The Upward Look
© Copyright 2007, Max D. Hutto,

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
1 John 4:1 HCSB ©

John calls the readers his dear friends, his beloved. His genuine love and compassion for them motivates him to warn them about false prophets. Many people teach about spiritual things, but not all are teaching God’s Word. John urges the believers to test the spirits just as one would test metal to prove genuineness. As one listens to a prophet, a preacher, a teacher, one needs to test what he says against what the Bible says. What does this speaker do with Jesus?

Lord Jesus, help me to be discerning about whom I listen to for instruction and truth. I desire to follow and obey only truths that are from You.

* (footnotes & credits)

NASB ©
The Bible quotes marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible,
© Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977,
by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA. (used with permission)

HCSB ©
The Bible quotes marked HCSB are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible,
© Copyright 2000 by Holman Bible Publishers (used with permission).

NIV ©
The Bible quotes marked NIV are from the New International Version,
© Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, by The International Bible Society. (used with permission)