How do you test every spirit? Against the standard of the word of God and the character fruits of the life. Now are fruits apparent in one day? No, there is a process of time for fruit development and manifestation, making observation a necessity for those watching the tree or the person (Matthew 7:16-20).

As a local adage says, “patience and hypocrisy will eventually become obvious,” so break every aspect of indiscipline in the flesh by the WORD (Psalm 19:7).

To understand 1 John 4:2-3 you have to see it in the mirror of Philippians 1:10-11. The confession of Christ’s coming is in the believer being filled with the fruits of righteousness which can only be by Jesus Christ. If He did not come, there’ll be no manifest fruit of righteousness, hence the working of the antichrist is the absence of the seed of God! and the presence of the seed of Satan, the ruler of this world!

For the believer, 1 John 4:4 makes us understand there is an overcoming, a contest every true believer is involved in, and you better know that! If you deny the existence of such a contest, you’re already being overcome.

Compare 1 John 5:4 with John 16:33b.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4

…In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Your aligning with and confessing the words of God is the guarantee of victory. Therefore, obtain a full and clear understanding of 1 John 4:5-10.

They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:5-10

Who therefore are you hearing? For what you hear you will also speak or manifest. What you speak, you will also do, either self-seeking or considering the interest of others or the impact of your action upon others (Romans 15:2-3; 12:9-10; 13:8-10 (NLT).

In closing,

“creation itself is an expression of the awesome way our Father cares for us. He designed earth as the perfect habitation and provides us with the necessities of life. But the highest expression of His love is manifested in His provision for our eternal needs. He sent His Son to redeem us from sin so that we could be forgiven and reconciled to God.

Why, then, do we sometimes doubt His love? Perhaps the reason is that we are looking at it from our own limited perspective: Since human beings struggle to love others unconditionally, we doubt that the Lord can. Or maybe we just feel unworthy. Thankfully, God’s love is based not on whether we are deserving but on His character. We need to understand that love isn’t simply something God does; it’s who He is (1 John 4:8).

Divine love is a demonstration of God’s commitment to our greatest good. In a way, it’s like the ocean tides you can say, “I don’t believe in waves,” but that won’t stop them from coming. Likewise, nothing you do or feel will stop the Father’s love from washing over you.” – Taken from InTouch Ministries

Selah



Pastor Afolabi Oladele