an Age of Deception

July 6, 2025

 

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit,

but test the spirits.”

1 John 4:1 (NIV)

 

1 John 4:1,4-6 (NIV) – 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….You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

 

1 Timothy 4:1 (NIV) – The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

 

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (NIV) – For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness.

 

Identifying The Spirit

 

• Spirit

 

Colossians 2:20-23 (NIV) – Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Luke 18:11-12 (NIV) – The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

 

False Discernment

• attitude.
• and .
• Lack of .

 

• Spirit

 

Hebrews 12:15 (NIV) – See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

 

• Spirit

Romans 16:17-18 (NIV) – I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.

James 3:14-16 (NIV) – But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

 

• Spirit

John 16:13 (NIV) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

 

6 Questions to Test the Spirit

 

1. What voices are ?

 

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) – Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

 

2. Does it confess ?

 

1 John 4:2-3 (NIV) – This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

 

3. Does it align with the ?

 

Isaiah 8:20 (NIV) – Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

4. Does it produce the or the ?

 

Matthew 7:15-16 (NIV) – 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…

 

2 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV) – For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

 

5. Does it or the ?

 

John 16:14 (NIV) – He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.

 

2 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV) – For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

 

6. Does it the church or ?

 

1 Corinthians 14:3 (NIV) – But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

 

Ephesians 4:12-13 (NIV) – So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.