MEMORY VERSE


“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
– 1 John 4:1

The Bible warns about deceiving spirits, unclean spirits, lying spirits, familiar spirits, evil spirits, and tormenting spirits. People talk about being “spiritual”, but that doesn’t mean they are following the Holy Spirit. We need discernment to distinguish between the voice of the Holy Spirit and the voice of some other spirit.

The Bible warns us that in later times people will follow “deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” (1 Timothy 4:1) This is why we need to know how to test the spirits to see if they are of God.

Deceiving spirits are connected with doctrines of demons. A doctrine is a belief or a set of beliefs.

One way to test the spirits is to see if what they say lines up with sound Biblical doctrine. The Holy Spirit will never speak contrary to the Word of God because the Scriptures were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine…”
– 2 Timothy 3:16

The Scriptures are given for doctrine, which is why we must know what the Bible says. Knowing the Word of God will help us recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit.