Please turn with me to 1 John 4:1.  As you’re turning I’d like to share where we’re going this morning.

Over the past few Sundays - as we’ve been looking together at fellowship - we’ve been prompted to make some pretty powerful declarations of our commitment to each other.  Do you remember when we joined hands across the aisle and declared:  “I will not let you go.  I will be there for you.”

Two Sundays ago, we declared to each other:  “In Jesus, I’m committed to love you.  I’m committed to serve you.  I’m committed to pray for you.”  Do you remember those declarations?  Those are pretty significant commitments.

As we’re making those commitments to each other - some place in the back of the mind a little red flag is waving - a nagging thought - a reminder of the times experienced when the church has fallen short of fellowship.  When God’s people have treated God’s people badly.

We make these declarations.  But, what if we’re not adequate to the demands of fellowship?  Or, the Christian life in general?

We fall short.  We get discouraged and down on ourselves.  We doubt ourselves - condemn ourselves.  The Christian life can seem overwhelming.  Fellowship - the kind we’ve talking about - is a great idea.  But, is it really possible to experience it? 

That’s where John is coming from in the verses we’re going to look at today.  Words of encouragement - confidence building.  What it really takes to have the kind of fellowship we’re all craving. 

1 John 4:1:  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. 

John’s first point?  Don’t be a sucker.  Don’t just believe everyone who comes along.

When we fall short of what we think should be happening in our lives and in the church we’re often tempted to think that somehow we’re missing something - a key element - a piece of the puzzle - that brings it all into alignment and makes it all possible.  If we could just work harder - understand more - sin less.  There’s got to be a way to achieve what God has for us.  Why are we failing at this? 

Satan comes to Eve with the original spiritual self-help program.  Two easy steps to deeper self-realization and a more fulfilling life with God.    Step One:  Take the fruit.  Step Two:  Eat the fruit.  And the advanced course:  Give fruit to Adam.

We watch TV - listen to the radio - surf the net - Christian books stores - even Barnes & Noble - are full of books - a tremendous number of teachers and teachings - all claiming to be Christian - teaching about how to live a Christian life.  Spiritually - there are a tremendous number of voices that demand our attention - many beliefs and teachings.  All offering to help us.

In John’s day there were Gnostics.  People claiming to be in the church who said that Jesus had pointed the way to God.  They took some Christian teaching - some Judaism - some other pagan beliefs - put them together and taught a process of spiritual enlightenment and purification that sounded pretty good.  The something extra that was needed for our spiritual lives.

John writes, “test the spirits.”

Jesus said, “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in - what? - in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)

That outwardly seem to be so loving - so caring - to offer such hope and fulfillment - and yet inwardly their end is destruction.

Verse 2 - this is how you tell the sheep from the wolves - verse 2:   By this you know the Spirit of God; every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;

That phrase is worth underlining.  “That confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.”

A while ago I received an email from a pastor in which this pastor wrote that our understanding of the Trinity was unfounded and in his words, “blasphemous and idolatrous.”  Then he signed his letter with the same benediction that we often conclude our Service of Worship with:  “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.”

It sounded so right.  This pastor came off like a real brother in Christ who perhaps had a difference in belief - maybe there was a disagreement or misunderstanding - and he was trying to help us understand something about God.  But, as I carefully read his email it became evident that what this man - claiming to be a Christian pastor - what this man was saying was really a denial of who Jesus Christ is.

There are two parts to what John says about Jesus and those who know Him.  First is what the sheep confess.

In the days after the resurrection - at the entrance to the Temple in Jerusalem - a lame man comes up to Peter and John.  In the name of Jesus Christ Peter brings healing to this man.  Later - as Peter is preaching to the crowed gathered there - Peter speaks of Jesus - the healing testifies of Jesus.  Peter declares, “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Jesus said, “I am the - what? - the way, and the - what? - truth, and the - what? - life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”  (John 14:6)

1 John 5:11 and 12:  “The testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”

God’s people confess that Jesus is the Christ - the Messiah.  The One God spoke of through His prophets who brings us back from our sins into a right relationship with God.  He’s our salvation. 

Then John writes that the sheep confess that Jesus is God come in the flesh.

The First Church of Christ - coma - Scientist says that Jesus is a man upon whom the “spirit of christ” came.  Jesus was a man.  Died as a man.  The Mormons say that Jesus was a man who became a god and came to show us how we can become gods.  The JW’s say Jesus isn’t God.  He’s a creation of God - Michael the Archangel in the flesh.

But the Bible teaches that Jesus is fully God and fully man in one person.  He always has been - is - and always will be the God.  There is no other God besides Jesus.  To see Jesus in the flesh is to see God.

The sheep confess this absolute truth:  “Jesus is the Christ.  He is the only means of salvation.  He is God in the flesh.”

The second part of what John writes in verse 2 about Jesus and those who know Him is wrapped up in this word “confess” (omologew).

Early in Jesus’ ministry - on the Sabbath He was up in Galilee in the town of Capernaum - teaching in the synagogue.  There was a man possessed by a demon.  Do remember what the demon said to Jesus?  “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth?  Have you come to destroy us?  I know who you are - the Holy One of God!” (Mark 1:24; Luke 4:34)

The Jews didn’t get it.  The disciples didn’t get it - at least not at first.  But the demons did.  They know who Jesus is.  He’s God.  Are the demons God’s people?  No.  His sheep?  No.

Confession  is more that just agreeing or acknowledging that something is true.  Confession means commitment - trust - giving our lives to live according to what we agree is true.  It’s how we live.

God’s people - His sheep - confess with their lives that Jesus is God - the Christ - the only Savior.  They’ve given their lives fully to Him.

Verse 3 - in contrast - 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. 

It doesn’t matter who - a Pope - a priest - a pastor - a religious leader - a theologian - a conference speaker - a great Christian author - do they acknowledge the reality of who Jesus is?  Have they confessed Him by giving their lives to Him?  If not - they don’t have Jesus.  What they may offer us will not lead us deeper in fellowship with God and each other.

Verse 4:  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. 

That’s a powerful statement:  You are from God.  Share that with the person next to you.  “You are from God.”

“You’ve overcome them.”  You’re already infinitely above and beyond whatever these false teachers may be peddling.  What we already have in Jesus is greater than any of the deceptive - deceitful - destructive - anti-god teaching of this world - no matter how great it may sound.

We need to grab on to that truth and wrap our lives around it.  When we’re God’s sheep - Jesus - who’s in us is greater than anything or anyone who’s in the world.

Do you remember the time Jesus fed 5,000 plus people?  The scene is by sea of Galilee and there’s this large crowd of people who’ve come out.  They’ve been listening all day to Jesus teaching.  About evening the disciples come to Jesus and state the obvious, “There’s a lot of people here and they’re hungry.  This place is pretty out of the way.  Maybe you should stop now and let them go get something to eat.”

Remember Jesus’ response?  “They don’t need to go away.  You feed them.”

Philip says, “Maybe if we had time to use the ATM we’d have enough money to buy food.”  The disciples scrounge around - swipe this poor kid’s lunch - and come up with 5 loaves of cheap bread and a couple fishes.  (Matthew 14:15-21; John 6:5-14)

If they’d been a bunch of atheists this would be understandable.  Here’s Jesus - God in the flesh.  They’ve been watching Him do all these miracles.  Listening to Him teach - for hours - days.  Jesus is standing right in front of them and the disciples have no clue where to turn for help.

God says He’s designed us for fellowship - with Him - with each other.  And we start thinking about programs and ministries and training and knowledge and budgets and heading off to Christian Connection for a book on the subject.  Who’s voice are we listening to?

God’s sheep confess with their lives that they know who Jesus is.  We don’t need to listen to anyone else - or seek anything else.  We already have Jesus.  Grab that truth.

Its not our own efforts that deliver us.  It’s the One who dwells within us.  There’s no greater forgiveness or salvation than the One He’s already extended to us.  There’s no greater truth that we need to seek after and discover than the One we already know.  There’s no greater power that we need to enable us to live life and experience fellowship with God and each other - no greater power that we need to tap into than the One who’s already at work in us.

Fellowship doesn’t depend on us.  We can’t achieve it on our own.  But, God - through Jesus - can - does - and will. 

Verse 5:  They - the false prophets - are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.

The world - its ideas and philosophies and religions - the world speaks with doubt and discouragement - with the voice of Satan.  The world says, “This is just wishful thinking.  It’s hopeless.  And, so are you.”  The world listens to them.  But we don’t need to.

Verse 6:  We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us.  By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

The “we” here in verse 6 refers back to chapter one verses 1 to 4 - John and the apostles.  Do you remember how John described their relationship with Jesus?

We were there - with Him.  We trudged all over Galilee and Judea with Him.  Saw the color of His eyes.  Heard the beating of His heart.  Felt the warmth of His hands.  Ate with Him.  Watched Him do miracles.  Heard His voice as He taught.  Watched Him die.  Spent time with Him after His resurrection.  We knew Him intimately - deeply.

John writes - 1 John 1:3:  “What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you so that you too may have fellowship with us - and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ.” 

John writes, “We know what we’re talking about.  We’ve experienced this first hand.  God enables fellowship.  If you are one of His sheep, listen to us.”

Separated by almost 2,000 years of history and thousands of miles there’s no way that we can have a better understanding of Jesus than those who were there.  Whatever voice we choose to listen to it better square with what brother John is writing to us here in this letter.  This is the truth we need to live by.  God enables fellowship.

Let’s say that together.  “God enables fellowship.”

On the morning of December 7, 1941 - Jacob DeShazer was doing K.P. duty - peeling potatoes - when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.  On April 18, 1942 - Bombardier Sergeant DeShazer - full of hatred for the Japanese took off from the aircraft carrier Hornet - with Colonel Doolittle’s bomber squadron - on the first American bombing run over Tokyo.

When his bomber ran out of fuel - DeShazer was captured by the Japanese - taken to Tokyo - then Shanghai - and tortured.  His bitterness and hatred toward the Japanese only increased.  His hatred for his Japanese captors was so violent and so vicious that they were afraid of him and kept him in solitary confinement.

In a remarkable way he was given a copy of the Bible and he began to read through it.  Reading through the Bible - in the loneliness of his cell - DeShazer came to understand God’s gracious offer of salvation.  He repented and accepted Jesus as his Savior.

DeShazer changed.  His hatred of the Japanese changed completely.  He began to love his captors and to show grace towards them.  The Japanese were astonished by what had happened to him.  Instead of resentment and viciousness - he became the most cooperative prisoners and prayed for them.  After the war - DeShazer’s testimony - of God’s salvation and God’s love being able to change the human heart - DeShazer’s testimony was printed in a tract and distributed in Japan.

The story doesn’t end there.  On my bookshelf I have a book written by Mitsuo Fuchida entitled, “From Pearl Harbor To Golgotha.”  Captain Mitsuo Fuchida was the man who led the Japanese air raid against Pearl Harbor - the man who gave the command, “Tora! Tora! Tora!” - the command to drop the bombs on December 7, 1941.

Mitsuo Fuchida was a hero in Japan after the war because of his military service - but his heart was empty.  One day he was given the tract that told of DeShazer’s change of heart.

From somewhere he obtained a New Testament.  He began to read it with growing interest.  Finally, he came to the account of the crucifixion and the words of Jesus, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” - Jesus praying for the soldiers who were about to thrust a spear through His side.  (Luke 23:34)

Fuchida realized that this Jesus - who could love His enemies and pray for those who persecuted Him - who abused and spitefully used Him - this Jesus was showing a quality of life - a grace - that no natural human being could possibly show.  Fuchida’s heart broke and he accepted Jesus as his personal Savior.

Fuchida wrote to DeShazer and eventually they met in Osaka.  The man who hated the Japanese - and the man who had helped to put that hatred there.  Now, brothers in love with the same Savior and with each other. (1)

We struggle when we don’t expect the power of the Almighty God to break through and transform our lives - our fellowship.  We say the words.  But the little red flag waves in the back of our mind.  Who’s voice we’re listening to?  God enables fellowship.  Will we give ourselves to Him?

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1. Mitsuo Fuchida, From Pearl Harbor to Golgotha, especially pages 49-57