1 John 4:1-6 – 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. 2 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, 3 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. 4 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. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 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.
Matthew 12:30 – 30“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
John 8:47 – 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
Family, we must not believe everyone, not just anyone. There are many deceptive spirits, many people who seem to be nice, kind, good, or even right in the positions they take, but beware what the unbeliever has to say.
We don’t seek advice from non-believers. We can ask a non-believing mechanic for mechanical help because we know that mechanical things are what he knows. But we do not ask a non-Christian about moral advice. Their advice sometimes starts off so good but soon it goes against the Word of God. The Spirit within is saying “No, don’t listen, don’t take this in, it is against scripture.” Then the person will tell you that you should heed their advice rather than the guidance of the Spirit of God and of the Word of God. They may even get angry with you if you don’t.
We are the light-bearers of the world. We know the truth and Truth is within us. Why would we seek the counsel, in spiritual and moral matters, from those who don’t know the truth? That makes no sense. The Spirit of God is within us, teaching and guiding us, why would light go to darkness and ask it how to be light? By nature darkness does not know how to be light. Instead darkness leaves when light comes.
Who are the ones we most associate with and “hang out” with? If it is with non-believers then one must be careful, the Word of God states “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character (1 Corinthians 15:33). The people we most spend our time with, who we most listen to, who we most watch, will influence how we act, what we believe, and what we say. We don’t spend the majority of our time with people we don’t have much in common with or don’t agree with. We spend time with people who do the things we like and who think like we do. People who spend time together can finish each other’s sentences, they use the same expressions, and they take up the same causes. That is easily observable. Not that we should stop being friends and associates of non-believers. Of course not! How could we share the Gospel if are not friends and associates with non-beleivers? Besides, we love the non-believer just as Jesus does. What is being discussed here is that we don’t believe and we don’t seek spiritual and moral advise from non-Christians. The words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 12:30 are “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Family, with the Word of God we have the absolute pure Truth of God and with the Holy Spirit we have the author of the Word of God explaining it to us. Since the Word of God is absolutely right, then anything that is not in agreement with it is absolutely wrong. In this, something is either black or white, there is no middle ground. God’s Word does not compromise. And neither should we. Friends we ought to love the unsaved, but we are on dangerous ground when they are the companionship we prefer and the ones whom we share our beliefs with.
John 8:47 – 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God. Non-believers do not hear and agree with what Jesus said because they do not belong to God. Jesus said that very clearly. He said it, we believe it.
It is important for us to know who is a believer and who is not. Here is a very basic and unyielding truth to know who is a believer and who is not. Any person who does not profess that Jesus was God in the flesh and that He died for our sins and rose from the dead to ascend to the right of the Father, is not of God. He who does not profess that Jesus is the only way to Father is deceived, or a liar, and either way, spreading pernicious lies. We must recognize who is with Christ and who is not. We must not align our lives and views with those who oppose God or we may find ourselves opposing the will of God. We should ask ourselves, whom do we most agree with, whom do we most want to spend our time with. The answer should either assure us or cause us to break loose and run back to where we ought to be.
The Word of God is clear that anyone who does not profess the truth about Jesus is against Him. By that person’s refusal to believe they propound to all in their world their ideas that are counter to God. So they, as Jesus said, are against Him and they, by their words and actions, actually scatter away any that would come to hear the Lord. They oppose God. Certainly they can be those we love and talk to, but let’s not confuse love with agreement. If someone demands agreement for friendship, then let them go. As for us, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).
Jesus is God the Son. Through and in Him we have complete victory over he that makes the world mad. Greater is God who is within us than he that is in the world. We take great comfort in that.
We have the Spirit of Truth within us and are guided by Him. Those who are of God understand the spiritual truths we believe. Those are not of God do not believe what God has placed within us. They reject it and fight against it. The fact that they do not receive the truth we share is proof that they are not from God. This is what the Word of God states. But be careful, we are talking about the truths of God and not the many other opinions of mankind. However, look who we are most aligned with in all opinions, people of the world, or the people of God. That should reveal something to us about our walk.
But we are “dear children” of God, we have overcome them by the power and might of Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords! Praise God! Be strong! Be joyful, be at peace, Jesus overcame the world and He allows us to share in that victory. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.