[Maximum Joy Series] The Fruit of Fellowship Sample

Looking for and Listening to the Holy Spirit

The focus of our attention throughout the end of chapter three and the beginning of chapter 4 of the first epistle of John will be on the promise given by Jesus in the Upper Room: the Helper that will guide us into all truth, the Holy Spirit. We said that John is looking back to this discourse and developing the subject into three sections: living with, looking for, and listening to the Holy Spirit. 

We have seen the first point, living with the Holy Spirit, in which John tells us that to abide in the Lord, to know Him intimately, is equated with keeping His commandments. And that the sign of this is the Holy Spirit living in us. 

Now, our question might be, “How will the Holy Spirit manifest Himself to us so that we know that we are listening to the Spirit of Truth and not a spirit of error? The answer is found in verses 1–3:

“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. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 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” (4:1-3 NKJV). 

Jesus said the Holy Spirit would be the Spirit of Truth who would testify on behalf of His person and work (John 15:26). This Spirit glorifies Jesus (John 16:13-15). Thus, the Holy Spirit confesses that Jesus came in the flesh. 

It is generally thought that the opponents of John were teaching that the spirit of Christ came upon Jesus the man at his baptism and left at the cross, but never really mixed with human flesh. That is also why he is concerned that people confess or agree that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. His body was not just an appearance. It was real flesh and blood, and it did not make Him sinful. Such errors about the person and work of Christ do not come from the Holy Spirit, but rather from false prophets and teachers. 

To analyze the third and final point, let us ask ourselves a question: “If the Holy Spirit is living in us, and we now know what to look for to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit, how do we recognize someone who is listening to the Holy Spirit?” The answer can be found in verses 4–6:

“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. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 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” (4:4-6 NKJV). 

The answer to that question is clear: those who are not of God will listen to the false prophets who spread false doctrine about the person and work of Jesus. Those who are of God will listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as He speaks the truth about the person and work of Jesus. This is how we can recognize the Holy Spirit within us. 

Abiding, is related to walking with the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth. When we are led by the Holy Spirit, we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, but rather we enjoy the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control. When we abide in the Lord and manifest His glory, we light up. In a world that is desperately asking for love, peace, and kindness, be a light! Shine in the midst of darkness!

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