If you would look in 1 John the 4th chapter and then 1st Thessalonians the 5th chapter,

we begun a while back a series that we're calling Try the Spirits.

And this is our main text here in 1 John 4 and 1.1.

First John 4 and 1, it says,

Beloved, believe not every spirit.

This is another way of saying,

don't believe everything that you hear.

Hmm?

Including things that are definitely spiritual just because it's spiritual

that doesn't mean it's God

don't believe every spirit

but try the spirits.

Now that word try is also translated, examine and test and prove, test them.

And so, like we mentioned last time I was with you, that we're going to get into some practical things about how to do that

because the scripture told us to do it.

We're to examine things and test it, prove it.

Well, in order to examine the thing or try it or prove it, you have to have something to check it against.

To try it against.

And obviously the first thing is going to be the written word and the Holy Spirit.

This is first.

And so the less you know of the word, the easier you are to be fooled and deceived.

And the less you know the Holy Spirit.

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