Finally, Brethren, Farewell — July 2025

Beloved, do not believe every spirit. Do not believe every prophet who says “Christ, Christ.” For many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Try the spirits!

What an awesome calling, what a high honor, what an astounding glory that God has given to his beloved people! Not only does the believer have the authority to try men, but also he tries spirits. The believer puts spirits in the docket. He carefully scrutinizes and examines the spirits. The believer passes judgment upon the spirits whether a spirit is of God or a spirit is of a false prophet. According to that judgment spirits are judged.

The believer tries the spirits by trying the prophets who come saying “Christ, Christ.” So the believer tries ministers, elders, consistories, classes, synods, ideas, sermons, books, and articles. Subject to a spirit every man must be, and especially every prophet must be. If the Spirit is of God, the prophet will proclaim the pure, unadulterated gospel of sovereign and particular grace. The prophet will proclaim the gospel that Jesus is come in the flesh, all salvation is accomplished, and all the promises of God are yes and amen in him. Holy Spirit. Blessed prophet! Blessed people who hear! And trying that Spirit, the Spirit who is in God’s people will approve of and receive his own things.

But another spirit there is. He is not of God. He is the spirit of the lie, a servant of the prince of darkness, the god of this world, and the great liar and murderer from the beginning. He is the spirit of antichrist, who opposed Christ in his earthly ministry and who opposes him even now by means of false prophets motivated by lying spirits in their mouths.

Beloved, try every spirit. It is urgent to try the spirits because false prophets are gone out into the world. The devil is able to transform his ministers into angels of light. With smooth words and honeyed speech, they convince many. Boldly and shamelessly, they claim the name of God, Christ, and the truth for their own, all the while they artfully insinuate the lie into the minds and hearts of the hearers.

And there are many false prophets! Legion! Heresies multiply exceedingly. Heresies increase in their deceptiveness. So many false ideas are expressed in so many words by so many prophets that the hearers are left in a state of bewilderment and confusion. Failing to try the spirits, many give heed to these seducing spirits and perish.

But not you, beloved. Try the spirits whether they are of God. You have an unction from the Holy One and know all things. By the Spirit who is in you, you know the truth. The Spirit who is in you knows his own things. By him you have the authority to judge every spirit whether it be of God. By the Spirit you have the power to judge every spirit. By him you will try and expose and not believe every spirit but only the Spirit who is of God.