How Do You Test the Spirit? Discernment Lessons from 1 John 4:1-6

In this episode of The Daily Bible Refresh, Dr. Brad Miller reads 1 John 4:1–6 from The Message and explores what it means to practice true discernment in a world full of religious noise. From questioning spiritual claims instead of blindly accepting them, to understanding “confessing Jesus” as embracing embodied love rather than a mere verbal password, Dr. Brad offers a progressive, down-to-earth look at faith that can handle questions and doubt. Drawing on real-life examples, including his work with cancer patients, he shows how genuine Christianity is lived out in real bodies, real suffering, and real compassion—and invites listeners to test every teaching by whether it looks and sounds like love that shows up in ordinary life.Key TakeawaysDiscernment is commanded, not condemnedThe passage in 1 John 4:1–6 urges believers not to “believe everything you hear” but to weigh and examine spiritual claims carefully, using mind, wisdom, and experience.Progressive faith welcomes questions and doubtDr. Brad frames critical thinking as a “progressive instinct”: faith that can’t survive being questioned wasn’t sturdy to begin with, and doubt is part of maintaining a healthy, living faith.“Confessing Jesus” is about embodied love, not a passwordThe test in 1 John about confessing Jesus in the flesh has often been weaponized, but here it’s reframed as honoring that God shows up in real human bodies, suffering, and daily life, not just abstract ideas.True spirituality is grounded in real-life suffering and compassionFrom his cancer-related work, Dr. Brad emphasizes that real faith doesn’t offer tidy answers; it meets actual people in real pain, with love that “gets its hands dirty.”A practical test for religious claims: does it sound like love?Listeners are encouraged, whenever they hear a religious message (online, on TV, in church), to pause and ask: Does this sound like love that shows up for real people in real bodies—or just a show?Links referenced in this episode:voiceofgoddaily.comThe "Daily Bible Refresh" is presented each day by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller who has a goal of speaking a bit of the bible into two million ears (one million people) in three years (2025-2028).He is the author of "The A, B, C-1,2,3 Bible Study Guide" Free to you by clicking HERE.Brad served as a local church pastor for forty years and has a background in radio and podcasting. Moreover, he is a life-long student of The Bible.He believes in the words of Jesus that “scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21)The "Daily Bible Refresh" is available seven days a week by 6:00 am ET. The episodes are no longer than ten minutes long and are...Understandable: A reading from the New Testament (usually the Gospel) selected from the Revised Common Lectionary using "The Message" translation.Relatable: You will have a couple of "points to ponder" from the text which will relate to your lifeApplicable: Every episode includes a way you can take action based on the readingA recommended resource to help you go deeper in biblical study and spiritual direction.A prayer for your day.A companion resource to the Voice of God Daily Podcast is the “ABC Bible Study Guide” available by clicking HERE.The "Daily Bible Refresh" is available every day at VoiceofGodDaily.com on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcast directories.You can help Dr. Brad attain his goal of getting a bit of the bible into two million ears by subscribing to "Daily Bible Refresh" on Apple Podcasts, leaving a five-star rating, and writing a review. More importantly please share with your network of family and friends about the "Daily Bible Refresh".Please make listening to the "Daily Bible Refresh" a part of your daily life.Remember… “All scripture is God-breathed and useful”(2 Timothy 3:16)