Congratulations you’ve made it to day six! I’m thrilled to share with you some insights God gave me as I was meditating and studying this verse. Grab a blanket and a cup of joe (personally I prefer hot chocolate with lots of whip cream.) 🙂 And let’s jump into things.

“We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” 1 John 4:6

“We are of God:” Hold it right there, let’s talk about this for a second. When you are “of or from” someone you carry their identity and authority in what you say and how you conduct yourself. In this case (our verse) the “we” is referring to the apostles but it is just as applicable to us today. I’m sure you remember our verse from two days ago, it’s a great example, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 This verse reminds us of our authority in Christ or “of God” over the enemy. The Bible Knowledge Commentary explains it well, “Reliance on God is the secret of all victory whether over heresy or any other snare. The indwelling One—the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer (John 3:24; 4:13; Rom. 8:9) and is thus “the One who is in you.”

Wow what a Heavenly Father we have that would let His children have access to this kind of power for just knowing Him, this my friends, is true love!

Take a moment and examine yourself, are you “of God” through knowing Jesus, which begins with salvation?

“he that knoweth God heareth us;” Let’s look at some key words in this section, it’s important to understand words’ original meanings and not just breeze over them.

Knoweth: γινώσκω ginōskō, be aware of, acknowledge, be resolved, be sure, understand, and can speak of.

Heareth: ἀκούω akŏuō, to hear, give an audience, come to the ears, and understand.

Jesus gives a beautiful word picture of knowing and hearing His voice in John 10:3-4 “To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.”

Or I could put it this way… I just returned home from a ministry trip. The Governor in one of the countries I was in, sends soldiers to guard the team while we are in her country because she is well aware of the violence of the gangs. I know the governor and her reputation, so when she says, “I’m sending soldiers”, I listen and heed her words and understand her care for us as a team.

My question to you, do you know God and hear His words so as to differentiate between good and evil? “he that is not of God heareth not us.” Well this is pretty self explanatory. We’ve talked about what it means to “hear God” through His Word. So on the other hand if we’re not hearing God, His Holy Spirit is not living in us opening our spiritual eyes to the truth of His Word and giving us a longing to know Him.

“Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” And this is the assurance we have to distinguish between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” John 14:16-17

And this, my friends, is how a real loving Father treats His children, giving us a guideline and His Holy Spirit to teach us truth and error. My prayer for you is that you will be constantly aware of God’s Words of truth in your life through meditation, that your life in 2016 will be a reflection of Jesus Christ.

Happy memorizing and meditating!

 

~Elizabeth Shoemaker