Jubilee Community Church
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  • The Spirit of Error

    Text: 1 John 4:1–6
    1 John 4:1–6 KJV 1900
    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. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4 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. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 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.
    Additional Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:9–12 2 Timothy 4:3–4 Isaiah 5:20 Matthew 24:24 Ephesians 4:14

    Introduction

    We are living in a generation flooded with information but starving for discernment. People can hear a thousand voices every day through social media, podcasts, influencers, news outlets, false teachers, entertainment, and even compromised pulpits. The danger of this hour is not merely wickedness—it is deception disguised as truth.
    John said there are two operating spiritual influences: The Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error.
    The word “error” in 1 John 4:6 is the Greek word “planē” (Strong’s G4106), meaning: wandering, delusion, deception, straying from truth, being led astray.
    This is not merely intellectual confusion. It is spiritual deception that causes a person to drift away from truth while believing they are right.
    That is the terrifying nature of the spirit of error: It blinds while convincing the person they can see.
    Jesus warned repeatedly: “Take heed that no man deceive you.” — Matthew 24:4
    The greatest battle in the last days is not merely persecution. It is deception.
    The spirit of error can enter churches, marriages, friendships, leadership, ministries, and individual hearts. It causes people to twist scripture, justify sin, reject correction, become prideful, divisive, unstable, and emotionally led instead of Spirit led.
    But the good news is this: God has not left His people defenseless. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth.
    Main Points

    What Is the Spirit of Error?

    Scripture: 1 John 4:6 “6 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.”
    2 Timothy 4:3–4 “3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
    The spirit of error opposes truth while pretending to honor truth.
    It does not always appear demonic outwardly. Sometimes it appears religious. Sometimes emotional. Sometimes intellectual. Sometimes compassionate. Sometimes “enlightened.”
    Satan rarely attacks truth directly at first. He twists it slightly.
    Genesis 3:1 “Yea, hath God said...”
    The first manifestation of the spirit of error in scripture was questioning God’s Word.
    The spirit of error: • Adds to scripture • Takes away from scripture • Reinterprets scripture to fit flesh • Elevates feelings above truth • Uses partial truth to support deception
    Today, many people no longer ask: “What does God say?” They ask: “What feels right to me?”
    That is dangerous.
    Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
    The spirit of error creates: • False doctrine • False discernment • False peace • False humility • False righteousness
    It causes people to call evil good and good evil.
    Isaiah 5:20 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil...”

    What Does the Spirit of Error Look Like Today?

    Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:10–12 “10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Ephesians 4:14 “14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”
    The spirit of error manifests differently in different people, but the fruit becomes visible over time.
    Signs of the Spirit of Error
    A. Constant Resistance to Correction
    Proverbs 12:1 “Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.”
    One major sign is when a person cannot receive correction. • They always defend themselves • They twist conversations • They blame others • They become angry when confronted with truth • They view accountability as attack
    The spirit of error protects pride.
    B. Twisting Scripture to Justify Flesh
    Satan quoted scripture to Jesus in the wilderness.
    Matthew 4:6
    A person under the spirit of error often uses scripture out of context to defend sinful behavior, bitterness, rebellion, division, lust, unforgiveness, greed, or compromise.
    They use the Bible selectively instead of surrendering fully to it.
    C. Emotionalism Without Truth
    Truth becomes secondary to feelings. • “If it feels loving, it must be God.” • “If it hurts my feelings, it cannot be truth.”
    But truth sometimes cuts before it heals.
    Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword...”
    D. Obsession With Conspiracies, Hidden Knowledge, or Novel Revelation
    The spirit of error often produces spiritual pride. People begin believing: • “No one else understands truth except us.” • “Everyone else is deceived.” • “I have special revelation.”
    While God absolutely reveals hidden things, error often creates isolation and superiority.
    Romans 12:3 warns us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought.
    E. Unstable Behavior and Constant Confusion
    James 3:16 “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
    The spirit of error creates instability. • Constant spiritual highs and crashes • Changing beliefs every week • Double-mindedness • Chaotic relationships • Impulsive reactions • Spiritual paranoia • Mistrust of everyone
    God’s Spirit brings clarity and order.
    1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace...”
    F. Division and Strife
    The spirit of error divides people. It creates: • Church splits • Offense • Gossip • Suspicion • False accusations • Triangulation between people
    It often convinces people they are “fighting for truth” while actually sowing destruction.
    Romans 16:17 “Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”
    G. Hatred of Genuine Truth
    Eventually the spirit of error becomes hostile toward real conviction. People begin avoiding preaching that exposes sin. They seek teachers that comfort flesh.
    2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine...”

    How Does Someone Fall Into the Spirit of Error?

    A. Pride
    Pride blinds discernment.
    When people stop humbling themselves before God, deception enters.
    B. Bitterness and Wounds
    Unhealed pain can distort perception. People begin interpreting everything through hurt instead of truth.
    Hebrews 12:15 warns about roots of bitterness defiling many.
    C. Isolation
    People disconnected from godly accountability become vulnerable to deception.
    D. Rebellion Against Conviction
    When God convicts and people continually resist, their discernment weakens.
    2 Thessalonians 2:10–11 reveals that people receive strong delusion because they “received not the love of the truth.”
    The issue was not lack of information. It was refusal to love truth.

    How to Overcome the Spirit of Error Personally

    Scripture: Psalm 139:23–24 John 16:13
    A. Ask God to Search You
    One of the strongest protections against deception is humility.
    Psalm 139:23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart...”
    A humble person says: “Lord, if I am wrong, show me.”
    B. Return to the Word of God
    Not opinions. Not trends. Not personalities. Not movements.
    Acts 17:11 says the Bereans searched the scriptures daily.
    The Word corrects deception.
    C. Invite Godly Accountability
    You need people who love you enough to tell you truth.
    Proverbs 27:6 “Faithful are the wounds of a friend...”
    D. Repent Quickly
    Conviction ignored becomes deception embraced.
    Keep your heart tender before God.
    E. Pray for Discernment
    Philippians 1:9–10 “That ye may approve things that are excellent...”
    Discernment is not suspicion. Discernment is the ability to distinguish truth from error through the Holy Spirit.

    How to Help Someone You Believe Is Dealing With the Spirit of Error

    Scripture: Galatians 6:1 2 Timothy 2:24–26
    Do not approach with arrogance. Approach with humility and truth.
    A. Pray Before Confronting
    Some deception is spiritual stronghold territory. Prayer matters.
    B. Speak Truth Calmly
    Do not match chaos with chaos. Truth spoken in love has power.
    C. Use Scripture, Not Just Opinions
    The Word carries authority.
    D. Do Not Enable Delusion
    Love does not mean agreeing with deception.
    E. Understand That Some People Will Resist
    Jesus Himself was rejected by people trapped in deception.
    Not everyone who hears truth will receive it.

    The Spirit of Truth vs. The Spirit of Error

    Spirit of Truth: • Humbles itself • Loves correction • Produces peace • Walks in clarity • Points to Jesus • Leads to repentance • Produces consistency • Walks in love and truth together
    Spirit of Error: • Protects pride • Rejects correction • Creates confusion • Twists scripture • Produces division • Elevates feelings over truth • Leads away from repentance • Produces instability

    Application

    Every believer must examine themselves honestly.
    The spirit of error is not only “out there.” It can creep into our own hearts through pride, offense, fear, hurt, ego, and compromise.
    You can be sincere and still be deceived.
    That is why we must stay: • In prayer • In the Word • In humility • In accountability • In surrender to the Holy Spirit
    The greatest danger is not merely being wrong. It is refusing to be corrected.
    If God is exposing something in your heart today, do not harden yourself. Truth is not your enemy. Truth is the doorway to freedom.
    John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

    Closing Insight

    We are entering an hour where deception will become stronger, subtler, and more spiritualized than ever before. Many voices will claim truth, but only the Spirit of God can lead into all truth.
    The church must return to discernment. Not paranoia. Not pride. Not spiritual elitism.
    Real discernment is rooted in humility, scripture, and intimacy with God.
    The Lord is calling His people out of confusion and back into clarity. Out of emotional instability and back into spiritual maturity. Out of deception and back into truth.
    The Holy Spirit is still the Spirit of Truth. And whom the Son sets free is free indeed.
    “Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.”— Charles Spurgeon

      • 1 John 4:1–6KJV1900

Jubilee Community Church
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