1 John 4:4-6, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”
How are you doing at feeling confident in conquering the various challenges and trials you have gone through this week? Have you felt like giving up, discouraged, disheartened, and your patience has become thin? Maybe you have been trying to walk on water, yet Jesus never asked or expected you to do that. John stated in 1 John 2:13b, “I am writing to you young men, because you have overcome the evil one.” Then in verse 14b, he declares, “I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” We belong to the Spirit of truth and not the spirit of error (1John 4:6). There is a major difference between the two that has tried to attack you so stay strong, persevere, and don’t listen to the lies that have been going through your head.
You know the Spirit of truth (capitalized S). 1 Corinthians 2:12 declares, “Now we have received not the spirit of the world [not capitalized s] but the Spirit [capitalized S] who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given to us by God.” Now move down to verse 14, “The natural person does not accept the things of God, for they are folly [foolishness] to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” We have to move beyond the natural to the supernatural. Jesus experienced scoffers who did not understand what He was saying. As Christians, we have the gift of discernment. Some have this gift more than others. The Holy Spirit gives it to us to have the skill and accuracy in knowing if what is being taught Biblically is right or wrong, as 1 John 4:1 admonishes us: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” “Discernment looks beneath the surface and reads between the lines.” Chuck Swindoll.
Choose to follow the Spirit of truth. Note that the Bible has a capitalized S. The false spirit does not and will use schemes of distraction, frustration, confusion, and wrong worldly thinking to keep you world-led (head-led; money-led; innovation-led, expert-led, feelings-led, pressure-led, etc.) instead of Holy Spirit-led. That is the difference. We need to memorize scripture so we can be effective overcomers. That will protect your mind from false spirits striving to kill your joy, destroy your peace, and give you God’s words of truth as a shield of protection against deception. Tell me more, is what we need to pray while reading God’s Word.
Having the peace of Jesus is not determined by your performance. When we feel distant from God, that is due to the “spirit of error” that has not a capital S. The Spirit of truth, however, with a capital S, the Holy Spirit, helps us understand and discern the wisdom of God so we can be an overcomer. Keep in mind today, Psalm 91:11, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” So, listen to the Spirit of truth instead of the spirit of error. You are being lifted up and guarded in ways you can’t even imagine. “He who belongs to God hears what God says.” John 8:47a. Be an overcomer.
Listen to Phil Wickham – Psalm 23 (Official Lyric Video) ft. Tiffany Hudson. August 23, 2023.