What Does "Test the Spirits" Mean in the Bible and How Do We Do It?

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. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 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.
4 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. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

I.    My Life of Testing the Spirits

II.    1 John: Truth for Life: Review

III.    Our Society of Testing

A.    We need reliable test to find truth.

The LORD detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him (Proverbs 11:1).

B.    Test other religions, cults, and new religions, progressive Christianity by Scripture

C.    We must measure spiritual maturity by testing the spirits. Biblical standard for right judgment.

a.    False apostles

13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

b.    False teachers (Matthew 7:15-16)

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.

c.    False angels preaching false gospel (Galatians 1)

8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 

d.    False doctrines (of demons)

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons (1 Timothy 4:1).

IV.    We Must Test the Spirits 

A.    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 (4:1).

B.    Don’t be naïve or gullible—don’t be a sucker

C.    You must test, evaluate, assess, because of counterfeits; counterfeit money; hacking, scammers

D.    Many false prophets out in the world; not rare, but common
Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come (1 John 2:18).

V.    The Standard for the Truth Test (v. 2-3)

A.    2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 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 (4:2-3).

B.    Test by the standard of Jesus Christ, who he is, what he taught

1.    Either/or resulting in a pass/fail; no middle ground; no gray zone; no mist, haze, fog or bog. Not grading on a curve.
It is a categorical test; a universal test; and a necessary test.

2.    Test counterfeit money by knowing the real thing, the genuine—the genuine and authentic Jesus in the Bible

3.    Consider five statements in 1 John about Jesus

1.    He came as a flesh and blood man who was seen and touched (1 John 1:1-3)

2.    “Advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2).

3.    He appeared to destroy the devil’s work (1 John 3:8)

4.    Jesus’ work of love: “Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16).

5.    “He is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).

C.    This test is sufficient to identify spirit of error; there are other errors wrought by the spirit of error. Get this one wrong, everything else is wrong. Christological test.

D.    Two test cases

1.    Islam: denies Jesus is God incarnate; denies that he died to atone for our sins.

2.    New Age: denies Jesus is the one incarnation, says he was one of many gurus, masters, swamis, yogis, mystics. I wrote two books that addressed this, Revealing the New Age Jesus and Jesus in an Age of Controversy.

E.    Three tips on testing from a veteran

1.