Scripture:
I John 4:1-21 NKJV
[1] Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. [2] By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, [3] and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. [4] You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. [5] They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. [6] We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. [7] Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. [8] He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. [9] In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. [10] In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. [11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. [12] No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. [13] By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. [14] And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. [15] Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. [16] And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. [17] Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. [18] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. [19] We love Him because He first loved us. [20] If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? [21] And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
Observation:
This morning all I wanted was for the scripture to speak. My wife and I recently got the opportunity to read through the gospel of John together. What we saw is that John can be a little difficult to understand unless you are filled with the Holy Spirit. One of the things that we may not know about him is John stayed right by Jesus throughout his crucifixion. In fact at one point Jesus looked at him standing next to HIS mother and said women here is your son. From that point forward John took care of Mary as his own mom. HE had a love for Jesus that was without question, and he wanted us to be able to discern between what is not true and what is true. So in the beginning of this chapter he tells us not to believe every spirit but to test the spirits. Because a lot of false prophets will go out into the world. Now I want to remind everyone that this was written several thousand years ago, so what was going on then has magnified substantially, and the enemy has gotten even more crafty. So its even more important to understand who GOD is and stand on HIS word. I want us to notice that Jesus is the center piece of what is being said, and John is saying that those who do not profess Jesus as the very son of GOD have the spirit of the antichrist. This is again the cornerstone of what he is saying. Everything you believe hinges on what position you place Jesus at. HE needs to be on the throne of your heart. There is a reason HE is called the KING of king’s and LORD of lord’s. Being able to test the spirits is important. I would love to be able to breakdown this whole chapter because there is so much in here that we need to know. But time is always a factor. However, what I do want to bring to our attention is one word. It’s a word that is repeated over and over in these verses. “LOVE” its a word that often gets mistaken by some kind of fluffy feeling that brings butterflies to your stomach. But that’s not the truth. That’s Hollywood’s portrayal of what they want you to believe about love. Verses 5 and 6 just caught my attention as I got ready to move forward and I wanted to bring it out to you. It says and I quote, “they are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of GOD. He who is of GOD hears us; he who is not of GOD does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” As John continues to teach he builds off of the cornerstone of love. I want to bring our attention the a statement that Jesus Christ made about the one word…. ” LOVE ” HE said, “no greater love is there than one who would lay down HIS life for HIS brother. Jesus Christ put aside what HE wanted, and did what was necessary for others to have a relationship with GOD. Now that’s perfect love. Now again I would love to get all the way in there and brake down every piece of this but its just not possible with the time I have. But as John continues, he says, ” by this we know that we abide in HIM, and HE in us, because HE gave us HIS Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent HIS son as the savior of the world. The kind of love that was exhibited by Jesus Christ is difficult to comprehend. Laying down HIS life was huge. It was bigger than anything anyone else has done. HE put HIMSELF aside so that we could be in the presence of the Father. Now as John moves forward he says love is perfected among us through boldness. I want to say that’s also evidence that the Holy Spirit is alive and well in your life. There is no fear in love because perfect love casts out fear . Fear relates to judgment and knowing Jesus Christ as your LORD and SAVIOR, changes how you are seen by GOD. I want us to remember love is the cornerstone. Because John finishes up by saying, “if someone says “I love GOD,” but does not love their brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love GOD whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from HIM: that he who loves GOD must also love his brother.”
Application:
The Hollywood version of love is not what we need. That the kind of love that plays off of your emotions, and we know that the Bible says the heart is deceitful and wicked and who can know its ways. The Hollywood version of love says don’t tell the truth you may hurt someone’s feelings. Let me ask you something though. Did Jesus ever say something that offended others? I believe HE was bold when HE was dealing with those who treated those in need as though they were less than important, HE called them white washed tombs full of dead man’s bones. Now I don’t know about you but that would offended me. Being bold enough to speak the truth is how love is seen and John says its perfected that way. I’m a big casting crowns fan, and they have a song that says, “when we love we earn the right to speak the truth, when we speak truth we show the world we really love.” It’s always hits me when I hear that. Now I want to say its never my goal to offend people. If the truth offends us than its not the truth that needs to change its us. My mind is drawn back to that moment when Stephen is speaking at the gate. The truth is just flying out of his mouth. With no concern for any repercussions. Boldness that could cone from no one else but the LORD HIMSELF. A pack of wolves standing around him seething with anger as what he says cuts and offends and he is just throwing rock after rock of truth. Loving them enough to tell them its all about Jesus, the man who laid HIS life down the one who was spoken about in all the scripture they clung to. The Pharisees yelping as the rocks hit their hearts. Stephen’s desire was for them to see the truth and lay down what they thought they had and pick up love, and the one who yelped the loudest is the one who got hit the hardest. Jesus laid down everything. For the love of others. HE gave it all up. From a comfortable place to lay HIS head all the way to HIS life. We love because HE first loved us. HE met the needs of the broken so that the door to their heart would be open, and HE could speak into their lives, and what was it that HE said? “Go and sin no more.” LOVE speaks truth seasoned with grace. James chapter 1 and verse 27 comes to mind. We are know by our love. Love meets needs with grace so truth can be spoken. It doesn’t hide. Love takes the risk of offense to save. Iron sharpens iron but when that us done friction has to happen. Love is my banner. If I offend anyone its because I am seeking truth that us hard for us to hear sometimes. But I love enough to do so.
Prayer:
Father, as we study your word. We want to know you more and one thing we see constantly is the you do not forsake the truth so that are feelings are spared. We want to love the way you love. We want to speak in a way that you can be seen in what we say l. The only way I see that happening is to let your scripture speak. It’s in you that the truth is heard. Help us to know what you say and not be deceived by those who say they speak for you but teach to live for this world. We want you to be the very center of our lives. We want to be able to meet the needs of others so that we can show them your love. We are not asking for blessings we are asking for wisdom and boldness. We know that as your return gets closer and closer. The deception will grow help us to see the truth that you have given us inside your words that you left for us. Help us to love like Jesus setting ourselves aside so that others will come to know you. Our hearts desire is you and nothing else. You can have this world. All I want is Jesus, and its in HIS might name I pray amen.