The Holy Spirit part 13-Signs of the Spirit

Prayer Prompt: Lord, give me discernment to know what spirits are from you and keep me faithful until You bring me home. 

Read: 1 John 4

Introduction: I love the connections in Scripture!  Did you see where God brought us from our last study?  This chapter says that he who loves God should love his brother (v. 11, 21).  This same place was where we arrived last time in studying Ephesians 4!  The Spirit of God brings love among His people.  This chapter will bring our study of the Holy Spirit to a close.  The verses I’ve given you are not exhaustive; if you’ve enjoyed learning about the Spirit keep reading.  Plug “Spirit” into any Bible search engine (here’s one I like: http://www.biblegateway.com) and have at it.  For our purposes, this is a good place to end our study as we will get into some Revelation today and thoughts about the end times.  Ladies, I have studied that book 3 times in the last 10 years and am always amazed by what I see in it, and how little I understand.   But I trust in my God to show me what He wants me to know as His words are always true.  For heaven and earth will pass away by My words will not pass away-Jesus (Matthew 24:35). 

Study:

·         This passage discusses different kids of spirits in verses 1-6.  What are they and how can a beliver tell them apart?

·         Verse 3 states the spirit of the antichrist is coming and has already come.  Bases on this verse and these parallel passages (1 John 2:18-25, 2 John 7) is the term antichrist here a person or a type of something else?

·         How do you know you abide in God?  What does abide mean?  See John 15:4-10 for a more detailed description.

·         What is the day of judgment?   Read Romans 14:10-12, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 20:12-13. 

What Does it Mean to Me:

·         1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.”  Do you remember this verse from part 9 of our study?  This chapter in 1 John explains more about testing the spirits, which you considered above.  What did Christ say about listening and who could hear Him?  Read John 10:1-16.  Do you hear Christ?  If not, have you given your life to Him?

·         Verse 3 in this chapter talked about the spirit of the antichrist and that it is a phrase to represent every spirit that says Jesus Christ has not come in the flesh.  Though this chapter speaks of many spirits, there is a person coming that will personify these spirits.  Read about him in Revelation 13:2-9 and Daniel 7: 24-25.  I am not an expert on the end times.  But I do know Christ is in heaven at the right hand of God and will return to take us home (as we’ve seen in past studies)!  I don’t know exactly how the story will go, but I know how it ends.  Finish this passage in Daniel and Revelation and be encouraged: Daniel 7: 26-28 and Revelation 21 and 22.

·         Is the day of judgment different for Christians?  Will we be judged?  As you discovered through studying about the day of judgment God’s view of our guilt was abolished in Christ and we are set free.  Read 1 Corinthians 3:7-15 and see what you learn.  Read what Jesus said about our heavenly rewards: Matthew 6:1-6, Mark 9:41, Luke 6:23-35, 1 Corinthians 3:8-14.

Live it Out: Is there a secret way you can bless someone?  A way only your Father in heaven can see?  What we just read in Matthew 6 says that God looks at the motives behind what we do.  It is not the act itself that pleases His heart but who we want to notice it (1 Corinthians 4:5, Proverbs 16:2).  Sometimes it is the hardest thing in the world to do to give without any recognition.  Matthew 6 mentions many ways you can give honor to your Father without anyone knowing.  Pick one and do it.  Then listen to God’s heart, you can hear Him who are of His fold, and know He is pleased with you and is holding your treasures in a place where nothing earthly can destroy them (Matthew 6:20).

 Meditation: Write down a verse or truth God has shown you today through this study.  Put it somewhere you will see it often and remember His personal, life-giving word for you.