1 John 4

1 John 4King James Version (KJV)

4 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.

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

⁸ He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

⁹ In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

¹⁰ Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

¹² No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

¹³ Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

¹⁴ And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

¹⁵ Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

¹⁶ And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

¹⁷ Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹ We love him, because he first loved us.

²⁰ If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

²¹ And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Thoughts:
The first few verses give us a test to know whether or not someone is of God or not. They must confess that ,"Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God." If they don't, they are not of God.  This is simple.  If someone does not believe in the divinity of God, they are not of God. We should not follow someone who does not confess Jesus Christ. He is greater than the enemy in the world. 

Next, they verses talk about love. 
This next test is about ourselves. If do not love, we are not of God.  It says, "Everyone that loves is born of God. If we don't love, we are not born of God. We must realize that love is why He came and died for our sins. He chose to come because of the great love he has for his children. He wanted to give us a way of salvation. He came to perfect us.  His love is perfect. When we work in His love, share His love, and accept His love, we are perfected as well. 
His love casts out fear.  Fear is the opposite of love. When we are afraid, we are not trusting His love to carry us.  We are not being faithful and trusting. Love from God is deeper and more powerful than we can imagine.  His love is what gives us life. We return love to Jesus because he loves us so much.  We should want to love Him and others. 

This ends with another test. If we say we love God and hate our brother, we are a liar.  Lying is a sin.  Hate has no place in the presence of God.  We have brothers, not only our physical brothers, but spiritual brothers as well. If we hold animosity, bitterness and hatred toward others, we are lying to ourselves about our spiritual state.  We are not right before God. This test says we love others, no matter what.  We cannot hold hatred, bitterness and anger toward others and still be pleasing to God. 
He ends with a command, "That he who loves God love his brother also. "  No doubt, we all need to work on really loving others to the fullest extent.  If we love, we will care for them, help them, accept them, teach them, speak in love, forgive all, and be able to live peaceable with all men. God is not pleased with hate and stirring up of strife.  

Prayer:
1. Lord, show me if I harbor any ill feelings in my heart toward others.
2. Lord, help me to understand what it really means to love. 
3. Lord, help me recognize the right spirit and know when someone is of you or not of you. Help me have wisdom to apply the "test" to all things. 
4. Help me examine my own heart and be sure it is filled with love and no other thing.