Why are we told to test the spirits instead of believing every spirit?
Believers are told to test the spirits because many false prophets have gone out into the world, and not every spirit is of God. Every spirit that does not confess Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God but is the spirit of Antichrist already present in the world.
Les explains that First John chapter 4 is written to believers, not to the unsaved world. The beloved are told, "believe not every spirit, but try or test the spirits, whether they are of God." The reason is that many false prophets are gone out into the world. Verse 3 gives the test: every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God. That is the spirit of Antichrist, and even now it is already in the world. So the world is up against two spirits: either the Holy Spirit or the evil spirit. Satan has his demons, and this originates in the satanic powers. Les also reminds people that Satan does not only promote what we would call skid row behavior; he will promote the most beautiful things, and what we think is cultural and enlightening, as long as he can keep people from the truth.
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
More Questions
Why are believers supposed to test the spirits?
Believers are told not to believe every spirit but to test the spirits to see whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
How can an ordinary believer discern whether a spirit is of God?
Every believer has the wherewithal to discern these spirits, and the only criteria is lining it up with the Word of God — not what some preacher, or Les, or a seminary says.