I John 4:1-6  In this section John teaches us about discernment.. in particular, discerning between "the spirit of truth and the spirit of evil."   As it was in John's time, so it is in ours.. "many false prophets have gone out into the world."  

K. Neil Foster writes in his book, The Discerning Christian, about this subject... ".. the primary reason for the epistle (of 1 John) is to counteract error, to protect the church, and to sweep away the pretense of false professors, false prophets, and false anointed ones."  Foster calls those who are antichrists the "anti-anointed"  They often come out of the church, with a "substitute anointing, a demonic anointing... against Christ and His kingdom." He gives this warning, "The church needs to be reminded that there are many antichrists. They always start out from inside, but because their anointing is an anti-anointing, they finally take a position against Christ." 

Those who have the "real anointing".. Foster writes, will never deny Christ. As John wrote, "By this you know the Spirit of God; every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God."  A false prophet cannot consistently and continually make this confession, Foster writes.  This person is being influenced by an evil spirit, whether he knows it or not.  Foster points out that it is not just in making a false declaration.. by saying that Jesus Christ did not come in the flesh.. but sometimes it is their silence.. they cannot "acknowledge" the truth of Who Christ is. 

One more important point that Foster makes about this that will help us discern.. "The false prophet, the one with the anti-anointing, will not listen. Antichrists do not listen. True believers listen to John and to his words. Those not from God do not listen to John."    These people are often argumentative and cause friction and quarreling.  "True discernment ultimately is to know that a spirit is speaking and to know whether or not Jesus Christ's incarnation is continually acknowledged." 

John does not leave us doubting, but encourages.. "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world... We are from God; he who knows God listens to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of evil."  

This reflects back to what John has been saying all along.. We know we belong to God if we obey His commandments.. if we believe in Jesus Christ and love one another.   Neil Foster writes.. ".. there are literally millions in our day in North America alone who 'believe' but who are apparently not at all interested in obeying.."  May we carefully and prayerfully be truly discerning christians. 

Father in heaven, how thankful we are for the fullness of Your Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts and leads us in all truth.  Greater is He who is in us!  Keep us walking in love and obedience, faithful to proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, who came to save us, and who is our Advocate before the throne of grace. We give all praise and glory and honor to You, O God, as we humble ourselves at Your feet and pray for strength to "be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.. able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.."  We know that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."  So, we put on the holy armor that You have provided..with thankfulness, asking for deeper understanding and discernment..   As we proclaim Jesus Christ, our everlasting Lord. Amen.