1. Why “Testing the Spirits” Matters Today
In the New Testament, John gives a clear warning:
“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.”
(1 John 4:1)
This isn’t just a verse for pastors or theologians.
It’s a command for every believer.
We live in a time when:
- sermons are everywhere,
- Christian content is overflowing online,
- and “spiritual” messages spread faster than ever.
Some sound sincere.
Some sound powerful.
Some even use the name of Jesus and Bible verses.
But the Bible says 분명히:
“Do not believe every spirit.”
Instead, test them.
The question is: How?
How can an ordinary Christian “test the spirits” in a practical, biblical way?
Let’s walk through it step by step.
2. The Bible’s Main Standard: What Is Being Spoken?
The Bible shows us a very important principle:
Spirits work through words.
Jesus said:
“The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.”
(John 6:63)
God’s Spirit works through God’s Word.
The devil also works through words—
through lies, distortion, and twisting of Scripture.
So when John says, “test the spirits,”
he is not telling us to feel some mystical energy.
He is telling us to examine the message.
- What is being taught?
- Does it agree with the Bible?
- Does it keep the Word as it is, or does it change it?
The spirit behind a teaching is revealed
by the content of the teaching.
3. First Test: Does This Teaching Agree With the Bible?
The most basic and important question:
“Is this in line with Scripture?”
Not:
- “Does it sound good?”
- “Is the speaker famous?”
- “Does this make me feel emotional?”
But:
- Is this what the Bible actually says?
- Are the verses used in context, not pulled out to support a human idea?
- Is anything being added that the Bible does not say?
Revelation 22:18–19 warns us
not to add to or take away from the words of the prophecy.
This shows how serious God is about His Word.
When we hear a sermon, a prophecy, a teaching, or a “revelation,”
we should quietly ask:
“Where is this in the Bible?
Is this really what God has said?”
If the message cannot be grounded in Scripture,
or if it clearly goes against Scripture,
then it is not from the Spirit of truth.
4. Second Test: What Does This Message Do With Jesus and the Truth?
In the same chapter, John gives another important test:
“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.”
(1 John 4:2–3)
The Spirit of God:
- exalts Jesus,
- honors His work,
- and leads people into truth and obedience.
The spirit of error:
- reduces Jesus to just a teacher or idea,
- replaces His words with human tradition,
- or uses His name but rejects His truth.
Jesus Himself said:
“I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)
So we can ask:
- Does this message lead me closer to the truth Jesus spoke?
- Does it help me understand the Bible more clearly?
- Or does it pull me away into something vague, mystical, or purely emotional?
If the message does not honor the true Jesus of the Scriptures
and does not lead into His truth,
then we must be very careful.
5. Third Test: Is There Addition, Subtraction, or Distortion?
A key mark of false teaching is this:
It changes God’s Word.
Sometimes that change is obvious.
Sometimes it’s very subtle.
The Bible warns:
- Do not add to God’s words
- Do not take away from them
(Proverbs 30:6, Revelation 22:18–19)
So we can ask:
- Is this teacher putting human ideas on the same level as Scripture?
- Are they using “God told me…” to override what the Bible clearly says?
- Are they twisting verses to fit a doctrine that isn’t really in the text?
Even if someone seems kind, gifted, or powerful,
if they consistently change the Word,
we must recognize:
the spirit behind that work is not from God.
6. A Simple Checklist to Test the Spirits (1 John 4:1 Applied)
When you hear any spiritual message—
a sermon, a YouTube video, a prophecy, a book, a post—
you can quietly walk through this checklist:
- Bible Check
- Can this teaching be found in the Bible?
- Are the verses used honestly, in their proper context?
- Jesus Check
- Does this message honor the Jesus of Scripture?
- Does it lead me deeper into His words and His will?
- Truth vs. Addition Check
- Is anything added that the Bible never said?
- Is anything important left out or softened?
- Fruit Check
- Does this teaching produce clarity, repentance, obedience, and love for truth?
- Or does it produce confusion, division, pride, and blind loyalty to a person?
If a message fails these tests,
no matter how religious it looks,
it is not safe to follow.
7. Testing the Spirits Is Not About Judging People, but Protecting Faith
“Testing the spirits” doesn’t mean
we attack people, argue endlessly,
or think we are better than others.
It means:
- we take God’s Word seriously,
- we guard our hearts,
- and we choose carefully what we believe.
God does not ask us to blindly accept every teaching.
He commands us to discern.
8. The Path of a Wise Believer
A wise believer does not chase after every new voice.
Instead, they quietly open the Bible and ask:
“Is this really what God has said?”
The Spirit of God and the Word of God never disagree.
The Spirit of truth always leads us back to the truth of Scripture.
In the end:
- people’s words change,
- trends change,
- emotions change,
but God’s Word remains the standard.
If we learn to test the spirits by that Word,
we will not be easily deceived,
and we will be able to walk the narrow path
that leads to life.
