Greater Is He That is In You (1 John 4:1-6)

Intro

One influence I grew up hearing on TV and radio was different voices to talked as if political victory was necessary to save us. Around the time I was graduating from college, there was finally a political candidate I thought could rescue us. I put my passionate support behind Ron Paul and deeply desired that he would become the next president. The problem was not that I supported this candidate, but rather that I listened to worldly voices who taught my heart that political power is necessary. It led to political things consuming my heart and conversations with people. This is just one example of thousands. Have any of you ever felt the temptation to have a priority higher than Jesus?

Question, Given these things, what hope do we have of escaping the influence of the world and having God rule over us instead? There’s actually a lot of hope, and that’s exactly what John wants to share with us in this passage: 

 

Last week, Sam preached that God sends his spirit to reassure our doubting, fickle hearts. God pours out his Spirit on his people to do a great work (3:24). Yet, we must be aware: God’s spirit is not the only spiritual power at work in our world. There are others, some of which are opposed to God’s kingdom and to us. These are the Spirits to which John now turns when he says, 

 

1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

·        “Spirits” = “false prophets” (they are parallel). “False prophets” went out and deceive (earlier).

·        No mere human opponent; all spiritual power behind them, whether they know or not.

·        2 Kingdoms: the enemy has false kingdom with false people who have false spirits.

·        Emphasize, every one “from God” or “from world.” 10x. Life or death.

·        Voices we encounter could be religious teachers, but don’t have to be:

o   The movies we watch and the music we listen to.

o   The political/cultural commentators and news we consume.

o   The social media influencers and platforms we use.

o   Anyone or anything that is trying (either overtly or subtly) to shape how we view God and his world.

·        “Don’t believe” = don’t give you trust away too quickly. “Test” = discern which kingdom its from.

 

2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

 

·        Test = how do they respond to Jesus? “Confess” = to commit (swearing allegiance).[1]

·        Swear allegiance to “Christ” (not last name). Rescuer. “In the flesh” = Jesus rescued us not as a concept, but as a true man. Really died and rose; defeated death; lives and rules…

·        Another kingdom with another message: “not confess.” = not even outright denies, but not confesses. Those that deny and also avoid, ignore, distract, or replace Jesus.

·        If so, then all surrounded by antichrist ( = “instead of Christ”).[2] Priority other than Jesus. Do you ever feel the temptation to have a different priority or passion than Christ?

·        Big Q: Is this influence leading me to surrender more to Jesus and leaving me more in love with him or not? (this relationship, this program I’m watching, this new source).

·        Antichrist has brought opposition from beginning. A spirit in flesh of a beast who tempted.

o   The serpent called to loyalty to him over God. God said, “don’t eat” Serpent, “eat!”

o   They listened to him and gave allegiance to him over God, brining death to all.

·        “Spirit of antichrist…” = counterfeit kingdom is here and keeps arriving in the world.

·        Whole world is under his power. What hope do we and our children? What hope for neighbors?  

 

4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

·        “From God” = you are of a different kingdom with a different king and not destined to the world.

·        Therefore, “overcome” = “be victor, conqueror, or prevail.”[3] Bitter conflict you prevail.

·        To overcome means to reject the teachings and influences that lead away from Jesus and keep confessing him. In spite of world wants you to believe anything else, you confess Jesus is better!

·        Not “will overcome” but “have overcome.” Hard pressed, we will certainly triumph. Why?

·        Reason: “because he who…” Spiritual power seeking our destruction; greater keeping (HS).

·        Greater than our hearts and greater than our demons! (Good b/c we are just little children).

·        Reason why the HS is greater is because Jesus, the one who sent him is greater. Spirit of Jesus.

·        Jesus faced the ruler of this world, he defeated him, he showed he was greater

 

·        Jesus defeated the fallen king and his kingdom. By being lifted up; through death victorious.

·        Better Adam: He remained obedient to his father (in spite of world) and he rescued his people (antichrist loses all power over forgiven people). Early Christians talked about Jesus “reigning from cross.”[4]

·        So, when Jesus pours out his spirit, spirit of victory. Same spiritual power; same person.

·        Greater b/c Jesus already defeated him. Greater power in you any temptation you face!

·        Temptations are never inevitable. No pornography, substance abuse, sinful emotion, or message from the world can subdue you, if Spirit. You can overcome because Jesus did.

·        Little children are timid on their own yet bold with their parents. We have someone greater.

·        2 applications:

o   Ask if an influence leads you more in surrender and leaves you more in love

o   Plead daily for the power of the HS to overcome anything that would lead away.

o   If you are being overcome, we need the Father more.

·        John gives us one final test to discern the spiritual influences we face:

 

5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

 

·        Test: not how appealing a messenger is, but to whom their voice appeals (God’s people/world)

·        World listens to worldly influences (voices that affirm desires). Flashy: Tik-tok and TV studios.

·        “listens to us” = John and anyone beholden to same God and same Scriptures. Ordinary.

·        Influence I need is not flashy platforms- it’s you:

 

In this room, there are not extraordinary people; however, they are the people that you and I need to get safely home to Jesus. You are the most important people in my life because you are “from God” and listen to the authoritative voice of his word. Therefore, your influence over my life is of the Spirit of truth.

 

·        Let’s repent of any worldly influences we’ve surrendered to or brought here.  

 

This means that each of our personal battles for holiness are battles for the sake of everyone else in this community. If we are submitting ourselves to the spirit of the world in our day to day life, then we are inevitably bringing that influence here with us.

 

·        Family, he who is in us is greater, so the world will not overcome. If you want to follow Jesus…

·        Let’s pray

 

 

Reflection

Please get in groups and pray that God would set you free from the influences of the world. You can even confess which influences you struggle with as you pray out loud.

 

Benediction

24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·        [1] to commit oneself to do someth. for someone,11 William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 708.

 

·        [2] Daniel I. Morrison, “Antichrist,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

·        [3] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 673.

·        [4] Andrew David Naselli, The Serpent and the Serpent Slayer, ed. Dane C. Ortlund and Miles V. Van Pelt, Short Studies in Biblical Theology (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020), 109.