WEBVTT 00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:02.640 If you brought a Bible with you this morning, we're in the book of First John. 00:00:03.180 --> 00:00:07.160 If you want to use a church Bible, just pulling out the seat in front of you, it's on page 186. 00:00:07.780 --> 00:00:12.520 We're in chapter four of First John this evening or this morning? 00:00:12.520 --> 00:00:12.680 Excuse me. 00:00:14.530 --> 00:00:16.940 It's a good day for a nap today, isn't it? 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:19.180 But I'm glad everyone came. 00:00:20.580 --> 00:00:21.020 Well, we've got to do. 00:00:21.020 --> 00:00:28.180 I noticed when church started this morning that we had the land of the misfits on this side, and we need to help this 00:00:28.180 --> 00:00:29.580 side out and balance it out. 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:33.440 All right, so invite someone to church next week because we are awesome, right? 00:00:34.980 --> 00:00:35.620 Oh that's nice. 00:00:35.620 --> 00:00:35.800 There you go. 00:00:37.180 --> 00:00:37.590 That was good. 00:00:37.940 --> 00:00:38.760 And for you too. 00:00:38.780 --> 00:00:39.360 Who said Amen? 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:41.260 We've got a prize for you waiting after the service. 00:00:43.710 --> 00:00:47.930 This morning I just want you to know that we are talking about some serious issues. 00:00:50.340 --> 00:00:51.400 an important issue. 00:00:51.420 --> 00:00:52.680 And I want to start with a question. 00:00:54.860 --> 00:00:59.780 That is, how much of us give thought in our lives to a spiritual world. 00:01:02.400 --> 00:01:09.520 Throughout your day, how much of your day is consumed with the idea that some of the activities in which this world partakes in, and I would say 00:01:09.520 --> 00:01:16.040 all of the activities that this world partakes in is influenced by a spiritual world. 00:01:18.040 --> 00:01:24.100 Our physical world is influenced through a spiritual world. 00:01:24.860 --> 00:01:30.660 When we study in Scripture, as we look into the spiritual world, is that not all spirits are good spirits. 00:01:33.020 --> 00:01:35.420 The Bible tells us that, in fact, some of them are bad spirits. 00:01:37.220 --> 00:01:44.260 So it's important for our lives to have a sense of ability to determine if what we're pursuing in our lives is, in fact, of a good 00:01:44.260 --> 00:01:49.000 spirit or godly spirit, or if it's of a false spirit or a lying spirit. 00:01:51.320 --> 00:01:52.510 We get to the book of First John. 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:58.220 We see that John's pursuit for this church is to follow after Jesus with everything that they are. 00:01:59.820 --> 00:02:06.460 He's talking to a new generation of Christians, and his desire is that they continue to look to Jesus for everything in their lives. 00:02:07.620 --> 00:02:14.180 Hopefully, as a church, the answer you get if you've been here long enough is that every right answer here at Alpine Bible Church is Jesus, right? 00:02:15.200 --> 00:02:17.300 Someone comes up and asks you, where's the bathroom located? 00:02:17.480 --> 00:02:18.420 Jesus, right. 00:02:19.020 --> 00:02:20.360 Who cares about if they make it? 00:02:20.380 --> 00:02:21.320 The answer is Jesus. 00:02:21.320 --> 00:02:22.340 It's always Jesus. 00:02:24.340 --> 00:02:29.300 And that's what John is saying in the book of First John, the point of life, the purpose of life. 00:02:29.420 --> 00:02:30.640 It's founded in relationships. 00:02:30.880 --> 00:02:32.840 And that ultimate relationship starts with God. 00:02:33.220 --> 00:02:38.190 God coming in the flesh in the form of Jesus, to die for your sins, that you may trust in him and find life. 00:02:39.240 --> 00:02:41.580 God created you for a relationship with him. 00:02:41.580 --> 00:02:44.130 And so the answer to life is Jesus. 00:02:45.600 --> 00:02:50.160 And what John was noticing in the church is that people were coming in beginning to say that they were following after Jesus. 00:02:50.520 --> 00:02:57.740 And the teachings that were presenting were teachings of Jesus and the lifestyle they were leading weren't indications that they knew Jesus. 00:02:57.760 --> 00:03:03.080 And so he was growing concerned with the church, that these people were having influence on their spiritual life. 00:03:03.080 --> 00:03:08.560 And so he began in John chapter four and verse one he said, beloved, talking to the church, you're loved. 00:03:09.920 --> 00:03:16.420 Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. 00:03:18.260 --> 00:03:22.940 And since what John is saying is just because someone says that they know Jesus doesn't make it the right Jesus. 00:03:24.860 --> 00:03:31.300 And just because someone says that they love Jesus doesn't mean they love Jesus by evidence of their life. 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:38.420 And so John's desire for the church is to begin to test these spirits, because not every spirit is a good spirit. 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:41.120 What is a spirit? 00:03:42.640 --> 00:03:49.920 In the beginning, the Bible tells us in Genesis one, Isaiah 44, Colossians one that God created everything, and 00:03:49.920 --> 00:03:54.320 in creating everything, he made both the physical world and the spiritual world and the spiritual world. 00:03:54.320 --> 00:03:55.860 He also created angels. 00:03:57.300 --> 00:03:59.460 The angels were originally created to worship God. 00:03:59.460 --> 00:04:01.280 It tells us in Isaiah chapter six. 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:04.080 But it also was created to serve the needs of man. 00:04:04.100 --> 00:04:08.820 It tells you in Hebrews chapter one and verse 14, the word angel literally means messenger. 00:04:10.020 --> 00:04:11.060 And glory to God. 00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:14.420 They serve him and in responsibility to us as people. 00:04:14.420 --> 00:04:15.360 They help us in our needs. 00:04:17.779 --> 00:04:25.120 It tells us in the Bible that in revelation chapter 12 that Satan rebelled against God, and that one third of the angels fell with Satan 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:25.760 as well. 00:04:25.760 --> 00:04:30.440 And so when we talk about the spiritual world, we recognize that not all angels are good angels. 00:04:31.820 --> 00:04:37.980 The fall of Satan is due to pride and is recorded for us in Ezekiel chapter 28 and Isaiah chapter 14. 00:04:39.580 --> 00:04:45.900 And today, when you read, especially in the New Testament, Satan takes on particular names that defines his desire for this world. 00:04:47.380 --> 00:04:48.820 It says that Satan is a liar. 00:04:48.900 --> 00:04:49.960 He's the prince of the air. 00:04:49.960 --> 00:04:50.650 He is the destroyer. 00:04:51.320 --> 00:04:55.340 He's trapping people and binding people away from God. 00:04:58.460 --> 00:05:05.920 John wants us to recognize in this passage of Scripture that we are to test the spirits of God, because false prophets are 00:05:06.020 --> 00:05:07.440 influenced through them. 00:05:09.860 --> 00:05:11.930 Not every spirit is a good spirit. 00:05:13.520 --> 00:05:16.340 In fact, some spirits are just downright demonic. 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:26.260 John is recognizing for us that just because someone calls themselves spiritual, or just because someone claims to have a faith could 00:05:26.260 --> 00:05:33.600 alarm us in our minds to recognize that the source in which they're tapping into for spiritual influence may not be a 00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:34.580 good thing to tap into. 00:05:36.780 --> 00:05:40.050 These false prophets are influenced by these spirits. 00:05:42.100 --> 00:05:44.140 Second Corinthians, chapter 11. 00:05:44.140 --> 00:05:51.300 We looked at this a few weeks ago, but it says to us, for such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising, 00:05:51.560 --> 00:05:53.480 disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 00:05:54.660 --> 00:05:58.220 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 00:05:59.580 --> 00:06:04.880 Recognizing that when Satan influences in this world, it's to do it under the appearance of good. 00:06:06.360 --> 00:06:14.860 He says in verse 15, therefore does not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, to 00:06:14.860 --> 00:06:18.400 take what God has taught us as truth, and to get us to believe a lie. 00:06:18.400 --> 00:06:23.420 It's not to just change all of the belief, it's just to simply to twist it or begin to pervert it. 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:30.700 And when those who are following these false spirits present themselves to us, it says they present themselves as good people whose end will 00:06:30.700 --> 00:06:31.900 be according to their deeds. 00:06:33.960 --> 00:06:35.940 In First Timothy chapter four and verse one. 00:06:35.940 --> 00:06:42.100 But the spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits. 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:43.000 And look at that. 00:06:43.700 --> 00:06:45.440 Doctrines of demons. 00:06:47.780 --> 00:06:54.100 The Bible makes no apology for recognizing to us that if we tap into the wrong aspect of the spiritual world, what we're really connecting to. 00:06:56.200 --> 00:07:01.590 Bible even tells us in Ephesians chapter six that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. 00:07:01.640 --> 00:07:03.500 Those are acknowledgement of the spiritual world. 00:07:03.500 --> 00:07:09.720 We live in, a physical world that's being influenced by a spiritual world, and we wrestle with that. 00:07:11.080 --> 00:07:18.460 Whenever someone sins in life and it tears us apart or it angers us on the inside, it's an opportunity for us to pause and recognize that sin 00:07:18.460 --> 00:07:24.090 has been influenced through a spiritual world in which we are making war against as God's church. 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:33.300 John's call for us in first John four one is to recognize that these spirits that are influencing these false prophets aren't worthy 00:07:33.880 --> 00:07:34.420 of our attention. 00:07:36.980 --> 00:07:39.840 You think about the idea of Satan and his power in the world. 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:43.460 The Bible gives us really three main ministries in which he chooses to conduct. 00:07:44.420 --> 00:07:45.660 I was thinking about this week. 00:07:47.220 --> 00:07:48.980 Angels are powerful beings. 00:07:50.300 --> 00:07:51.760 One third of the angels fell. 00:07:52.680 --> 00:07:58.000 The Bible tells us that Satan was elevated as the most beautiful of all of God's angels, that he created when he fell. 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:00.520 I wonder how powerful second place is. 00:08:02.400 --> 00:08:03.100 Or third place. 00:08:04.040 --> 00:08:04.400 Or fourth place. 00:08:06.760 --> 00:08:12.520 Ultimately, Satan is seen as the ruler of the controller of the negative or demonic spirits in this world, the sinful spirits. 00:08:14.740 --> 00:08:22.140 If you think about a lot of times there's a focus upon Satan and his influence in the world, but he's also head 00:08:22.140 --> 00:08:27.060 over other angels that are just as angry, just as sinful, and just as bad. 00:08:29.880 --> 00:08:32.760 What is Satan desiring to do among the body of believers? 00:08:32.900 --> 00:08:39.679 It tells us in first Corinthians seven five that he is the tempter says, come together again so that Satan will not tempt you. 00:08:41.320 --> 00:08:45.540 Satan knows better than anyone what your weaknesses are because he's seen you sin. 00:08:47.340 --> 00:08:54.380 And so when he wants you to fall before God and your relationship with him, and to walk from the light, that is in pursuing a relationship with God and into 00:08:54.380 --> 00:08:56.190 the darkness, he tempts you in your weaknesses. 00:08:58.460 --> 00:08:59.620 Second, he's the accuser. 00:09:00.640 --> 00:09:03.900 In revelation 1210, for the accuser of the brethren has been thrown down. 00:09:04.560 --> 00:09:07.500 He accuses them before our God day and night. 00:09:09.820 --> 00:09:17.560 You ever hear in your head those words of discouragement, words of worthlessness, words that give you a 00:09:17.700 --> 00:09:22.160 poor self esteem, Words that acknowledge self-pity in your life. 00:09:22.160 --> 00:09:22.260 Will. 00:09:22.760 --> 00:09:23.640 Satan is the great accuser. 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:30.640 Satan's desire, if he can't get you to fall into sin, is just to cripple you with accusations. 00:09:32.880 --> 00:09:40.170 Maybe he can throw up your past and your face to get you to stop focusing on your present and walking with the Lord, knowing that you've been forgiven. 00:09:41.540 --> 00:09:48.560 Maybe he can worry you so much about accusing you for future circumstance that he forgets that 00:09:48.560 --> 00:09:48.880 he allows you to forget to focus on the now. 00:09:50.940 --> 00:09:55.480 Satan doesn't just have to cause you to sin, to render you useless for God's kingdom. 00:09:57.280 --> 00:10:01.880 Satan can also accuse you, making you feel worthless for God's kingdom. 00:10:03.300 --> 00:10:04.970 The third thing that Satan does is he lies. 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:12.160 And we're going to focus more on that aspect of Satan today because we're dealing more with doctrinal truth in which God desires for us to understand in 00:10:12.160 --> 00:10:12.400 him. 00:10:12.440 --> 00:10:19.700 But it says in John 844, whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of 00:10:19.700 --> 00:10:20.020 lies. 00:10:22.340 --> 00:10:29.360 What Satan desires to do more than anything is to get the church, especially to believe lies about God, because 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:31.780 what we believe determines how we live. 00:10:33.320 --> 00:10:40.540 And he's recognizing for us that when Satan is influencing someone in the life of an individual that we need to grow 00:10:40.540 --> 00:10:46.600 concerned with what's taking place, because Satan influences these false prophets. 00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:50.420 And as these false teachers proclaim the name of Christ, it begins to influence our lives. 00:10:51.740 --> 00:10:55.220 False prophets influence through action and both teaching. 00:10:55.220 --> 00:10:59.600 It tells us in first John and so he says that we are to. 00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:07.060 Excuse me, test the spirits, and we go back to that, whether they have God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 00:11:09.040 --> 00:11:12.100 The word testing here means to judge. 00:11:13.160 --> 00:11:15.640 And I am talking about judging other beliefs. 00:11:16.920 --> 00:11:19.040 And some of you may say, well, that's wrong to judge other beliefs. 00:11:19.040 --> 00:11:20.940 And I say, that's okay because you're judging me. 00:11:20.940 --> 00:11:21.810 And now we're in the same boat. 00:11:21.880 --> 00:11:23.110 So let's move forward, right? 00:11:25.080 --> 00:11:29.500 The Bible tells you to use your ability to discern whether or not something is true. 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:37.220 Judge, because the object of your faith is as important as the sincerity of your faith. 00:11:37.580 --> 00:11:38.520 Amen. 00:11:38.960 --> 00:11:39.580 You understand that. 00:11:41.280 --> 00:11:48.400 Romans chapter ten and verse one Paul says, my heart's desire and prayer for Israel is that they might be saved, because though they have 00:11:48.400 --> 00:11:50.800 a zeal for God, it's not according to knowledge. 00:11:52.660 --> 00:11:57.960 And Paul's recognizing, though they have a heart of sincerity and what it is they believe, it's not according to truth. 00:11:58.200 --> 00:12:03.060 And the object of what you have faith is as important as the sincerity of your faith. 00:12:03.140 --> 00:12:04.540 And we can't emphasize that enough. 00:12:06.660 --> 00:12:08.440 We heard a lot today in America. 00:12:09.520 --> 00:12:11.360 As long as you believe in something good, right? 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:14.540 And what John is saying. 00:12:14.600 --> 00:12:15.400 No, that's not good. 00:12:15.400 --> 00:12:17.060 Call yourself spiritual is not good. 00:12:17.100 --> 00:12:18.830 You could be tapping into the wrong spirit. 00:12:18.920 --> 00:12:20.880 One third of every spirit is a demon. 00:12:23.080 --> 00:12:28.660 So how do we recognize when we're being presented with a false truth that in fact isn't a truth at all. 00:12:28.860 --> 00:12:29.360 It's a lie. 00:12:31.420 --> 00:12:40.440 I got to say this morning as we're talking about false prophets and false teaching and false beliefs, throughout 00:12:40.440 --> 00:12:47.540 my whole life, I've seen people be burned by such things when they realize 00:12:47.540 --> 00:12:54.560 that they've been lied to and they realize a belief that they've held on to may not be 00:12:54.560 --> 00:12:55.060 true. 00:12:57.300 --> 00:13:05.480 And can I encourage you this morning that if your heart feels weak to look for truth, God 00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:06.420 calls you an overcomer? 00:13:06.640 --> 00:13:07.650 We're going to see in just a moment. 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:16.140 But Satan is also rendering you unable to serve the Lord through an ambition and a desire not to want to grow, 00:13:16.180 --> 00:13:16.520 to know him. 00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:23.000 Just because you've been burned in the past is no reason to not look to your future. 00:13:25.700 --> 00:13:31.840 What Satan doesn't want you to do is to know that you have a great and glorious future in God. 00:13:32.380 --> 00:13:35.170 And we don't acknowledge the present and the future that we have with Jesus. 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:38.470 And we forget the past that's put us in bondage. 00:13:39.280 --> 00:13:42.960 We render ourselves useless and growing and joy in that relationship with the Lord. 00:13:45.820 --> 00:13:47.560 Do not believe every spirit. 00:13:49.100 --> 00:13:52.600 Saying we're spiritual isn't necessarily a good thing. 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:55.400 All of us are spiritual because all of us have a spirit. 00:13:55.540 --> 00:14:00.140 And so the question to ask is, how in the world do we test the spirits? 00:14:02.160 --> 00:14:09.300 How do we know that when a spirit presents a truth to us, or a false prophet, or a teacher comes claiming to know God, teaching us something, how 00:14:09.300 --> 00:14:12.260 do we know whether or not it's true or it's a lie? 00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:17.280 Can I tell you one of the worst things to pursue in your life? 00:14:17.300 --> 00:14:21.500 Though they can be good things, one of the worst things to acknowledge truth is through your own feelings. 00:14:23.420 --> 00:14:27.720 Feelings are not a good indicator of whether or not you're following or pursuing truth. 00:14:27.760 --> 00:14:28.160 Here's why. 00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:34.660 Because if a positive feeling affirmed whether or not something was true, that would make every belief in the world true. 00:14:35.340 --> 00:14:38.470 Because every belief in the world has someone who feels good about the belief that they're following. 00:14:39.320 --> 00:14:39.640 You know what I'm saying? 00:14:41.680 --> 00:14:48.320 So if we're basing it on feelings, and everything in the world would have to be right, because every religion in the world has someone who loves that religion. 00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:56.420 In addition, what about the negative aspect of feeling? 00:14:58.420 --> 00:15:01.060 For instance, someone may wake up and feel ugly. 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:02.780 That doesn't necessarily mean they're ugly. 00:15:02.920 --> 00:15:08.180 Maybe right when you woke up, but other than that, it doesn't necessarily mean that you're ugly, right? 00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:14.780 Someone may feel unloved, but be in one of the most loving families that God has created. 00:15:16.780 --> 00:15:21.800 A child may feel stupid at school for giving a wrong answer, but are incredibly intelligent. 00:15:23.240 --> 00:15:28.060 A drug addict may feel good in taking drugs, but recognize that it's wrong. 00:15:28.060 --> 00:15:31.660 And if we base our decisions on feelings, it will lead us to the wrong path. 00:15:31.940 --> 00:15:35.900 And in fact, the Bible gives all sorts of ideas and definitions of it. 00:15:35.900 --> 00:15:42.980 It says in Proverbs 1412, there is a way which seems right to a man good feelings, but in the end that way leads to 00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:43.280 death. 00:15:44.620 --> 00:15:51.450 Proverbs 28 and verse 26, he that trusteth his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely, he shall be delivered. 00:15:52.700 --> 00:15:55.180 Trusting your own heart and feelings leads us to the wrong path. 00:15:55.180 --> 00:15:58.520 And Jeremiah 17 nine the heart is deceitful and wicked. 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:02.960 You think about in your life when you make big decisions. 00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:06.280 Do you base those on feelings? 00:16:07.520 --> 00:16:12.480 When you want to buy a new car, do you just go to the first parking lot, walk out and say which one makes me feel the best? 00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:13.360 I'll take that one. 00:16:14.280 --> 00:16:15.840 Sticker price I will pay, right? 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:17.420 That's not how it goes. 00:16:17.460 --> 00:16:19.700 When you buy a car, you do research. 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:21.740 You find the cheapest price, right? 00:16:21.820 --> 00:16:22.000 You act. 00:16:22.520 --> 00:16:22.840 Yeah. 00:16:22.880 --> 00:16:23.180 You buy. 00:16:23.260 --> 00:16:24.780 You buy the best car you can find. 00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:30.920 You do investigation into it before you make such a large purchase, before you invest into something like that. 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:32.450 You don't base it on feeling though. 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:34.600 You do want a car that makes you feel good driving down the road, right? 00:16:35.100 --> 00:16:37.760 But in the beginning, what starts at his investigation? 00:16:39.400 --> 00:16:40.700 You look into it. 00:16:41.560 --> 00:16:46.420 When you pick a job, you don't just randomly choose any job you want. 00:16:46.420 --> 00:16:47.780 You ask questions. 00:16:47.880 --> 00:16:48.460 What are the benefits? 00:16:48.800 --> 00:16:48.900 What? 00:16:49.140 --> 00:16:49.810 What's it going to pay? 00:16:49.880 --> 00:16:52.620 What hours are you going to have to work you investigate into that? 00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:54.520 It's not just based upon feeling. 00:16:54.520 --> 00:16:59.700 When you purchase a stock, you don't just run your finger down the newspaper and say, this one makes me feel good. 00:16:59.960 --> 00:17:01.140 You look into the stock. 00:17:01.140 --> 00:17:02.180 Is this stock viable? 00:17:02.180 --> 00:17:02.960 Is it's going to bring me health. 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:07.880 So why when it comes to religion, would we would we base the decision on feelings? 00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:11.099 Our heart is deceitful. 00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:15.619 There's a way that seems right, but in the end leads to destruction. 00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:21.780 Even Satan himself disguises himself as an angel of light. 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:27.940 So what do we use to test whether or not something is true? 00:17:30.520 --> 00:17:32.390 I'm not going to give you voodoo dolls today, so don't worry. 00:17:34.410 --> 00:17:38.020 But how do we know if a spirit is true? 00:17:40.040 --> 00:17:42.460 How do we know if a spirit is of God? 00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:48.680 Jesus identified forms of truth for us throughout Scripture. 00:17:50.660 --> 00:17:54.050 One point in John 14 six he said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:17:55.940 --> 00:18:03.100 Acts chapter 17 and verse 11, talking about the Bereans, it says, now these were more noble minded than those in 00:18:03.100 --> 00:18:10.180 Thessalonica, for they received the word, which is the Bible, with great eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see whether these 00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:11.240 things were so. 00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:17.800 Meaning they were going to church, they were being taught a truth, and they were going home, and they were asking the questions themselves. 00:18:19.260 --> 00:18:23.040 Is this really what the Bible says in John 424? 00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:27.460 It says, God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 00:18:27.600 --> 00:18:30.080 To worship God, to connect to the right Spirit of God. 00:18:30.340 --> 00:18:31.780 It comes through truth. 00:18:34.300 --> 00:18:35.860 How do you know if you're connected to that spirit? 00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:37.460 How do you know if that spirit is the right spirit? 00:18:37.560 --> 00:18:38.860 It's based upon truth. 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:41.500 Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:18:41.560 --> 00:18:45.200 And he says in John 1717, sanctify them in truth. 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:46.400 Thy word is truth. 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:47.540 Your word is truth. 00:18:47.540 --> 00:18:48.660 Talking about the Bible. 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:51.620 Jesus identified two ways. 00:18:52.600 --> 00:18:56.120 If it's not elevating Christ in your life, it's not found in Scripture. 00:18:56.120 --> 00:18:56.980 It's not of truth. 00:18:56.980 --> 00:18:58.180 It's the source of truth. 00:18:58.180 --> 00:19:00.600 If you can't find it, then don't believe it. 00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:07.810 There's a good way to test truth, and there is a bad way to test truth. 00:19:10.060 --> 00:19:10.700 Go to the Bible. 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:20.000 And so the concern for us this morning, and maybe the challenge for John is in our lives, if we can't even remember the last time we 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:23.930 read the Bible, we need to grow worried by that. 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:33.350 If we are carrying a belief in our lives that we can't explain or find in Scripture, be concerned about it. 00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:37.860 Test the spirits, whether they are of God. 00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:38.680 And here's what I'm going to do this morning. 00:19:38.840 --> 00:19:39.580 I'm going to give you a test. 00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:40.720 It's the first test ever. 00:19:40.820 --> 00:19:41.400 Alpine Bible Church. 00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:43.170 Everyone pull out your pens and paper. 00:19:43.580 --> 00:19:44.320 I'm just I'm just kidding. 00:19:45.040 --> 00:19:45.480 Don't do that. 00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.570 But let me just show you this. 00:19:47.260 --> 00:19:49.500 Christianity, what it's established upon is the word of God. 00:19:49.540 --> 00:19:52.140 And if it doesn't say it in the Word of God, then we don't believe it. 00:19:53.280 --> 00:19:56.900 Well, we should be asking ourselves as every day, what do I believe? 00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:58.200 Why do I believe it? 00:19:58.760 --> 00:19:59.700 And where is that in the Bible? 00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:02.450 What do I believe? 00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:04.380 Why do I believe it? 00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:05.520 And where is that? 00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:11.460 In the Bible, someone comes to you and teaches you a truth or makes a statement about God. 00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:13.160 Always follow that there statement with this question. 00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:14.570 Where is that in the Bible? 00:20:17.620 --> 00:20:20.090 Show me where that is in the Bible and you show me where that is in the Bible. 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:20.780 Then I'll believe it. 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:24.680 Christianity is based upon the Bible. 00:20:24.700 --> 00:20:25.760 Here comes your test this morning. 00:20:26.620 --> 00:20:28.720 Isaiah 43 and verse ten, right. 00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:36.480 You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:36.720 he. 00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:41.770 Before me there was no God formed, and there will be none after me. 00:20:42.280 --> 00:20:43.080 Did you get that last phrase? 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:45.480 How many gods existed before God? 00:20:46.380 --> 00:20:46.600 None. 00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:47.960 How many gods are going to exist after God? 00:20:48.580 --> 00:20:49.620 How many gods does that give us? 00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:50.540 One man. 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:51.860 I didn't even say anything. 00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:52.600 You guys are brilliant. 00:20:54.020 --> 00:20:54.370 Look at this. 00:20:54.780 --> 00:20:56.040 Isaiah 44 and six eight. 00:20:56.040 --> 00:20:57.140 I am the first and I am the last. 00:20:57.220 --> 00:20:58.490 And there is no God besides me. 00:20:58.940 --> 00:21:02.620 Is there any God besides me, or is there any other rock I know of? 00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:02.960 None. 00:21:03.300 --> 00:21:03.730 How many gods? 00:21:04.140 --> 00:21:04.980 One man. 00:21:05.840 --> 00:21:12.900 Isaiah 4424 thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, I am the Lord, and the maker of all things, stretching out the heavens 00:21:12.900 --> 00:21:17.200 by myself self, and spreading out the earth all alone. 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:17.900 Who created everything? 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:18.760 God. 00:21:18.900 --> 00:21:19.180 Man. 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:19.960 You guys. 00:21:20.320 --> 00:21:21.620 Colossians 115. 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:27.800 He is the image of the invisible God who we talking about there firstborn of all creation. 00:21:28.340 --> 00:21:35.420 For by him all things were created both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or authorities or rulers, all things have 00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:37.340 been made, created through him and for him. 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:39.210 Min ago you said who? 00:21:39.620 --> 00:21:40.290 Who created everything. 00:21:41.820 --> 00:21:42.980 Okay, who's this saying? 00:21:43.020 --> 00:21:43.440 Created everything? 00:21:44.030 --> 00:21:44.280 Man. 00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:44.980 All right. 00:21:46.060 --> 00:21:49.160 Colossians two nine for in him all the fullness of deity dwells in bodily form. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:50.500 Who's that talking about? 00:21:51.660 --> 00:21:51.840 Okay. 00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:52.320 And what is it saying? 00:21:52.360 --> 00:21:52.860 Jesus is God. 00:21:55.360 --> 00:21:56.420 In the beginning was the word. 00:21:56.440 --> 00:21:58.080 The word was with God, and the word was God. 00:21:58.460 --> 00:22:01.000 And the word became flesh and dwelt among us. 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:06.090 And we saw his glory, the glory as of the only begotten from the father, full of grace and truth. 00:22:07.360 --> 00:22:08.160 Who is this talking about? 00:22:09.300 --> 00:22:09.820 Who is Jesus? 00:22:10.380 --> 00:22:11.640 What did Jesus become? 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:12.440 Flesh. 00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:13.100 Flesh? 00:22:14.380 --> 00:22:21.600 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so, the Son of Man will be lifted up so that whoever believes in 00:22:21.600 --> 00:22:23.080 him have eternal life. 00:22:23.880 --> 00:22:24.440 Who is this talking about? 00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:25.920 Jesus. 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:27.180 What's Jesus going to do? 00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:29.450 Die on the cross. 00:22:29.600 --> 00:22:30.060 Be lifted up. 00:22:31.040 --> 00:22:31.610 And what does it say? 00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:32.640 Whoever believes will have what? 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:34.200 Eternal life. 00:22:35.040 --> 00:22:35.440 Believe in. 00:22:35.460 --> 00:22:37.800 In the Greek text means to trust in. 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:40.420 Meaning everything in this world you can trust in. 00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:42.460 All the religions will tell you there's a way to get to God. 00:22:42.520 --> 00:22:45.910 But when it comes to Christianity, it tells us there's only one way and that is trusting in Jesus. 00:22:48.620 --> 00:22:51.780 You guys are like, spot on with doctrinal Christianity. 00:22:52.140 --> 00:22:55.180 If you walked in today not knowing what you believe, there you go. 00:22:55.180 --> 00:22:56.540 These verses are in your notes, by the way. 00:22:57.460 --> 00:23:02.740 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. 00:23:04.040 --> 00:23:05.540 For those who believe in Jesus, receive what? 00:23:06.580 --> 00:23:07.780 Eternal life. 00:23:07.780 --> 00:23:09.440 That's right. 00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:12.520 And this is the testimony that God has given to us in this life is in His Son. 00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:14.170 He who has the son has life. 00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:16.360 He who does not have the son does not have life. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:17.520 If you have Jesus, what do you have? 00:23:17.940 --> 00:23:22.360 If you refuse to trust in Jesus death, okay. 00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:26.320 But as many as received him to them gave he the right to become the children of God. 00:23:27.520 --> 00:23:28.920 So those who receive him become what? 00:23:29.540 --> 00:23:30.720 Children of God. 00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:32.480 Children of God. 00:23:32.600 --> 00:23:35.280 It's an indication that your inheritance is God's kingdom. 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:39.320 Implying that if you don't trust in Jesus. 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:40.340 What? 00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:44.820 You're not a child of God. 00:23:45.880 --> 00:23:47.740 Jesus said this I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:23:47.840 --> 00:23:49.560 No one comes to the father but through me. 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:51.180 How many ways are there to the father? 00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:51.940 One. 00:23:54.080 --> 00:23:55.460 Ephesians two eight, nine and ten. 00:23:56.800 --> 00:23:59.590 If you're asking yourself, well, is there any other way, just in case. 00:24:01.100 --> 00:24:02.410 For by grace you have been saved. 00:24:02.860 --> 00:24:07.820 Through faith you get that grace is totally free, and you're saved by that by placing your faith in Jesus. 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:10.320 And it's not of yourselves meaning you don't do anything. 00:24:10.800 --> 00:24:11.960 It's the gift of God. 00:24:12.060 --> 00:24:13.700 God gives it to you not as a result of works. 00:24:13.760 --> 00:24:16.600 You don't work yourself to it so that no 1st May boast. 00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:20.160 Because if you earn your way to God, you get to boast in yourself. 00:24:21.520 --> 00:24:28.360 It says, for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:33.420 And so what he's saying in verse eight and nine is that Jesus saves you by your trust in him. 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:40.520 And that's not the end that God has called you to make war on the spiritual forces of darkness that are making war on this 00:24:40.520 --> 00:24:40.880 world. 00:24:42.020 --> 00:24:43.020 God's got a plan for your life. 00:24:43.120 --> 00:24:44.340 It's just not about get out of hell. 00:24:44.340 --> 00:24:45.580 It's not about just saving you. 00:24:45.580 --> 00:24:48.080 It's about enjoying and living in that relationship through him. 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:50.000 God created you for that purpose. 00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:58.280 If you only look at us at Jesus as a get out of hell free card, then you're missing the whole point of your creation because it said you're created in Christ Jesus 00:24:58.280 --> 00:24:59.060 for good works. 00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:02.040 Ever watch a guy? 00:25:02.080 --> 00:25:02.940 Especially in this economy? 00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:04.780 We had a lot of people lose their jobs. 00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:11.730 And you notice in a man, he gets his identity a lot in work, and when he's not working, he'll get depressed. 00:25:13.600 --> 00:25:17.770 I think the reason why is because God created you for good works. 00:25:18.560 --> 00:25:24.540 And when your spirit isn't living the way for which God has created that spirit to thrive in knowing him, and then in living in him. 00:25:25.040 --> 00:25:29.700 You get depressed by grace that you're saved through faith. 00:25:29.800 --> 00:25:31.420 And that's the end of your test this morning. 00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:32.340 Congratulate yourself. 00:25:32.360 --> 00:25:32.860 You've done amazing. 00:25:33.320 --> 00:25:34.380 You're ready to go, everybody. 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:37.660 All right, so how do you test the spirit? 00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:41.150 What do I believe? 00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:42.560 Why do I believe it? 00:25:43.420 --> 00:25:44.280 And where is that in the Bible? 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:50.460 John's desire for us is to hold truth to Christ. 00:25:52.680 --> 00:25:59.600 It says in verse two, by this you know the Spirit of God, every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has not come in the flesh is from God. 00:26:00.380 --> 00:26:02.000 Excuse me, that has come in the flesh is from God. 00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:05.960 And every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. 00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:13.500 This is the spirit of the Antichrist of which you have heard that is coming, and now it is already in the world. 00:26:15.320 --> 00:26:21.880 Meaning John is John is warring against people who are coming into the church and not teaching properly about Jesus and who Jesus is. 00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:27.500 And he's saying if they're not acknowledging Jesus in the right way, it's demonic. 00:26:29.400 --> 00:26:34.340 Anything in this world that doesn't put Jesus in its proper place is influenced through demonic spirits. 00:26:38.020 --> 00:26:45.040 Put Jesus first in your belief and ultimately the way that you know what you believe is because it becomes a life 00:26:45.040 --> 00:26:45.850 of obedience. 00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:49.720 What you truly believe, you obey. 00:26:51.800 --> 00:26:58.300 It takes a moment to step back and look at what our life is stating about us, how we're living and what we're doing. 00:26:58.300 --> 00:27:00.460 Because what we truly believe, we obey. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:02.980 And I've heard people ask the question, we talk about spirits. 00:27:03.020 --> 00:27:06.240 We talk about the influence of spirits on us in this world. 00:27:06.820 --> 00:27:08.640 What has happened to God's church throughout the years? 00:27:10.060 --> 00:27:11.280 Has it become corrupt? 00:27:12.660 --> 00:27:13.920 Has truth been lost? 00:27:14.020 --> 00:27:16.000 Has there been an apostasy made? 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:16.180 Let me. 00:27:16.380 --> 00:27:17.380 This is in your notes. 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:18.980 It's under point number two at the very end. 00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:20.000 But let me just read this to you. 00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:25.500 You'll find in the Bible that it warns Christians that false teachers will come. 00:27:26.600 --> 00:27:27.940 False Christs will come. 00:27:28.040 --> 00:27:31.900 False spirits will come, false apostles will come, false Gospels will come. 00:27:32.740 --> 00:27:38.340 And the point of the warning is to prepare Christians to contend for the faith and to not be deceived. 00:27:40.800 --> 00:27:45.980 The there will be a form of an apostasy, but the Bible tells us never in a total apostasy. 00:27:47.820 --> 00:27:55.220 They're always going to be people who take the truth of Jesus and twist it, but he'll never completely 00:27:55.260 --> 00:27:57.890 rule and reign over God's God's church. 00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:03.180 The Bible promises that a total apostasy will never exist. 00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:08.220 It says in Matthew 1618, the gates of hell will not prevail against God's church. 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:16.240 It says in Matthew 2820 that God is always with his church, Meaning, in order to always be with his church, the church has to always be present. 00:28:18.180 --> 00:28:20.680 The church will always bring glory to God. 00:28:21.860 --> 00:28:26.300 If the church ceased to exist, that would have been impossible and that the church will not be tossed away. 00:28:26.300 --> 00:28:30.420 It tells us in Ephesians four it will not be tossed around by false doctrine. 00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:36.180 This simply means that if a total apostasy ever existed within the church and the Bible lied. 00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:47.000 The point is that John desires for us to recognize as people that we take the spiritual world and the influences it places upon us 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:47.880 seriously. 00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:57.800 To acknowledge that when someone comes to us and they present a truth, that claiming it to be a truth, and it turns out to be 00:28:57.800 --> 00:28:59.540 a lie, that we need to be discerning as people. 00:29:02.100 --> 00:29:06.790 You know, we're not only influenced by teaching, we're also influenced by conduct. 00:29:08.800 --> 00:29:15.860 If you're surrounding yourselves in your life with the type of people that are influencing you to take away from Jesus in your world, there needs to be a 00:29:15.860 --> 00:29:16.160 concern. 00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:25.300 When we get to this point, when we think, we could think on a serious level, oh my gosh, everything around me is so demonic. 00:29:25.560 --> 00:29:26.410 You don't have to go up to somebody. 00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:28.490 They teach you a false teaching and then you just say demonic. 00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:30.390 You know, that's not what I'm saying this morning. 00:29:30.800 --> 00:29:31.580 Demon. 00:29:31.580 --> 00:29:33.040 You know, exercise and heal. 00:29:33.040 --> 00:29:33.840 We don't we're not going to do that. 00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:34.120 Okay? 00:29:34.600 --> 00:29:35.270 That's not what I'm saying. 00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:41.700 What I'm saying is that we become sensitive to understanding what our calling is in this world. 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:43.960 And the Bible says this. 00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:50.100 Rather than walk around, I don't want you to walk around scared, like laying in bed at night, throwing the covers over your head, thinking there could be demons in your room. 00:29:50.180 --> 00:29:50.680 That's not what I'm. 00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:52.200 I don't want you to do that either, okay? 00:29:52.620 --> 00:29:53.260 Everyone knows that. 00:29:53.260 --> 00:29:55.030 You have to tuck your blankets under your legs. 00:29:55.520 --> 00:29:58.280 When you do that, right, they can crawl up under, just so you know, if that happens. 00:29:59.960 --> 00:30:04.260 Well, it says in verse four, I appreciate how John does this. 00:30:04.380 --> 00:30:12.280 He raises a concern in our minds about these spiritual influences in our heart and our lives, and the serious effect it can have in our relationship with Christ, and 00:30:12.280 --> 00:30:19.340 how that relationship not only affects us, but it can affect our families, and it can affect our friends, our loved ones, our coworkers. 00:30:20.900 --> 00:30:27.020 And he says this to us after he recognizes, he says, you are from God, little children, and you've overcome them. 00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:28.960 You hear that? 00:30:30.840 --> 00:30:35.100 Meaning you don't have to walk around afraid of these demonic forces because you belong to Jesus. 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:40.920 And it says, because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world. 00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:44.420 You already walk around in victory. 00:30:46.540 --> 00:30:53.600 When I was a young kid, I had a single mom who was trying to go to college and working a job to provide better for my sister and 00:30:53.600 --> 00:30:53.760 I. 00:30:54.760 --> 00:30:59.500 And I had this aunt who babysat my sister and I. 00:30:59.540 --> 00:31:00.120 And she lived. 00:31:00.920 --> 00:31:07.380 She lived in the ghetto and in front of her ghetto, there was this all these apartments everywhere. 00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:10.660 And in the middle of all these apartments, there was this playground for kids to go play in. 00:31:11.280 --> 00:31:16.000 And really what it was the living of bullies is what this place turned out to be. 00:31:16.340 --> 00:31:19.310 And what I found out, I was like one of the only white kids in the neighborhood. 00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:26.660 And when I would go outside to play my first time going out, one of the first things I recognized is that everyone had a buddy and everyone's buddy was bigger 00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:29.060 than them, except for me, because I was the new kid. 00:31:30.660 --> 00:31:38.000 And one day I went up on top of this playground and I was playing, and I don't even know what I was doing, steering some steering wheel at the top and just not even paying attention to what's going down and 00:31:38.060 --> 00:31:39.050 decided to go down the slide. 00:31:39.180 --> 00:31:40.740 And here I am, just so happy in myself. 00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:48.040 I'm in elementary school, and I slide down the slide and I get to the bottom, and I look up and I realize the entire playground, the equipment that I'm on playing, is surrounded by 00:31:48.040 --> 00:31:50.320 a group of kids, probably a hundred kids. 00:31:51.520 --> 00:31:55.620 And one of these big kids comes up to me and says, you have to fight, my friend. 00:31:56.340 --> 00:31:57.440 And he was also a big kid. 00:31:58.600 --> 00:32:01.320 And I remember looking around thinking I hadn't done anything wrong. 00:32:01.320 --> 00:32:02.170 They just wanted to fight. 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:05.860 And I'm seeing all these kids around me, and I'm thinking, if I don't fight this kid, I'm going to get jumped. 00:32:07.420 --> 00:32:09.150 And if I fight this kid, I'm probably going to lose. 00:32:09.460 --> 00:32:11.440 But it's better to get beat up by one person than 100 people. 00:32:12.420 --> 00:32:16.390 So I fight this kid and I won, and everyone was so shocked that I won. 00:32:16.820 --> 00:32:20.200 And while they were shocked that I won, I ran as fast I could. 00:32:20.200 --> 00:32:23.180 I ran because you know what happens when you beat up someone's friend, right? 00:32:23.560 --> 00:32:25.280 So I ran, I went to my aunt's house. 00:32:25.320 --> 00:32:26.920 I stayed in there every time my mom dropped me off. 00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:31.040 The only thing I did was stay in this house until one day I got brave and I decided to go outside again into the ghetto. 00:32:31.580 --> 00:32:32.100 It's a dumb choice. 00:32:32.900 --> 00:32:36.680 10s outside, I get kidnapped by two teenage boys holding a knife to my throat. 00:32:37.960 --> 00:32:42.810 They walk walked me over to one of the apartments where a family just left, and they told me, you're going to go inside, you're going to rob everything. 00:32:43.020 --> 00:32:44.960 We're going to wait outside, one of us at the front door and the back door. 00:32:45.080 --> 00:32:46.740 And if you don't rob, we're going to kill you. 00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:56.220 At that point, I stopped and I stared and I thought, and about in those moments, as I'm sitting there thinking, trying 00:32:56.220 --> 00:33:00.020 to buy time, I see an adult walking down the sidewalk and I ran again. 00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:02.680 Turned out I was a pretty fast little white kid in the ghetto. 00:33:03.620 --> 00:33:05.180 I got to the adult, I jumped up. 00:33:05.260 --> 00:33:06.200 They don't even know I'm hugging them. 00:33:06.200 --> 00:33:11.140 They have no idea why I'm doing this, but I'm just trying to prevent myself from having to rob someone and getting killed at the same time. 00:33:13.020 --> 00:33:16.880 But the point is there was definite demonic influence in that area. 00:33:18.520 --> 00:33:24.880 And the whole time I was walking around seeing everyone else butted up with a big friend, my whole thought the entire time was, man, I wish I had a bigger friend. 00:33:26.380 --> 00:33:28.640 I wish I had one that was so big when they walked around. 00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:36.240 We just felt like champions the entire time because all that resulted in was me just hiding in the house for the rest of the time that my baby 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:37.380 sent me in the ghetto. 00:33:37.780 --> 00:33:40.740 Fortunately, her lease ran out pretty quickly, so I'm alive today. 00:33:42.600 --> 00:33:44.980 What is saying to you is the same thing in this passage of Scripture. 00:33:46.680 --> 00:33:50.680 It's not like Jesus is just your buddy walking around the neighborhood, and you may or may not get beat up. 00:33:50.700 --> 00:33:53.320 It's saying that Jesus has already beat up the neighborhood. 00:33:54.750 --> 00:34:00.740 Jesus has conquered these spirits, and we don't have to live in fear of what's going to happen. 00:34:00.900 --> 00:34:08.980 But we need to understand our position in truth as we live with Christ, because the Bible tells us this in Ephesians chapter six, it 00:34:08.980 --> 00:34:16.420 says in verse 12, for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces 00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:18.560 of wickedness in the heavenly places. 00:34:20.219 --> 00:34:21.120 He's telling you that. 00:34:21.120 --> 00:34:22.520 Understand that you're in a battle. 00:34:22.620 --> 00:34:22.760 Okay. 00:34:24.139 --> 00:34:31.380 But he says in verse 11 of Ephesians, put on the full armor of God so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 00:34:32.980 --> 00:34:37.520 Meaning, God has built you as his overcomer to be a warrior for his kingdom. 00:34:38.739 --> 00:34:42.719 In fact, when you read Ephesians chapter six, it's called the whole armor of God. 00:34:43.679 --> 00:34:47.159 God wants to prepare yourself spiritually for a battle in this world. 00:34:47.159 --> 00:34:50.489 It says that the breastplate that we put on is a breastplate of righteousness. 00:34:50.860 --> 00:34:57.860 That's your testimony of living, that your feet are shod with the gospel, that your helmet is worn, a salvation that you carry around the sword, which is the 00:34:57.860 --> 00:35:03.260 spirit, the Word of God, the Bible, and that all of it is held together with the belt of truth. 00:35:04.900 --> 00:35:12.040 We put on these things and stand behind these things, recognizing that the war that we're waging against is a spiritual one, making physical 00:35:12.040 --> 00:35:14.180 impact in the place in which we live. 00:35:15.860 --> 00:35:19.760 And I love this about Jesus when he's talking about building his church and he's thinking about the future. 00:35:19.800 --> 00:35:21.570 I would like to even say Lehigh on his mind. 00:35:22.080 --> 00:35:23.020 He said this to his church. 00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:26.440 Even the gates of hell will not prevail against you. 00:35:27.880 --> 00:35:30.400 Meaning, yes, these demonic forces, they're powerful. 00:35:31.240 --> 00:35:34.820 Matter of fact, in his mind, he's trying for us to create a word picture. 00:35:35.040 --> 00:35:37.120 He's having us think like as if these. 00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:41.880 This kingdom of Satan, this demonic force is a huge castle kingdom. 00:35:41.880 --> 00:35:44.410 And it's fenced in with this ginormous wall. 00:35:44.460 --> 00:35:46.580 That's a real word in the English dictionary now. 00:35:47.320 --> 00:35:49.440 It's a ginormous wall that goes around this castle. 00:35:49.640 --> 00:35:53.740 And encamped in this castle is all the demonic influences that's presented in this world. 00:35:54.040 --> 00:35:58.240 And, the people that are held captive behind that are the people that have been deceived by these spirits. 00:36:00.100 --> 00:36:07.260 And he's saying to you, because he has overcome this world, he's given you the ability and the power and the authority to go behind these gates of 00:36:07.260 --> 00:36:12.760 the enemy, to grab hold of the lives that are being impacted through demonic spirits, and to rip them out for the sake of Christ. 00:36:13.660 --> 00:36:14.640 God has made you an overcomer. 00:36:17.090 --> 00:36:18.640 Do you understand the beauty of that picture? 00:36:20.840 --> 00:36:27.020 Maybe I should throw a challenge out and to say if we did tomorrow or next Sunday, we wouldn't have an empty chair. 00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:35.700 Do you understand the power and the weight and the glory of the message that you carry as a church? 00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:43.580 People aren't going to get any more lost than they already are if they're under the influence of demonic or false teaching. 00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:50.760 But God has given you the ability as an overcomer to go into this world and to share truth. 00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:54.700 And we don't walk up to people and say, you're demonic. 00:36:57.200 --> 00:37:01.760 We simply say, here's the truth, here's the truth. 00:37:03.120 --> 00:37:04.840 This is what I believe. 00:37:05.840 --> 00:37:07.140 This is why I believe it. 00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:09.200 And this is where you can find it. 00:37:10.540 --> 00:37:11.250 You did it today. 00:37:11.820 --> 00:37:12.820 I didn't have to say a word. 00:37:14.640 --> 00:37:18.570 Opened up a text, read a verse, and you interpreted it and saw what God's Word said to us. 00:37:20.560 --> 00:37:25.600 Test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into this world. 00:37:27.060 --> 00:37:34.220 Some of us, when we say the word demonic, we're expecting like eyes to roll back in our head and like a deep, dark voice, all raspy and scratchy to come out, you know. 00:37:35.820 --> 00:37:38.600 But it tells us in the Bible that Satan appears as an angel of light. 00:37:40.500 --> 00:37:45.500 And so in the last two verses we're going to look at from first John, it says this they are from the world. 00:37:46.340 --> 00:37:50.440 The question is, what influences you to take the stand on what you choose to stand on in this world? 00:37:51.060 --> 00:37:53.080 What influenced you to believe what you believe? 00:37:54.100 --> 00:37:59.120 And John acknowledges the reason that people aren't pursuing after Jesus is because what's influencing them is the world's teaching. 00:38:00.920 --> 00:38:04.260 And Satan is called the ruler of this world and the prince of the air. 00:38:05.480 --> 00:38:06.920 He says they are from the world. 00:38:06.920 --> 00:38:11.250 Therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. 00:38:11.640 --> 00:38:13.320 But we are from God. 00:38:14.400 --> 00:38:18.420 He who knows God listens to us, and he who is not from God does not listen to us. 00:38:18.580 --> 00:38:23.680 But by this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 00:38:27.440 --> 00:38:31.810 Good does not always equal God, but God equals good. 00:38:34.140 --> 00:38:41.330 God's desire for us is to go into this world as champions for him, fighting the spiritual forces, but taking the time to recognize 00:38:42.120 --> 00:38:46.380 when we're being influenced by godly forces or demonic forces. 00:38:48.780 --> 00:38:53.330 Bible tells us when we do this as a group of people, the attitude that we are to carry. 00:38:55.320 --> 00:39:00.140 Says, when you speak to someone about God, it says, speak the truth in love. 00:39:02.260 --> 00:39:04.140 You don't walk up to bash them over the head. 00:39:04.160 --> 00:39:06.040 You don't walk up to abuse them with truth. 00:39:06.320 --> 00:39:12.200 You walk up to love them with the most loving things that you can do for someone is to share truth. 00:39:13.220 --> 00:39:13.660 We do it graciously. 00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:18.760 What a person believes dictates how they live. 00:39:18.760 --> 00:39:20.470 It's the core of who we are as human beings. 00:39:20.680 --> 00:39:21.620 It's not easy to change. 00:39:22.940 --> 00:39:24.300 It needs God's power behind it. 00:39:25.660 --> 00:39:27.560 It needs the grace of Jesus with it. 00:39:28.960 --> 00:39:30.440 And so it says, speak the truth and love. 00:39:30.660 --> 00:39:36.420 And it says, we are to grow up in him, grow up in all aspects into him who is the head, even Christ. 00:39:38.180 --> 00:39:45.200 And so the goal in all of our truth, how we share with anyone, is to point people to Jesus, to acknowledge the position 00:39:45.240 --> 00:39:49.920 of Jesus in their lives, and to give him the rightful place of everybody. 00:39:49.920 --> 00:39:51.980 Go ahead and bow your head and close your eyes for just a moment.