Another key lesson from the letters of John is the role of the Spirit of Discernment. We are instructed to utilize this divine gift to recognize what guides us toward God’s path and what leads us away from it. The author cautions readers against believing every spirit, urging them instead to test and discern what is truly from God
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 (NIV)
This issue was prevalent in the early church (and even today), leading to the proliferation of false narratives and the emergence of various subreligions and denominations, thereby fracturing the body of Christ. How can we discern whether a spirit or a person is from God or from satan?
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. – 1 John 4:2-3 (NIV)
Is anyone who acknowledges Jesus as being from God trustworthy? Not necessarily. The author is speaking in the context of the present situation, highlighting the early church’s struggle with secessionists who denied Jesus as the Son of God, labelling them as antichrists. However, today, antichrists manifest in various forms, some boisterous in their approach while others subtly sowing doubt within small fellowship groups. It’s easy to label those outside your church, denomination, or religion as antichrists, but often, it is those closest to us who can hinder our walk with God. To discern whether a spirit or person is from God or Satan, one must exercise discernment and seek alignment with the Word of Life.
The newer test should be that anyone who helps us come closer to God is from God, while those causing a hindrance in our relationship with God are not sent by God but by the prince of the world. People who help build our faith in God, not in mankind, are from God. If they have the love of God, then they are from God; if the love is missing, then it is not from God. People who claim that God hates a particular group or that someone is irredeemable are not from God. Initially, everyone seems to have the love of God, but as we spend time with them, we learn that they have a superficial love. However, if we lean on the Spirit of God, he will give us discernment and will warn us to separate ourselves from those who mean to harm our relationship with God.
Praying for the Fallen
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. – 1 John 4:4 (NIV)
The Spirit within us is greater than the prince of this world, and it is through the Spirit of God that we can discern the truth. Whenever we have doubts, we must seek the guidance of the Spirit of God that has been bestowed upon us. It is puzzling why we are so easily convinced by those who speak according to worldly standards. Our familiarity with the world’s terms and conditions makes it easy for us to adopt them. We often value religion over God, relying on it for righteousness, and we desire to conform to the world’s viewpoints. Our aspirations for recognition, acknowledgement, and belonging drive us to fit into the world around us, even though Jesus clearly stated that if we love Him, the world will hate us. Despite this, we often compromise our walk with God to live according to worldly standards.
They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. – 1 John 4:5 (NIV)
Oneness in the Spirit is our most powerful means of discernment. It enables us to identify those who bring us closer to God and those who, either actively or passively, undermine our relationship with Him. However, to activate this discernment, we must maintain our connection with God. Let us work on mending our broken relationships with God and use His Spirit within us to navigate the pitfalls of this world, staying strong in our faith. Above all, let us ask God to grant us His Spirit of discernment
Praying for the Fallen
If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. – 1 John 5:16 (NIV)
During the time this letter was written, some people were denying the divinity and messianic role of Jesus, which is the foundational belief of our Faith. This form of sin, according to the author, is unforgivable because it fundamentally severs one’s relationship with God. Continuously turning away from God in our lives leads to a separation from Him and His genuine love. However, for other types of sins that do not lead to death, the author encourages continuous prayer for those who commit them.
It is crucial to offer prayers for these individuals instead of holding onto feelings of animosity towards them. Although initially, satan may influence us to betray God, once we are fully disconnected, he forsakes us to suffer alone. This is precisely what happened to Judas, who was strengthened by satan to betray Jesus but was later deserted to the point of committing suicide. Nevertheless, we have the capability to refuse sin and choose God due to the presence of the One who comes from God and keeps us under His protection—God’s Spirit. His divine presence in our lives enables us to uphold our faith and resist the forces that attempt to distance us from God.
Choose God Reject the World
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. – 1 John 5:19 (NIV)
Many people resist the notion that the whole world is under the control of the evil one because acknowledging this would imply that they are, in fact, praying to the evil one to fulfil their worldly desires. However, this is the reality. Jesus stated that one cannot serve both God and money, yet we often choose the latter.
We have been endowed with the Spirit of discernment. While Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating from the Tree of Knowledge, we have been granted something far greater: the wisdom to use our accumulated knowledge. The question is whether we will employ our Spirit of discernment to reject the things that separate us from God or reject His Spirit in favour of pursuing our own desires.
The Spirit in Action
The elder writes two letters to separate house churches, urging them to use their Spirit of discernment when making decisions. One letter is addressed to Gaius, and the other to an unnamed woman. Although the locations of these churches are unknown, it is evident that both communities faced similar challenges of not being able to love one another. In his letter to the lady of the church, the elder emphasizes walking in the love of God and warns about the numerous deceivers who have gone out into the world.
I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. – 2 John 1:7 (NIV)
The elder urges the lady to exercise her Spirit of discernment to identify and distance herself from those spreading false narratives within their group. He warns them not to lose their faith in Christ, as such apostasy is irredeemable. He advises them not to be swayed by prevailing new teachings and to exercise caution in making decisions, ensuring they remain in the love of God.
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work. – 2 John 1:10-11 (NIV)
How can we love everyone yet not welcome some people into our houses? We are called to love God and all His creations, but we must exercise discernment when dealing with those who lead us away from Him. To reconcile the command to love everyone with the need to avoid certain individuals, we must use our Spirit of discernment to separate ourselves from those who hinder our faith.
While we continue to love and pray for them, we must maintain a safe distance to preserve our faith and stay on God’s path. In treating someone who is not of sound mind and poses a physical threat, we keep a safe distance while continuing to offer love and support. Similarly, we should maintain this approach with individuals who, knowingly or unknowingly, seek to harm us spiritually.
To Gaius, the elder wrote a letter reminding him of the church’s commitment to show love to those who undertake God’s mission. Evidently, this was not happening, prompting the elder to remind his readers to send back the visitors “in a manner that honours God.” This call to love through actions and compassion underscores the importance of loving our fellow beings and those dedicating their lives to God’s work. If the congregation truly loved the travelling messengers, the elder would not have needed to address this in his letter.
The elder also mentions two church members, Diotrephes and Demetrius. Diotrephes, who shows no love but loves to be first, spreads false accusations and refuses to welcome others. He resembles the elder son in the parable of the prodigal son, rejecting new believers. In contrast, Demetrius exemplifies love for his brethren and walks on the path of God. The elder urges the congregation to exercise their Spirit of discernment to determine whom to trust and whom to be cautious of.
This issue persists today, as many people fail to use their Spirit of discernment, instead judging by worldly standards. We often reject those who are genuinely working for God in favour of boisterous individuals who claim to serve God but, in reality, further Satan’s agenda by misleading people and reducing the Bible to merely a rule book.
In today’s world, the need for discernment is as critical as ever. We often reject those who are genuinely working for God in favour of boisterous individuals who claim to serve Him but actually further satan’s agenda by misleading people and reducing the Bible to a mere rule book. Let us heed the elder’s advice, using the Spirit of discernment to navigate our spiritual journey. By doing so, we can identify those who bring us closer to God and distance ourselves from those who hinder our faith. Above all, let us continually seek God’s guidance, ensuring that our actions and decisions reflect His love and truth.
The Jordan Valley 
Reply