"You belong to God...You have already won your fight with the(se) false prophets because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. These people belong to this world so they speak from the world's viewpoint and the world listens to them. But we belong to God; that is why those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception." 1 John 4:4-6
In a prior writing, I shared that one cannot be living for the world's ways and in God's ways at the same time. For the ways of God run counter to the ways of the world. The world we live in would offer that sinful behavior is acceptable. We should pursue everything that is the desire of our heart, whether that is in the form of material things, sexual things, money, fame...the list could go on and on. And the world's proposal to everyone is very enticing. It's also very dangerous when we compare it to what God expects from us.
For all the enticements of this world draw us farther and farther away from what God expects of us. These wordly temptations have a way of consuming our hearts and minds, obsessing us with what the world would propose makes us get ahead and prosper. And there are very many convincing people in the world who seek to persuade us to seek the world's desires. They speak from the spirit of deception. For worldly matters may indeed lead you to worldly success but at the same time they will lead you to spiritual bankruptcy and ruin.
Jesus said that "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Materialistic and sexual infatuation only leads one's heart void of the Holy Spirit, the only One who can consistently lead you away from deception and into truth.
Question: Where do you stand? Are you obsessed with the matters of the world and thus in partnership with the spirit of deception? Or are you obsessed with living a life that is in accordance with the Will and Word of God? If you have fallen prey to worldly ways, there is good news for you today. Simply pray for God to forgive you and ask Him to reveal His purpose for your life through the work of the Holy Spirit. Then constantly seek the Spirit's guidance as to what you should and should not do. In return, God will reward and bless you more abundantly than you could ever imagine. Remember the words of our scripture today, "the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit that lives in the world." Turn to the stronger Spirit of God within you today.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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