Testing the Spirits

“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.” —1 John 4:1 (NIV)

Not long after the early church began to grow, a popular teacher named Arius started saying things that sounded almost right. He was eloquent, charismatic, musically gifted, and persuasive—using language that felt close to the truth, but not quite. If he were around today, he might have an enormous following as a televangelist, because his message was simple, clever, and convincing. He taught that Jesus was a wonderful creation of God, not truly God in the flesh. His teaching “tickled the ears,” as Scripture says. But it wasn’t the gospel. 

The author of 1 John speaks directly into moments like that—moments when something sounds good, sounds spiritual, sounds close to Jesus, but isn’t Jesus. 

He reminds us that there will always be voices that twist the truth of Christ. Some deny who Jesus really is. Some reshape Him into something easier to accept. Some offer a faith that costs nothing and demands nothing. And because these messages often sound almost right, the author urges us to test them.

An “acid test” is a simple, decisive test that reveals what something is really made of. Gold, for example, doesn’t change when touched by acid—everything else does. The writer invites us to use a spiritual acid test: measure every teaching, every claim, every “new idea” against the truth of Jesus Christ.

For Wesleyans, this kind of testing is part of our spiritual DNA. We listen through four lenses:

Scripture — What does the Bible actually say? Not a verse pulled out of context, but the whole witness of God’s Word. 

Tradition — How has the church, across centuries, understood this truth? New ideas aren’t automatically wrong, but they aren’t automatically right either. 

Experience — What does the Holy Spirit stir in your own heart? Does it ring true? Does it bear the fruit of love, humility, and holiness? 

Reason — Does this teaching make sense within the whole story of God? Does it align with the character of Christ?

When we test the spirits this way, we begin to recognize the voice of the One who abides in us. Like gold that stays true when touched by acid, the truth of Christ stays steady and clear. The world may not recognize it, but those who belong to God learn to hear it. And as we keep listening, the Spirit guards our hearts from anything that would lead us away from Jesus.

Today, may we be people who listen carefully, discern wisely, and cling to the One who came in the flesh—our Savior, our Lord, our truth.

Holy God, give us ears to hear Your voice and hearts that love Your truth. Guard us from anything that distorts Christ or distracts us from His way. Teach us to test the spirits with Scripture, tradition, experience, and reason, so that our lives may reflect Your wisdom and Your love. Abide in us today, and help us abide in You. Amen.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Tim