Have you heard voices or promptings from the spirit? Most of us would probably think that those sorts of things are coming from the Holy Spirit. However, as John writes to Christians in his first letter, we are to make certain what the real origin is before believing or acting upon them. As John imparts, there were many false prophets about in the land and it is best to put them to the test. Likewise, there are false prophets out in the world today as well, so it is just as important for Christians today to test them. The testing that John is referring to is the doctrine that they are professing. Are they confessing Jesus Christ as their Lord? Are they saying that Jesus Christ is the son of God? If not, it would be best to look further into what they are saying. Following spirits that are not of the Lord causes serious problems for Christians. Christians can be easily led astray and end up in situations that can be destructive to their position in Christ. Take John's advice quite seriously. If you are ever struggling with a situation where there is some confusion about how you are thinking, be sure to talk about it with a mature Christian.
–
Bro. Michael Fernandes
