Try the Spirits
John, the beloved declares that there are spirits out there bent to destroy and work against the truth. He is not referring to the “spirit” as an “attitude” that too often comes out when we are angry or living in sin. It refers to the power behind the attitude and evil behavior. They are spirit beings aggressively at work behind the scene, causing all the wickedness present in this world today.
Many refuse to believe that they exist. Perhaps, they are afraid to accept that they exist because of fear. Christians must accept the realities of the spiritual darkness. We cannot live always in denial of their presence. This is what the enemies want us to believe. Remember we are not only to avoid them but to fight and defeat them. We cannot win against our enemies if we do not know who they are.
Man’s wrong decisions and bad behavior are not simply moral choices made by individuals, without the interference and influence from the outside. Let us not be naive to think that there is no need for God’s people to be aware and vigilant against the spirits.
When we think of sinful things, we are not only showing our sinful nature or human tendencies; we are in fact listening to them, and we are disregarding and disobeying God.
When we do not seek God’s direction and His blessing in our decisions and plans, we are not simply expressing our right to our own decision, it is a blunt disregard of God’s will, and we are agreeing with the spirit of darkness.
Every time we fail and neglect to do what God commands, we are declaring that God’s will is not important. There are many out there proud of overcoming sinful vices and the sins of the past, but they continue to refuse and fulfill the very reason why God has saved them. They are sinning against God.
The spiritual enemies are here among us; actively influencing the Children of God away from His will. They want to silence our voices to share the good news with the lost. Many say they believe in Jesus, but not the Jesus Christ revealed in God’s Word!
Our text speaks against those who do not believe in the deity of Christ, which is a powerful passage to share. However, it is more than just the denial of Jesus Christ as God. The enemies are aggressively promoting this doctrine to destroy the credibility of the Blessed Savior. If He is not God, then there is no reason for anyone to believe in everything that He taught in His Word. They are destroying the foundation that Jesus established when He was here among us. Our faith must continue to rest on Jesus Christ as God, the Son, and the enemies will be afraid of us.
Conclusion:
To “try every spirit” is not an encouragement for anyone to experience what the spirit can do. It is a warning for the believers to always test every spiritual influence that comes, with the truth of God’s Word. Try whether or not they agree with the Scriptures. Be careful not to depend on feelings and human persuasion. The basis of our faith is the Word of God, not somebody’s experience or personal opinion. The Bible also warns us to not believe even the angels who preach not the gospel of Christ.
Praise God for the assurance that the Holy Spirit is in us forever; who is greater than all the spirits out there. Because He is in us, we have the authority to test or put under scrutiny every spiritual teaching and spiritual manifestation we encounter daily. The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit gives us the confidence and the sure victory to challenge whatever is thrown at us.
This must be our initial and only approach to overcoming temptation before it becomes a full-blown sin. While it is still in the form of temptation through our mind, we need to immediately put it to a test to know if it is of God or not.
James 1:13-16 - “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
[14] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
[15] Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
[16] Do not err, my beloved brethren.”
When we “try the spirit” it will prevent us from sinning against God. Many spirits are out and active today and many are being deceived. While we are still here, let us continue to be an effective witness for soon, as the Bible says in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 - “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.” It means the all out wickedness will never happen, until the one who subdue and control is here. But when He is gone there will be a full blown and uncontrolled manifestation of evil. But God will defeat them all!