Pastor Stephen Dedman

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
‭‭I John‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
What voices have the greatest influence on your thinking, and do they consistently point you toward the truth of God’s Word?

Context
The apostle John wrote his first letter to believers who were facing false teachers who distorted the truth about Jesus Christ. Some claimed to have special spiritual knowledge while denying that Jesus had truly come in the flesh. John reminded the church that not everything claiming to be spiritual is from God. Instead, believers are to test every teaching against God’s revealed truth. Discernment is not optional, it is essential for a healthy and faithful Christian life.

Application
John’s command is simple: test the spirits. Before we embrace a teaching, follow a trend, or believe a claim about God, we must ask, “Does this align with Scripture? Does it exalt Jesus Christ? Does it produce obedience to God?”

Discernment is developed through daily fellowship with God. The more familiar we become with His Word, the more quickly we recognize error. Just as a bank teller learns to identify counterfeit money by handling genuine currency, believers recognize false teaching by knowing the truth.

God has not left His people defenseless. He has given us His Spirit, His Word, and the fellowship of the church to help us stand firm. In a culture where truth is constantly challenged, Christians must remain anchored in the unchanging truth of Scripture.

Truth For The Day
God’s truth never changes, and His Word remains the reliable standard for every believer.

Pray
Lord, thank You for giving me Your Word as the foundation for my faith. Help me to recognize truth and reject error. Give me discernment through the Holy Spirit so that I will not be deceived by the voices of this world. May my heart remain anchored in Christ, and may my life reflect obedience to Your truth each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.
‭‭I John‬ ‭2‬:‭25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
Are you living each day with the confidence of God’s eternal promise, or are you allowing temporary circumstances to overshadow the hope you have in Christ?

Context
The apostle John wrote his first letter to strengthen believers who were being challenged by false teachers. Throughout chapter two, John encourages Christians to remain faithful to Christ and to abide in the truth they had received from the beginning. False teachers were offering empty promises and distorted views of Jesus, but John reminds believers that God’s promises are certain because they come from the God who cannot lie. In the midst of warnings about deception, John points his readers to the greatest promise of all: eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Application
We live in a world filled with broken promises. People fail us, circumstances change, and even our own plans often fall apart. It can be easy to become skeptical about promises because we have experienced disappointment so many times.

When God makes a promise, His character guarantees its fulfillment. Eternal life is not a reward we earn through our efforts; it is a gift secured by the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Our confidence is not based on how well we perform but on how faithful God is.

When trials come, remember that they are temporary. When life feels uncertain, remember that your future is secure. The greatest promise ever made has already been guaranteed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Truth For The Day
Because God always keeps His promises, those who trust in Christ can live with confidence, hope, and assurance that eternal life is already theirs.

Pray
Lord, thank You for being a God who never breaks His promises. Thank You for the gift of eternal life. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on what is eternal rather than what is temporary. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question
If someone examined your life, would they conclude that your greatest treasure is Christ or something of this world?

Context
James wrote to Jewish believers who had been scattered because of persecution. Throughout his letter, he emphasizes that genuine faith is demonstrated through everyday actions. In James 2, he confronts the sin of favoritism within the church. Some believers were showing honor to the wealthy while neglecting those who were poor. James reminds them that God’s values are very different from the world’s. While society often measures people by their wealth, status, or influence, God looks at the heart.

Application
This verse is not saying that wealth is sinful or that poverty automatically produces faith. Rather, James teaches that God’s kingdom operates on a different value system. Faith, humility, and love for Christ are treasures that far outweigh earthly possessions. A person can have little materially and still be spiritually wealthy, while another may have abundant resources yet be spiritually bankrupt.

The question is not, “How much do I have?” but, “Where is my treasure?” When Christ is our greatest treasure, we become truly rich because nothing in this world can take Him away.

Truth For The Day
God measures true wealth by faith in Christ, not by earthly possessions.

Pray
Lord, thank You for reminding me that true riches are found in You alone. Forgive me for the times I have valued people by worldly standards or placed too much importance on material things. Help me to see others through Your eyes and to treasure what You treasure. In Jesus’ name, Amen.