Amen as mentioned this morning. Let's take our Bibles and we're going to turn to the book of 1st John 1st John chapter 4 1st John chapter 4 this evening and we're going to look at verses 1 through 4 and Then probably next Sunday night. We're gonna hit again verse number 4 But verse 4 so deeply connected with verses 1 through 3 of chapter 4 We're going to mention it mention it tonight especially beginning of chapter number four, I believe it is preparing our hearts and minds that we're going to have to live in this world. We're going to have to walk in this world with all of its affections and desires and cravings and pollutions and delusions and deceptions. And we're going to have to maintain truth. And we're going to have to walk according to the truth in spite of all of the things that are contrary to truth with a capital T. So chapter 4, verse 1, if you're there, say amen. Amen. The Bible says, beloved, notice his affection. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, plural, whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Verse two, hereby know you the Spirit of God. Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. Verse 3, and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God, and this is the spirit of Antichrist. If you remember from our preaching through the book of 1 John, there is the Antichrist who will come, but there even now is the spirit of anti-Christ in the world today. So anti-Christ, against Christ, or not for Christ? You remember the distinction. So somebody might say, well, I'm not against Christ. But the question really should be asked, are you for Christ? And that certainly is a distinguishing difference. And so John again is saying that there is the spirit of the Antichrist that is in the world today. So in verse 3 again, in every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God, and this is that spirit of Antichrist. So it's a complete spirit of denial of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And John says that that is already in the world. A spirit that denies the coming of the Messiah. So wherefore, whereof, he says, ye have heard that it should come, and even now already is in the world. So there's already, we know that, right? We know it, it's obvious. I'm preaching to the choir, even though some of you didn't get in the choir. You know, this spirit is already in the world today. So, verse number four, ye have gobbled children, and have overcome them, because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. So it's, Just the presence of verse number four is the truth that we're going to remain in this culture, in this world, with the spirit of the Antichrist. but greater is Christ in us than He, the Spirit of the Antichrist that is in the world today. Let's pray together. Heavenly Father, Lord, we love You. We need Your help tonight. We need Your guidance. Lord, we need some illumination. We need a revelation of Your Spirit. Lord, that we can understand biblical truth. Lord, that we can understand our Bibles. It's not we could learn, Lord, our Bibles. Lord, we can appreciate the Word of God even more. Help us to understand this text, and Lord, apply it to our lives. Help me by Your Spirit. Lord, we need You. We want You. Lord, we crave You. We thank You so much. In Your name, Jesus, we ask these things. Amen. So in verse 2 and 3, there is Spirit, and then there are spirits. So verse number two, hereby know ye the spirit of God. Notice it's singular. Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God. And so we have the Holy Spirit, and then in verse number one, we have the exhortation, the encouragement to try the spirits, plural. And so that means there's much opposition to the truth. There is the truth of God, and then there are many counterfeits of God. So there is the spirit, and then there are the spirits, and we'll get to that here in just a moment. Notice in verse number one two, beloved, believe not. So that means the word of God is encouraging you and I to carry with us a certain amount of spiritual skepticism, that we're just not naive, that we have a little bit of paranoia to us. That we check things. We confirm things. We validate things. That we are not a people. That the people of God are not a people. That it's carried away by every whim and doctrine. That we are to be settled and rooted and grounded in the truth of the Gospel. That we're not to just be blown about by every new idea or every new observation. If an observation is made, we should, with a healthy amount of skepticism, should check it according to the Word of God. So beloved, believe not every spirit. So carry with you, as you live this life as a Christian, a healthy amount of paranoia and skepticism. So let's check things. And that's exactly what John wants us to do. He says, but try. So test, check, put it to the test, and try the spirits, whether they are of God. Because why? There's deceivers in the world. There are people who on purpose want to deceive you. There are people who are overcome by deception. There are even good people who've been deceived, and they were deceived by a false prophet. And so even though these people are good, and I would say they are innocently deceived, they could be wrong because they've been deceived by a false prophet that has come into the world. And don't be shocked by this because verse number four, the spirit of anti... Verse number three, the spirit of Antichrist is already in the world. It's already here. And so since it is here, and since there are false prophets, then no wonder John says, believe not every spirit. Since there are people who will lie to you, and there is a spirit of Antichrist in the world against Christ and not for Christ, then everything we hear concerning Christ And concerning the church and our faith should be tried. And so how should we test these spirits, as John says in verse number one. Verse number two, hereby know ye the Spirit of God. Here's how we can know it's the Spirit of God. Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. That's how we know. So there's other spirits, we know that. Ephesians 6.2, if you want to make a note of this, Paul says, rather, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood. My battle, your battle, is not against a boxer, a physical fighter. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, not a man, not a woman, but against principalities, against powers. against the rulers of the darkness of this world, that we as a church wrestle literally against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. That means against the doctrine of the gospel of Westside Baptist Church, we are surrounded by principalities and powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world. And what the Bible is clearly, clearly teaching is about the spirit of this age. It's not some man that we're up against. It is the devil and his demons. That's what we're up against. It is the devil and his dominions, and that's what we're up against. Ephesians 2, 2, the Bible calls the devil the prince, the power of the air. The Bible says he's the prince, the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. That the devil is the prince of the power of the air, and it is the spirit, with a little s, that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Now I'm not talking about voodoo stuff, I'm talking about real things. That there is the Holy Spirit and then there are spirits that deceive and trick and bring upon us delusion that on purpose leads us astray and damn our families to hell while they're at it. And so right now, in your life, there are principalities, there are powers. I'm not talking about government. The Bible's not talking about the Knox County Health Board. It's not talking about the Senate. It's not talking about the governor of Tennessee. It's not talking about any earthly human power. But it's clearly talking about the rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness that sets in high places. In 2 Corinthians 4-4, the Bible describes the devil as the god of this world. That he is in charge of the spirit of this world. Revelation speaks about strong delusions. And we think, well, there's only the Holy Spirit. There is the Holy Spirit of truth. But we wrestle against spirits from the wicked one that is currently in this world right now. And it is the spirit of the Antichrist. And so if the devil convinces you there's only the Holy Spirit, then he's already won the battle against you. There's no way then you could be deceived. That means that everything you feel, and everything that presses upon your mind, you just assume that it's good. You just assume that it's the right thing. But we've got to find out if it's right or if it's wrong. Are we being deceived by the wicked one? Is that a moving of God upon our spirit? Or is that a spirit with a lowercase s that is being controlled by the prince of the power of the air that is out to lead us astray and to harm us spiritually? And so there is the Holy Spirit with a capital S. And then there is spirits with a lowercase s. And I mean capital S as God the Holy Spirit. He is God. He is the person of God. He is the third person of the Trinity. He is not a spirit of God. He is God the Spirit. God the Holy Ghost. That's who He is. Who is the Holy Spirit and what does He do? If you want to turn to the book of John, chapter number 16, Jesus, He's on His way to the cross. He's about to be there. But He has an important message that you and I needed to hear before He left. And in John 16, beginning at verse number 7, Jesus says, nevertheless, I will tell you the truth. So Jesus, we can trust Him. And again, our default setting should be we should accept the truth of Christ because He died, was buried, and rose again from the dead. All of our faith hinges upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I've heard it said, I've told you my default setting is that I believe word for word anything that anybody says who said they was going to rise from the dead And then they, in fact, did arise from the dead. So Jesus says, nevertheless, I tell you the truth. He says, it's expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you. But if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He has come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment, of sin, because they believe not on Me. You remember when you were getting drawn by the Spirit of God? That wasn't the devil trying to bring you to Jesus. That wasn't the devil trying to get you saved. I'm glad of that, aren't you? He comes to seek and to destroy, but Jesus came to seek and to save, right? That wasn't the devil stirring your heart. It sure wasn't. It was the Holy Ghost of God that was convincing you of the sin of unbelief. Verse number 10, of righteousness, because I go to my Father and you see me no more. Of judgment, verse 11, because the prince of this world is judged. He's speaking of the devil. Verse number 12, I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth. For He shall not speak of Himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak. And He will show you things to come. Notice verse 14. He shall glorify me. So what's the Holy Ghost do? He speaks of Christ. He glorifies Christ. He never speaks about Himself. The Holy Spirit never talks about Himself. He only speaks about Jesus Christ. He don't brag on Himself. He doesn't want to be the center of attention. He rightfully could be. But the third person of the Trinity has submitted Himself into the work that He is. And God the Holy Spirit He does what he glorifies God the Son So God the Father can save through God the Son by the Holy Ghost He shall receive shall glorify me verse 14 for he shall receive of mine and shall show it Unto you. So what's the Holy Spirit do? What is the Holy Spirit do with a capital s he speaks about? Jesus Christ, that's what he does notice again in verse number two of our text. Here's how we know what the truth is Hereby know you the Spirit of God. Here's how we know if it's the Holy Spirit. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. Because the Holy Ghost speaks of Jesus Christ. Now how do we know it's not the Spirit of God? Because there's a lot of deception in the world today. Have you noticed? Verse number 3. Every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. It's not the Lord. It's not the Lord talking. Now I brought some examples that might help us understand what that means. What do other spirits say about Jesus? We know the Holy Spirit says that He is God. The Holy Spirit says that He's come from God. The Holy Spirit, He speaks of Christ. The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ. The Holy Spirit is Truth with a capital T. But what do the other spirits say? Notice how deceptive they are. Other religions say this, Judaism says that Jesus isn't the Messiah. But the Holy Spirit says He is the Messiah. You would say, well, Judaism is a respected religion. Judaism builds good families. Judaism has the same God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the only way to God, and there's no way you can get to God except by Him. Judaism then is therefore a half-gospel. Therefore, it is another gospel, and it cannot bring you to saving faith. It cannot save your soul. It cannot. It is no longer possible the blood of bulls and goats should ever take away sins. Those were just types, foreshadows, and figures. God sent in His Son in the likeness of man, in the likeness of sinful flesh. He came and died for sinners so sinners might be saved. Judaism can't save nobody. And if Judaism could save somebody, then Jesus would not have had to come. If the works of a religion could save, then Jesus wouldn't have to shed His blood on the cross. And the Holy Spirit says that Jesus Christ has came of God. He has come in the flesh. Jesus Christ has come and the flesh is of God. Judaism says that's not true. It says it's not the Messiah. So when Judaism says it's not the truth, and Judaism says that Christianity is not the truth, then I have to say, wait a minute, I have to test that. And I tested it according to the Word of God. Jehovah's Witnesses say this about Jesus. They say that Jesus was born on earth. that He started at Bethlehem, but the Bible teaches that let us create man in our image. The Bible teaches that all things were in by Him and for Him and were not anything made that was made except by Him. The Bible teaches that Christ did not begin at Bethlehem, but Christ, being the second person of the Trinity, is God, always has been God, and always will be God. Jesus didn't just show up one day in Bethlehem like you did at Fort Sanders Hospital. That ain't the way it works. I mean, Jesus always has been. He always will be. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory as the only begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and truth, John said. John said at the beginning of chapter 1 of 1 John, he said, this is the Word. We've handled Him. We've touched Him. This is God. This is God the flesh. And this is God. Jehovah's Witnesses say that Jesus began at Bethlehem, and that He is merely human. They say He is known as a lesser God. But remember, the Bible says that Jesus is God with us. And in Jesus dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily. That's another spirit that says, He's like a God. I'm glad that Jesus is God. I'm glad that He always has been God, and He always will be God. When I confessed that Christ is Lord of my life, I wasn't just confessing that He is like a God. I was saying that He is my God. That there is no other God except by Him. You say, well, is that exactly what the Bible is talking about? That is another spirit. That is the spirit of the Antichrist. That is not for Christ. That is against Christ. That is another spirit that must be tried against the Holy Spirit of God. They are confessing. that Jesus Christ did not come in the flesh as God. That's what they're confessing. So I try that spirit, I go, that can't save me. Judaism can't save me. Jehovah Witnesses can't save me. And I don't mean any disrespect towards any religion in the world. It's just my position, and it is my job, and it is my duty to tell you that there's only one way to God, and it's through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. There's no other way. There's no other way. Mormons say that Jesus is Michael the archangel. And that Jesus is the brother of Lucifer. They even say that Jesus was not born of the Holy Spirit. He was not conceived of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary. But He was conceived through a physical relationship between God and Mary. That's not what the Bible teaches. That's not what the Word of God teaches. That's not what the Holy Ghost teaches. Therefore, it cannot save me. I know it produces great virtues. I know there's some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. I know that some of the best families you'll ever come across, they'll never steal a penny from you. That you can let them babysit your poodle. You can go on a two-week, three-week vacation, and they won't bother it. I mean, they're the nicest people you ever met. But being nice don't mean being saved. And having a happy family don't mean your family's going to be together in glory. There's only one spirit. And that spirit confesseth that Jesus Christ is come into flesh, and that He is God, and He is very bit God, and He is all the way God. He is not the brother of an angel. He sure ain't the brother of Lucifer. He is the God of Lucifer. He's the God of Lucifer. Notice the Bible declares that the devil is the prince of the power of the air. He is the God of this world. But Jesus Christ is the God of Pluto. He's the God of Venus. He's the God of Saturn. He's the God of the sun. He's the God of the dwarf star that's shrinking. He's the God of the little plankton in the sea. He's the God of the hummingbird that flies around your bird feeder. He's the God of your babies. He's the God of that old man. He's the God of everything you see and the things that are unseen. He's the Lord of all things. He's not another God. He's not a lesser God. He is THE God. That's who Christ is. He's THE God. So let us try every spirit and see whether it's of God. Muslims say that Jesus is a prophet. But not, not the unique Son of God. They also believe that Jesus didn't die on a cross. If Jesus didn't die on a cross, then He can't be the Savior. If Jesus didn't die on a cross, then I'm still in my sins and you are too. If Jesus didn't die on a cross, then my sins remain on me. Your sins remain on you. If He didn't die on a cross, then He wasn't resurrected. And if He wasn't resurrected, He didn't die so I can die and arise from the dead so I can live. A lot of us get it backwards sometimes. We think Jesus died so I can live. No, Jesus died so you can die. But Jesus arose so you can live. You see how it works? And that's the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am crucified with Christ. I'm dying, but nevertheless I live. You're raised to walk in newness of life. He died so you can die. Romans 6, reckon yourselves indeed dead unto sin, but alive in Christ Jesus, for through the power of an endless life. He died so you can die. You see it. He died, you died. But when He arose, you arose. The Muslims say that He is a prophet, but He's not the unique Son of God. He didn't die on a cross. I'm glad Jesus paid it all. Now that's just not convenient for me because I stand before you tonight. And anybody who might agree with me, possibly 99% of you agree with me. But I'm not saying that just because it's convenient for my position here tonight. I'm glad that Jesus paid it all. I really am. I think it's an interesting In the Koran, Jesus' name is mentioned 25 times. It's mentioned more, more times than the false prophet Muhammad. It's like even Jesus is trolling in the Koran. But His name is mentioned more times than the false prophet Muhammad. And let me say that that is another spirit That is a false prophet that has entered into the world, that has deceived millions upon millions. You think, what's this verse got to do with us? There was a false prophet named Muhammad that arose out in the Middle East, and he's led so many people astray. And people don't come to the Savior, because there is another spirit with a lowercase s, who is the prince of the power of the air, that has deluded and deceived multitudes of families. Atheists say there's nothing. They say there's nothing at all. But the Spirit of God says that Jesus Christ is come of the flesh, is of God. Scientology says that Jesus is a part of a religious heritage. And He's among many good teachers. There might be a lot of good teachers in the world, and I know Jesus is an amazing teacher. But Jesus didn't come just to teach us moral virtues. He came to save people who had no moral virtues worthy of salvation. Jesus came to save. He came to save. Hinduism says that Jesus was a good man and a holy man. I know Jesus was a good man. I know He was a holy man. But He is the God-man. And He's God in the flesh. Therefore, it's another spirit. Let us try every spirit and see whether it be of God. What does the American institutions think about Jesus? What does the media say about Jesus? Does the media say that Jesus is the unique Son of God? Does the media say that the only hope for you is through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ? Does the media say that the only remedy for any of life's problems is the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ? Does the media tell you that what you really need in your home is less media and more Bibles? Does the media tell you that there's hope? No. All it tells you is there's fear. Compounded upon more fear. Heaped upon more fear. Brought in upon more fear. And we might as well have another hundred loads of dump trucks of fear. And place it upon more fear. Because fear sells. Any ounce of hope is shunned. It's placed in the very back of every newspaper. It's on the very bottom of every website. There is no hope in the media. That's why the Lord says, look unto me and be ye saved. For there is none else. There is none else. What does that spirit say? Well, I'll tell you what it does not say. It is another spirit. It says what we need is more of this and less of that, but it'll never say what every American family needs is Christ and every mom and dad on their knees begging God to help me raise my kids. That's what this country needs. But you'll not find that in any media news outlet, conservative or liberal, left or right. They'll not have any pundit say that the problem with modern society is a moral failing and virtues that are lost because we're no longer rooted on the moral code of God. They'll not say none of that. No, it's another spirit. Let us try every spirit and see whether it be of God. The media is not your friend, nor is it God. It's not. America's institutions. What do they think about Jesus? What is the institution of education say about Jesus? He begins in kindergarten They tell your little kids that God did not I repeat did not and he could not Create the heavens and the earth. That's what they teach your kindergartners What do they say? What do they think about God? They take the atheist position. It'd be a little bit better if they even had another viewpoint. But no, there is no other explanation they say than nothing and we don't know. The Bible teaches. that Jesus Christ, and some would say, really? Have you not read the book of Colossians chapters 1 and 2 and a while? That Jesus Christ created the heavens and the earth. That all things were made by Him and for Him. That without anything, there was nothing made that was made. Have you not read? Has it not been reported unto you? that Jesus Christ made the very lily, so then later on He could say, consider the lilies, that He created the birds, so He could say, has thou considered the fowl of the air? Do you not know He is the mighty Maker God? He's Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end? All things consist because of Him. What does education think about Jesus? What does the institutions of America think about Jesus? Do they confess that Jesus Christ that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, that He is of God? Would they dare say, across the bottom ticker, that Jesus Christ is born of God, He is very God? He arose from the dead and paid the sinner's debt? No, they'll not say that. What does politics say about Jesus? I'll tell you what they think about Jesus. They think they're God. What does the sports institution think about Jesus? Do they consider Him to be the Son of God? Is He more virtuous than their programs? Is Jesus better than our education system? I say, yes, He is. I say, yes, He is. I'm going to say something. I sat out, I think, one Wednesday night. I filled it out of the Spirit with a capital S to say here this evening to you that it's high time I believe that Christian parents seriously and spiritually pray and seek God's counsel. Should we send our young people and pay $200,000 to let some atheist teach them about the higher things of life? Should we let some devil in a vest with a friendly smile on his face tell our little daughters that there is no God in heaven? Should we allow another generation to go in the higher halls of education and come out an atheist, we say among ourselves in Bible school, if there was one soul there to be saved, it's worth it all. But if there is one person leaves the university and they are an atheist because of that university, wouldn't we say then it's too dangerous? I think it's high time we begin to consider our ways and find out and think about it. What is it turned into? Has education now become a place where we learn just how to have a job? Has it become what it used to be? Has it lost what it used to be, where it used to be a place where you would go to learn about a career? Is it more to it than that now? I say it is, most definitely it is. Used to go to law school to learn about law. Used to go to engineering school to learn about engineering. Used to go to medical school to learn about being a doctor. Used to go here to do that, but oh no! Oh no, now! Now you must have this, and now you must have this! Because if you don't have this, you'll get this crazy idea as a doctor, that your patient don't need God's grace. That your doctor, you'll get this crazy idea that your doctor will think, that my patient don't need Jesus. I tell you what, when I have my first open heart surgery, I pray to God, my doctor prays to God. They don't want any lawyer to think that what's inscribed in marble, if it wasn't for that, they'd take it down, and many places they had took it down. Another spirit, I sure don't want my lawyer thinking that he's above the law that says, thou shalt not, thou shalt not, thou shalt not. Oh, another spirit. Beloved, believe not every spirit. What do you think a spirit is? You think it's a voodoo doctor? What do you think it is? You think it's a Ouija board? What do you think it is? Oh, the devil himself is able to transform himself into an angel, into a minister of light. What do you think he is? You think He runs around scaring little children? No. The devil says what Jesus says. The devil says, come unto me, ye that are heavy laden, I'll give you rest. But His rest is of an earthly kind, another kind, a wicked kind. He says the same thing. He says the same thing. What do you think the devil looks like? The greater question is in Matthew 22, 42, what think ye of Christ? Whose son is he? Whose son is Jesus? Is he the son of Joseph? Well, if he's the son of Joseph, then he's just like Jason. He's the son of James Turner, that's all he is. Is he the son of Joseph? What think ye of Christ? Whose son is he? Whose son is Jesus? Is he the son of Joseph? Or is He the Son of God? And if He's the Son of God, then what does that mean? And what does that mean about us? And what does that mean in our relationship to Him? And what does that mean then about what am I supposed to do? Whose Son is He? What think ye of Christ? Therefore Jesus went on to say why in the world did David say to the Lord sit down on my we'll just turn there I don't want to misquote it the book of Matthew chapter number 22 Matthew 22 verse number 42 because I think it's of the utmost importance Matthew 22 verse number 42, what think ye of Christ? Jesus said, whose son is he? They said unto him, the son of David. He said unto them, how then doth David in spirit call him Lord? Saying, the Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstool. If David then called him Lord, then how is he his son? You know what Jesus is saying to them? That I always have been I always have been. Even David calls the Son of David Lord. And why does he call Him Lord? Because Christ the Lord God is before Abraham. He is the I Am. Now in closing, I want to say that there is a need for basic Christianity. Or what some would say mere Christianity. I'm going to try to be careful. I think it's real audacious of us for you and I to think that we are right on every precept of the Christian faith. Remember, beloved, believe not every spirit. So we're to have a certain amount of respectful skepticism. The Baptists aren't right about everything. I find it interesting, since we are Baptists, we say, well, the Baptists are right, I think we need to allow ourselves, especially in light of all of this, all that I've preached on, all the different religions, all the different institutions, that none of them, none of them are sympathetic towards Christ, the Son of God. None of them are. And I think it's time for you and I, especially in this age, to begin to embrace, in the name of unity, mere Christianity, or basic Christianity. Us and the Presbyterians don't agree on everything. But one thing we do agree on is that Jesus Christ is the Holy Virgin born, conceived of the Holy Ghost, Son of God, and Christ is God, always has been God, and will be God. So guess what that means? Us and the Presbyterians are on the same side of this rot. Within our faith, within our denomination, we have differences of opinion on what will happen at the end times. We have premillennial, and postmillennial, and amillennial, and we've got pre-trib postmillennial, or pre-trib premillennial, and post-trib premillennial. And you say, what does all that mean? They're points of arguments and divisions. You know what we need to stop doing? We need to stop arguing about all those little things. There's room at the table for all of us to discuss them. There certainly is, because you know what we're up against? We're up against the spirit of the Antichrist in this age that is wreaking havoc among the children of this country, among the children of God's church. So we need to allow ourselves to have some basic Christianity. We need to fellowship, and I'm not... Listen, there's different churches. Obviously, it's going to be hard for certain groups to worship with other folks, because I'll be honest with you, if we start baptizing newborns around here, I might not like that. You wouldn't either, many of you. I'm not saying that. I'm not saying that at all. But why can't then we all say, although there are some discrepancies among us, can't we say that we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? and that He is God in the flesh, conceived of God the Holy Spirit. And the Presbyterians could say, Amen. And the Methodists could say, Amen. And the Episcopalians could say, Amen. And the Baptists could say, Amen. And the Fundamental Baptists could say, Amen. And the Independent Baptists could say, Amen. And the Southern Baptists could say, Amen. And the Calvinists could say, Amen. And the Arminianists could say, Amen. And the Amillennial and the Post and the Pre could say, Amen. We say amen. Let us sing together. Let us sing amazing grace together. Let us sing the glory of Christ. Let us say in all agreement that atheism taught to our children is wrong. We've spent so much time arguing amongst ourselves. All them little-s spirits have come and destroyed, because we've been so distracted, we've been arguing about what the beast is in the book of Revelation. While the devil's producing so much pornography, we spend our time arguing about these things, and our 17, 18, 19 year old little teenagers are consuming it in our basement while we're up there with the elite of the church saying, well, I think this, and I think this, and how dare you think otherwise? Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God, This text is so amazingly relevant for tonight. I thank God for it. I praise His name for the truth that's in it. Don't you? I love it. I love it. I love it. The psalmist said that His Word would be exalted higher than His own name. It's amazing that it speaks and it yells throughout the pages of history. And it still is relevant today. Praise the Lord. Amen? Praise the Lord. What think ye of Christ? Whose Son is He? Whose Son is He? What's the practical application here? You better be careful what little spirit rolls around in your home. You better be careful. Because obviously, if you don't try it, and you don't have a certain amount of skepticism, you might be overcome by it. If you don't test it and try it, you might become sympathetic towards it. You might say, well, them Jehovah Witnesses, they're such nice people. They sure are nice people. They sure are. But I don't want my little children becoming Jehovah Witnesses. They believe only 144,000 are going to be up in heaven. There's a pretty good chance they won't get to go. I want my kids and your kids, that every spirit that crosses their path, they can try it and say, that's not the truth. That's not the truth. I was telling my kids this, I've told you all before, we're closing as Bryson comes and Sister Bonnie comes. I remember, I think it was the ninth grade, they were going to test us on the subject of evolution. I thank God even then, there was enough of the truth of God in me to make me go, I thought that was hilarious. They're going to test me on the truth of evolution. They don't even know what it is. I've always been like this a little bit, skeptical, rebellious. I think if I'm going to be a troublemaker, if you're going to be a troublemaker, let it be on the side of the truth. All these young people today say, I don't want to be a, I don't want to be nothing to do with Christianity. I want to be a rebel. Do you think that we're going with the flow? You think, you think that we are the one, You're going with the flow. You're going downstream. We're not. We're not. I remember the test was given that day. There's a lot of pressure on a young man. I had a dad that was like, you better make good grades. And the way he said it was like, Nima, you better make good grades. Kids, you better make good grades. Amen? But there are some exceptions. And she passed out the test. on the chapter of evolution. And by that, I felt like a martyr. Oh, here's my chance. I thank God I grew up in a good church where I had permission by the Spirit and the authority because all power is given unto Him in heaven and in earth. He has the authority over my science test. And I wrote on every question, I do not believe in the theory of evolution. Next question, I do not believe in the theory of evolution. Next question, I do not believe in the theory of evolution. And I thought if I could get a zero, let it be for Jesus. If I could get a zero, let it be for Jesus. The best of my memory would serve me well, and most of the time it don't. I never got a test score. I never got it back. Maybe she was sympathetic to me. I don't know. But I still don't believe in evolution. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life. Stupid. Stupid. I want to keep going. If I could just have a transitional fossil, maybe I could, eh, I can't even find one. They can't either. One. One. Stupid. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Can I tell you one more? Bryson's got to stand. Bonnie's got a good seat. I'm standing too, OK? Sorry, Bryson. You can make it. I passed by at work. I passed by on the way home from work. And there's this, where they cut the road. There's this rock layers. And I'm not kidding you. They're like vertical. You know, you can see the rock layers. But this one's vertical, straight up and down. That's impressive. And I think, how could that be? Well, I know what they would say. Over millions of years, it's always somewhere so long ago where nobody could ever put their finger on it. Millions of years ago, they would say that there was a gradual, ever-steady, upward shift. And somehow, it held together. And I'm on the way home every time I think about it. I think about this. And the fountains of the deep broke up. You remember the story? And then I think in the book of Genesis, it says when God created the heavens and the earth, there was even a layer of water on the outside of the planet. Look it up. There was a firmament, a space, and there was water. And it said the rains came down. We're not talking about a big thunderstorm. We're talking about Water coming down from glory and the founts of the deep breaking up and then it explains Pangea and continental shift and all kinds of amazing things and I think there is more credible Logical intelligent evidence on earth of a worldwide flood than all that stuff They're saying on the Discovery Channel Are you saying then, Brother Josh, that the Discovery Channel, if they say yes, they are absolutely wrong upon the authority of the Word of the living God. They're wrong. They're wrong. Let us try every spirit. You got it? Amen? I love it. I love it. I love it. Let's stand to our feet. What song are we going to sing? Page 119.