Devotional for the Family of God
1 John 4:1–3 (NLT): Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.
John’s warning to the church was pertaining to individuals who claim to be authentic prophets and are actually false prophets. He said that the way to tell if people are authentic or false is what they say about Jesus. It truly is a matter of authority. If the person testifies that Jesus Christ is real, and He came in the flesh – then the Spirit of God is in them. If they can’t – they are filled with a spirit, it is simply not the Holy Spirit.
Every single person on earth has a spirit – I hope you have chosen the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
So, how does that translate for the rest of us? Is this passage insinuating that only those who are front and center in the church gatherings are suspect of an antichrist spirit? I hope you don’t think that. What if we found out that any of us could be antichrist?
Remember people, there is a difference between antichrist and Antichrist. Antichrist is the one who sits on top of the heap of evil and is God’s pawn in the end times to bring this world to a screeching halt – just like God used Pharaoh to bring Egypt to a screeching halt in the days of Moses. Pharaoh was truly antichrist, even though he was not the Antichrist.
When you see the word Antichrist (capitalized), it is referring to a specific person. When you see antichrist, it is referring to a spirit that is in anyone who denies Jesus Christ is God and that He has the power to forgive people of their sin.
Before shivers begin running up and down your spine, remember the true test is simply testifying that Jesus Christ is Lord, that He came in the flesh and is our only means of salvation.
Go ahead and do that right now.
You can breathe a sign now… Actually, someone with an antichrist spirit wouldn’t even be reading these devos to begin with. They have no interest at all in the things of God.
I want you to understand that confidence to live comes from Jesus. He gives it. He wants you to have confidence. John makes it very clear who should have confidence. Those who acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. He is saying that it is only the Holy Spirit who gives you the ability to speak the truth about Jesus.
If you lift your voice in praise to God in an assembly, it is the Holy Spirit that enables that. If you worship and sing songs to glorify God, it is the Holy Spirit who enables that. If in joy you shout when no one is around, and in the shouting you lift up the name of Jesus, it is the Holy Spirit who enables that. If you write to encourage a friend and you tell them to put their trust in God, it is the Holy Spirit who enables that. When you feel prompted to pray at a meal or intercede for the family of God, you guessed it, it is the Spirit of God who enables that. Do you see where I am going?
It is only the Holy Spirit who enables the things of God and the kingdom of God to advance. Those who have the spirit of this world (antichrist – instead of Christ) do not think like you do and are not enabled the way you are.
Thank the Lord today that you can speak the name of Jesus and declare who He is – You are enabled by the Holy Spirit to do so! Pray for those who can’t. Pray that they would surrender to Jesus through salvation. Once they do they too will be led by the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:24–26 (NLT): Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
Father, we thank You that we can have confidence. Our confidence comes from the truth that You made a promise to us. You sent the Holy Spirit to us through Jesus. We receive the fullness of Your presence through the Holy Spirit. Thank You and thank You Jesus for making this all possible through your amazing love and mercy. Thank You for forgiving our sins.
Blessings
Pastor D
