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, what a sacred calling God has given his beloved people! Not only does the believer have the authority to try men, ministers, elders, consistories, classes, synods, ideas, sermons, books, and articles; but also he tries spirits. He puts spirits in the docket. He carefully scrutinizes and examines that spirit. The believer passes judgment upon the spirit, and according to that judgment, the spirit is judged. According to the believer’s judgment, whether that spirit is of God or is the spirit of a false prophet, he believes or condemns the spirit.

The believer tries the spirits by trying the prophets who come saying, “Christ, Christ.” So he tries ministers, elders, consistories, classes, synods, ideas, sermons, books, and articles. Subject to a spirit must every man be, and especially must every prophet 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, that all salvation is accomplished, and that all the promises of God are yea and amen in him. Holy Spirit. Blessed prophet. Blessed people who hear. And trying that Spirit, the Spirit that 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 the powers of the air, the god of this world, 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 artfully insinuating the lie into the minds and hearts of the hearers.

And there are many—legion! Heresies multiply exceedingly. Heresies increase in their deceptiveness. So many false ideas 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 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 that is in you, you know the truth. The Spirit that is in you knows his own things. By the Spirit you have the authority to judge every spirit whether it is of God. By the Spirit you have the power to judge every spirit. By the Spirit you will try, you will expose, and you will not believe every spirit, but only the Spirit that is of God.