Text: 1 John 4:1-3
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
The Source Matters More Than the Experience
Memory Verse: John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
In spiritual matters, the source of communication is more important than the experience itself. A spiritual experience may feel powerful, emotional, or supernatural, but its value is determined by where it originates. Not all spiritual experiences come from God. Some may originate from human emotions, imagination, or deceptive spiritual influences. Therefore, the authenticity of the source must always be verified before accepting any spiritual experience as the truth.
God’s communication always aligns with His Word, produces peace, promotes righteousness, and strengthens spiritual growth. His voice leads to clarity, obedience, and divine purpose. In contrast, experiences that originate from the flesh or deceptive spirits may feel intense but produce confusion, fear, pride, or disobedience. This is why you must focus on discerning the source rather than being impressed by the experience itself.
Many people make the mistake of trusting the intensity of an experience instead of testing its origin. However, spiritual maturity requires discernment. God’s truth remains consistent and does not contradict the Scripture His word. The Holy Spirit confirms divine communication with inner peace and alignment with God’s character. Any experience that contradicts God’s Word cannot originate from Him, regardless of how real or powerful it feels.
Spiritual safety comes from prioritizing truth over emotion. A believer who values God’s Word above experiences remains protected from deception. When the source is God, the result is always life, peace, and stability. But when the source is wrong, the result leads to confusion and spiritual harm. Therefore, discernment of the source is essential for walking in the truth and fulfilling divine purpose.
Action Plans:
- Test every spiritual experience using God’s Word as the final authority.
- Develop discernment through prayer and fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
- Value truth and obedience above emotional or supernatural experiences.
COVENANT GATE HYMNALS 15; SS&S 607 I AM THINE, O LORD, I HAVE HEARD THY VOICE
| 1. I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice, And it told Thy love to me; But I long to rise in the arms of faith, And be closer drawn to Thee. |
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Refrain Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, |
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2. Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord, |
| 3. O the pure delight of a single hour That before Thy throne I spend, When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God, I commune as friend with friend! |
| 4. There are depths of love that I may not know Till I cross the narrow sea; There are heights of joy that I may not reach Till I rest in peace with Thee. |
Today’s Prayer
- Father, help me discern the true source of every spiritual experience in my life.
- Lord, protect me from deception and guide me always in Your truth.
- Holy Spirit, train my spirit to recognize and follow only divine messages in Jesus’ name. Amen.
