The spirit of antichrist
1 John 4:3 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. 4:4 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.
The scripture warns us against the spirit of antichrist, and that this spirit is already present, working to deceive and lead people away from Christ. It has become imperative for us to it's operations and how we can stand firm in our faith amidst the forces of deception.
The book of John tells us that "every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God" (1 John 4:3). The spirit of antichrist denies the true nature of Christ, His divinity, His saving work, and His Lordship.
This is not limited to one individual or a future event; rather, it is a force present in the world right now, as John says, "even now is already in the world."
This spirit takes many forms, subtly creeping into our culture, media, and ideologies. It seeks to distort the truth about Jesus, questioning His authority, downplaying His significance, or presenting alternative paths to salvation. We see this in various philosophies and religious movements..
Nevertheless, we are called to test the spirits (1 John 4:1), for not every spirit is from God. There is a spiritual battle between truth and falsehood, light and darkness. The spirit of the antichrist is not just a theological concept; it is active in spreading lies that confuse and divide. How do we recognize this spirit?
1. It denies the truth of who Jesus is. Any teaching, worldview, or influence that rejects Christ as the Son of God and Savior of the world comes from this spirit.
2. It opposes the kingdom of God. The spirit of the antichrist seeks to draw people away from God's kingdom and into worldly desires, false teachings, and self-centeredness.
3. It promotes division and deception. Satan is the father of lies, and the antichrist spirit works to deceive, distort, and divide the body of Christ and society at large.
Therefore, we must be vigilant, discerning, and grounded in Scripture. John’s call is a reminder for us to examine what we hear, see, and believe, weighing it against the truth of God’s Word.
But here lies our hope in the midst of the appearance of the antichrist. verse 4, says, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”
This is a triumphant truth! While the world may be under the influence of the antichrist spirit, we belong to God, and His Spirit resides within us. The Spirit of God is greater than any force of evil, deception, or falsehood. Christ has already won the victory over sin, death, and the powers of darkness through His death and resurrection.
Because we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we do not need to fear the influence of the antichrist spirit. We have been equipped with the Word of God, the power of prayer, and the community of believers to help us remain steadfast. We are not victims of the world’s deceptions; we are victors in Christ.
In living our life today as victors, we must...
1. Remain in Christ. Our victory comes not from our own strength, but from our connection to Jesus. As Jesus said in John 15, we must remain in Him, for apart from Him we can do nothing. Spend time in His Word, in prayer, and in fellowship with other believers.
2. Boldly declare the truth. The world needs to hear the truth about Jesus. We are called to be witnesses of Christ, standing firm against the lies and deceptions of the antichrist spirit.
3. Walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.** Remember, the One who is in you is greater! The Holy Spirit empowers us to live holy lives, discern truth from error, and stand strong in the face of opposition.
4. Resist the influences of the world. As John tells us in 1 John 2:15, we should not love the world or the things of the world. We live in the world, but we are not of it. We resist the temptations and false values that the antichrist spirit promotes.
In conclusion, let us remember that while the spirit of the antichrist is real and active, it does not have the final say. Jesus Christ has already triumphed, and as His followers, we share in that victory. Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
God bless you.
Prayer key:
1. Lord, thank you for the blessing of your word today in Jesus Christ name.
2. Lord, grant me the confidence to stand for the truth if your word anywhere I find myself in Jesus Christ name.
3. Lord, help to stand against the falsehood of antichrist in Jesus Christ name.
4. Thank you Lord for answered prayers in Jesus Christ name. AMEN.