📖 *BIBLE TEXT:
1 John 3:19-24; –1 John 4:1-6; and 2 John 7-11.
🔑 >>KEY VERSE: 1 JOHN 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world (KJV).
❤️ >>CENTRAL TRUTH
Christians must discern between truth and error..
✍️ >>LESSON OUTLINE
1. GOD IS GREATER THAN OUR FEELINGS
a. Come to God with Confidence - 1 John 3:19-22
b. Dwell in Him - 1 John 3:23-24
2. LEARN TO DISCERN GOD'S TRUTH
a. Test the Spirits –1 John 4:1-3
b. Greater Is He That Is in You - 1 John 4:4-6
3. HOLD TO THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRIST
a. Remain in the Teachings of Christ - 2 John 7 - 9
b. Don't Partner with Deception - 2 John 10 - 11
📕 >>LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Experience the assurance of God's grace rather than depending on their feelings.
- Learn practices to help them discern between God's truth and the enemy's lies.
- Be challenged to diligently study God's Word instead of partnering with or encouraging false teachers.
🎤 INTRODUCING THE LESSON
In the passage we're studying today, John encourages believers
to remember that God knows everything, and His truth supersedes our feelings. We are encouraged to come boldly into His presence and make our requests known to Him. By believing in God and loving one another, we remain in fellowship with God and we're able to distinguish between truth and lies. God's Spirit dwells in us and helps us to know and walk in the truth.
🖊️ COMMENTARY
1. God Is Greater than Our Feelings
a. Come to God with Confidence–1 John 3:19-22
No one feels loving all of the time. But when our motives are to demonstrate our love for God by loving others, He sees our heart, even if our actions are misunderstood (1 John 3:20). When we do fall short of loving others as we should, we can ask for God's mercy and help. He understands our frailty and is quick to forgive us and to help us get back on track.
God's forgiveness is so much greater than our feelings. No matter how we feel, we can receive His mercy and come confidently into His presence and make our requests known to Him. Thankfully, love is not based on how we feel at any given moment. When someone says or does something hurtful, our feelings for them will not be positive. But we don't have to let our feelings dictate our responses. The best way to overcome negative emotions is to obey Scripture. We can respond in love (in spite of our feelings) by demonstrating kindness, giving others good things, and treating them with honour. This is how we choose to put our love in action-by obeying the "one another passages found throughout the New Testament.
Scripture never tells us to feel loving; it tells us to act in love. However, we can be encouraged, for when we choose to act in love through obedience to the truth of God's Word, our feelings toward people usually begin to change and grow more positive. Many influential leaders have noted that, "You can't feel your way into right behaviours, but you can behave your way into right feelings.
Our obedience to truly love others with our actions pleases the heart of God. "And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him" (1 John 3:22, NLT). If we look at the context of this promise, we see it is surrounded by verses telling us to love one another (verses 18,23).
Our obedience to God's command to love others also impacts the effectiveness of our prayers and even our ability to receive forgiveness from God. As Jesus said, "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:14-15, NLT). The apostle Peter challenges husbands to treat their wives with understanding and honour so their prayers will not be hindered (1 Peter 3:7). The same could certainly be
said to the rest of us, no matter the kinds of relationships we have. We must not ignore the command to love others and stay in close fellowship with the Father.
Questions for Application
What is the challenge of responding in love when your emotions are negative?
How have you learned to respond biblically rather than allowing your emotions to lead your behaviour?
What is the importance of understanding the truth that God's grace and forgiveness are greater than our feelings?
b. Dwell in Him– 1 John 3:23-24
To remain in close fellowship with Jesus, believers need to intentionally take time to read and reflect on the truths of Scripture. God's Word reminds us of the depth of His love, shows us His desire for righteous living, reveals our sin, and gives us clear instruction on how to love one another. God's Word revives our soul, gives us wisdom, brings joy to the heart, and gives insights for living (Psalm 19:7-8).
Reading and knowing His Word should be a top priority for every
believer.
In John 15:4, Jesus said,
"Remain in me, and I will remain in you" (NLT). John reminds us of this promise and celebrates its fulfilment in 1 John 3:24: "We know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us" (NLT). God's Spirit dwelling in us renews our minds, reminds us of truth, convicts us of sin, and encourages us to love one another. Thankfully, we do not have to rely on our own strength or wisdom to carry out His commands and live righteously. Jesus has provided everything we need to remain in relationship with Him-His Word and His Spirit.
Questions for Application
How can we recognise when we are "dwelling" somewhere other than in Jesus, His Word, and His love?
What adjustments should we make to ensure we remain in Jesus?
2. LEARN TO DISCERN GOD'S TRUTH
a. Test the Spirits– 1 John 4:1-3
Practise these three simple steps to assess someone's teaching and "try the spirits whether they are of God' (1 John 4:1, KJV):
Read and study the Scriptures for yourself. Pray as you read God's Word that you would understand what you are reading. God has revealed himself to us through His written Word, and He has given us His Holy Spirit to help comprehend and apply it to our lives. The Bible is the standard by which we judge all moral, ethical, spiritual, and relational ideas. Therefore, we must be students of the Word.
Actively participate in your local church congregation so you get to know the people you allow to speak into your life.
The character of Christ will be seen in believers' lives. If a leader says they love God, yet they are cruel to their spouse or children-beware. If a friend claims to have a word from God, yet their life is marked by gossip or greed, understand the message likely isn't from the Lord.Find out more about the beliefs of the people you allowing to influence you-particularly whether they believe the Bible is the inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God.
If they don't believe in the authority of Scripture, avoid their teaching. Their view of Scripture allows them to pick and choose which passages to obey and which ones are supposedly irrelevant or out-of-date. Often, these individuals justify or embrace behaviours the Bible clearly defines as sin. They also may claim to have special knowledge that isn't included in Scripture. Any teaching that does not embrace the inerrancy of the Bible is a false teaching.
John challenges us in 1 John 4:1-3 to allow God's Word, not the culture around us, to shape our attitudes, behaviours, and responses. Many people will never read a Bible, but they will watch our lives and listen to our words. While we may never stand behind a pulpit or have a massive audience on social media, our actions and words still influence those around us. We need to represent Jesus and the truth of the gospel Correctly-even around the dinner table or in a coffee shop.
Questions for Application
What are the dangers of listening to advice from someone who doesn't believe the Bible is the inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God?
How can we engage in kind, friendly conversation with family and friends who disagree with the truth of God's Word?
b. Greater Is He That is in You –1 John 4:4-6
Our culture continues to grow more violent and rebellious, accepting nearly every kind of sinful lifestyle. If we focus on these trends, we will grow increasingly discouraged. It is important to lift our eyes and remind one another that God will judge all sin and conquer all evil. As believers, our future is secure, for we stand complete in Jesus. His blood covers our sins and removes our shame and punishment. Those in the world "speak from the world's viewpoint, and the world listens to them" (1 John 4:5, NLT). However, because we belong to Jesus, we should set our "sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honour at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth" (Colossians 3.1-2, NLT).
John wrote that those who belong to Christ will agree with sound teaching because God's Spirit dwells in us. But those who belong to the world will not agree with sound teaching because they have the spirit of deception and agree with one another (1 John 4:5). Although we believers live in the world and have relationships with many people who are not serving Jesus, we will be at odds with them on some level. This is one reason we need relationships with other believers. People who listen to, believe, and obey the truth can encourage us and remind us to do the same.
Questions for Application
Why is It important to remember that "the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world" (1 John 4:4, NLT)?
How are we at odds with those who do not believe scriptural truth?
Why ls It Important to build relationships with other believers?
3. HOLD TO THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRIST
a. Remain in the Teachings of Christ– 2 John 7-9.
When we aren't faithful to read and meditate on God's Word, our hearts are prone to wander. Knowing this tendency and the benefits of living by Scripture, Paul challenged the younger minister, Timothy, in this way: "You must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work" (2 Timothy 3:1417, NLT).
Questions for Application
Describe the practices of a diligent student of God's Word.
How does it encourage you to know that "anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son"(2 John 9, NLT)?
b. Don't Partner with Deception– 2 John 10-11.
Many passages of Scripture address how we should interact with false teachers. Paul was very straightforward in his words to the churches of Galatia: "I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. Let God's curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who a preaches a different kind of Good News than the one wè preached to you. I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed" (Galatians 1:6-9, NLT).
Paul's Words may seem
extreme, yet we must understand the seriousness of twisting the truth concerning the teaching of Christ. God has no tolerance for those who lead people away from salvation.
We must be diligent to know the truth, recognise the lies, and not partner with false teachers.
Questions for Application
How do you recognise when someone is teaching false ideas?
How can we partner with false teachers-whether intentionally or unintentionally?
According to this passage, what are we doing when we encourage false teachers?
Call to Discipleship
We can be confident before God if we know and obey the teaching of Christ. But we must guard that truth. Not everyone who claims to know God speaks the truth, so we must test what we are taught against the standard of God's Word. Those who belong to the world are being deceived, and they will agree with one another. As believers we have the Spirit of God dwelling in us, and we can understand and obey His Word. We must be diligent to remain in His Word and be on guard against all false teaching.
Call to Discipleship
Read Psalm 119 and note all the benefits of knowing and obeying God's, Word.
Memorise 2 Timothy 3:14-17. Consider what you learn about God in this passage and how He intends for you to interact with His Word.
Ministry in Action
Meet someone in this class for lunch and encourage one another by talking through your commitments to knowing and guarding the truth of God's Word.
Daily Bible Readings
Monday: Pharaoh's Lack of Integrity.–Exodus 9:25-35
Tuesday: Discerning God's Way.–Job 34:1-12
Wednesday: Judgement against False Prophets. –Jeremiah 23:25-32
Thursday: Revelation from the Father.–Matthew 16:13-17
Friday: Let No One Decelve You.–2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
Saturday: Be on Your Guard.–2 Peter 3:14-18
DISCLAIMER
This publication is the exclusive product of Assemblies Of God Nigeria, Sunday School Department. We used on permission.
