We live in a world filled with a variety of influences. Our challenge is to discern which influences are from God and which ones are from the world. The Apostle John instructs us that we need to test the spirits:

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from 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 from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. (1 John 4:1-3)

The word test conveys the idea of a thorough examination to determine authenticity. As we look at the world around us, there are a number of conflicting voices vying for our attention. This is why we must seek to have a proper understanding of God. We need not be fearful as John reminds us of our birthright:

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He Who is in you than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

The pronoun you is emphatic in the original language. John is reminding the believers that they are children of God and have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. As believers, we have a different worldview than unbelievers:

But a natural person 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 discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

John reminds us that the power of Christ within us is greater than the power of evil around us. This is great comfort because we will experience times of discouragement. We can overcome the naysayers because greater is He who is within us than he that is in the world. The word overcome means to conquer, to be victorious and prevail in the face of obstacles. This is a favorite word of John and is in the perfect tense to signify a completed action with ongoing results.

We must realize that we are not working to victory, but from victory. Jesus has already won the battle at Calvary and now we may walk in the train of His victory. In his Gospel, John recorded this declaration of Jesus:

These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

We can take courage as we face challenges because Jesus has overcome the world. Since Jesus has overcome, we too may be an overcome the world. May we walk in confidence with the knowledge that greater is He who is within us than he that is in the world.

Rick Higgins

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark