KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

1 John 4:1-3

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Everyone is spiritually influenced. Every single person.

One’s spirit works is working behind the scenes, unseen and within the depths of a person’s soul, but rest assured it reveals itself through the behavior of the person it sways. This is why it’s of critical importance for a person to know the spirit that is leading them and there are only two types, two types we find highlighted within the first four verses of 1 John, chapter 4. Look again at those words here:

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

Here we clearly see that there are two spirits and we can tell them apart by their association with the Lord God Almighty and Jesus, His only Son and our Savior.

Let’s tackle the spirit who has no association with them, the spirit of the antichrist.

As we have covered in a previous message titled, “Are You An Antichrist?”, an antichrist is simply a person who lives in opposition to Christ Jesus, an anti-Christ. These people are under the control of “the spirit of the antichrist” which is driven by the power of none other than Satan himself. This control brings a person to the place where they refuse to acknowledge that “Jesus Christ has come in the flesh” and came “from God”.

Remember that there is a coming Antichrist (capital A) who is yet to come, the man of lawlessness mentioned in Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonian Christians (2:1-12). A representative from Satan who will possess great powers of deception and manipulation, we read in 2 Thessalonians where he will be recognized through his opposition to God and personal exaltation, a personal exaltation which will include declaring himself in authority over everything “that is called God or is worshiped”, even going as far to declare himself as God.

Unfortunately, this rebellion against God will gain many followers or antichrists (small a) as the Antichrist skillfully carries out Satan’s plan to destroy as many souls as possible so he’ll have plenty of company in Hell when he is vanquished there forever. For anyone in enmity with God will not believe and accept Jesus as Savior, therefore relinquishing the free offer of salvation offered by them and passing up on an everlasting life in Heaven (John 3:16).

So there have been antichrists since the time of Jesus and there will continue to be until Christ returns again to judge all creation. If the spirit within you is leading you to pass on believing in Jesus, then you are giving into the spirit of the antichrist and destined for Hell. I can’t put it any other way for you.

The good news is that you can change your destiny today by swapping out the spirit of the antichrist for the other spirit available to you, the mighty Holy Spirit who is sent from God Himself in Jesus’ name to be our great Counselor and Advocate (John 14:26).

This Holy Spirit automatically comes to dwell within the soul of every person who chooses to believe in Jesus as Savior, leading them to the way and will of God which results in right and righteous, sinless living. In the first chapter of Ephesians, we also read where the Holy Spirit is “a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory” (Vv.13-14). In other words, the presence of the Holy Spirit in our souls marks us as belonging to Christ, the One who makes us Christians.

When under the powerful directing of the Holy Spirit, there will never be a time when Jesus is not acknowledged and represented. We know that both Jesus and the Holy Spirit form the Holy Trinity along with the God the Father. Three distinct entities and yet one in every way and so there will never be disagreement of confusion between them.  They are always perfectly lock-stepped, consistent with one another in every possible way.

What a comfort it is for us to know as Christians that we not only have our future secure through the eternal life we gain by believing in Jesus but are also secure in the present until that time comes because of the work of the Holy Spirit within.

And so there you have it.

Two spirits with completely contradictory agendas.

The spirit of the antichrist works to bring you into opposition with Jesus with the desire of keeping you from the gift of salvation and eternal life while guiding you into the eternal torment and suffering of Hell.

Conversely, the Holy Spirit, gained when you choose to trust in Jesus, only wants the best for you, leading you to a life of harmony with your Savior as you grow daily as a Christian in His righteousness and holiness while on the way to the Kingdom of Heaven.

When a person is aware of this truth, they would be foolish to continue partnering with the spirit of the antichrist. If that’s you today, I encourage you to make today the day of your salvation. Place your belief in Jesus today and know the Holy Spirit now and forever.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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