Romans 8:16 Says that "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." In our modern western worldview, we rarely think about spirits the way that the Bible does and teaches us to. Yet, as Christians, we must be able to discern the spirits so that we can effectively do the work of God. This passage in Romans talks of the change in spirit, or personality, identity, or attitude that comes about in the life of a born-again Christian. It says that our spirits speak, witness to the world that we belong to God as His children. Our spirits do this in two ways:
1. We have confidence instead of fear. When facing problems, we know that our Father is the Almighty Creator God, maker of heaven, earth, light, time, etc. We can call on God the way a child calls his dad for help.
2. As God's children, we must be holy. An apple does not fall far from the tree. Son's are called "a chip off the old block." Sons often look like the father. If not, they look something like the mother. But the child is the image of the parent. So, we as God's children must have holiness in our spirits. The evidence to the world that the Spirit is in us is compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience all clothed with love (Colossians 3:12-14). When we live like God's children our spirits testify to the world and the heavens that we are God's children.
When a person becomes born-again, it can be seen in their new spirit. A Christian, then, must be able to discern spirits that might war against this new spirit, to preserve and increase the work of God in the body of Christ.
To understand more about our duty as Christians to discern the spirits, we should look at 1 John 4:1-6. God's command, here, is to test the spirits. If He's commanded us to test the spirits, He's assuredly given us the ability to do it.
Do you think that there were only false prophets back at that time? Maybe we think there are still a few left in this world now, but that they're only in crazy cults and weird voodoo and witchcraft stuff. The truth is that there are false prophets throughout the world and even sometimes in the church. Do you think that there might be false prophets on your computer, or on your TV? There are false prophets telling us that we can become really happy if we have sex regularly with people to whom we have not made a verbal oath. There are false prophets that tell us that being drunk regularly will not get you into trouble in the end. There are false prophets in the church making us feel guilty for things for which we've been forgiven. We are to discern these spirits, keeping their lies from us and keeping them at bay until we have tested them. A Christian must let every spirit be brought under the name of Jesus Christ - if it worships His name, it is the Spirit of God, if it writhes and cowers and flees, it is not.
In verse 3b, we see that the spirit of the antichrist is already in the world. We need not fear the end times, for the cosmic battle for eternity is happening currently. In a foreign Muslim country, I had the opportunity to hear the testimony of a church leader whose life has been transformed by God. When she was at the most desperate moment of her life, she found a Christian church and figured she'd try it since she hadn't anything or anyone else to turn to. She went in and people were singing worship songs. She liked the music and joined in the singing but could not sing the words "Jesus is Lord." Weeks and months went by and she couldn't say these words until God provided a miracle for her and she began speaking these words. There is a spirit in the world who hates to see our spirits as children of God. He knows that a spirit always testifies, and a spirit of sonship brings glory to God the Father. The antichrist hates to see spirits that testify that they are children of God. It is the same way in certain parts of North America, where in casual conversations with people about religion if the names of Jesus Christ and God are mentioned, some will cringe and not hear it. Friends, don't let this stop you, you need to say the name of Jesus to witness, just be aware that the spirit of the antichrist is at work so that you will know how to pray and effectively share. The spirit of the antichrist has made God's name a curse amongst many. Because we know the enemy's schemes, we must glorify God's holy name.
Finally, in verse 4, the Scripture tells us "the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." We must know that when we go into battle against the spirits, that it is God's spirit who is in us. God created the universe, He raised Christ from the dead, He separated oceans and parted the seas for Israel. He can do more than we can ever imagine. His spirit is greater than the antichrist or any spirit who is in the world. We might go through times when we feel like we're wrong, because everyone else is following a path that's different from ours (verse 5), and they may even look happy for a time but we must stay true to the Spirit of God, and pledge allegiance only to Christ.
In verses 6, all John is saying is that the line of the apostleship came from God. God gave the world Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus gave the church the apostles. John and the other apostles walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, were taught by Jesus, were encouraged by Jesus, were rebuked by Jesus and now have given their lives for Jesus. Our faith has been given us through their sacrificed lives so it is to their inspired teachings the people of God choose to listen.
May you live as children of God, may your spirits testify to it, and may God grant you discernment of the spirits He is overcoming through you.
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