Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 HCSB
I can remember my parents telling me, “Don’t believe everything you hear.” Just because someone says it does not make it true. Just recently there was a person at church who had heard a preacher on the radio and questioned what he had said. What he said was his own personal interpretation and not necessarily the truth according to God’s Word.
In John’s time there were many false prophets that were teaching principles that were not consistent with the teachings of Jesus. John encouraged his readers to test what people were saying to determine if it was from God. Just as in John’s day, we must test what people say. There are many false teachers and we must discern what is right and wrong.
Challenge: Be careful to whom you listen on the radio, television, and even those who are preaching and teaching at your church. Test what they are saying against God’s Word.