The last post was based on the things the scripture explains about the revelation of the antichrist and the manifestation of the works of this spirit that is already at work in the hearts of the men (male and female). We also concluded on the fact that some people will by no means escape the deception of the antichrist as they do not love the Truth (the whole portion of it; which is Christ) from their heart. These ones will definitely be overtaken eventually by the darkness that is in the world through lust.
So in order to escape the deception of the enemy, we have to love the truth. How important is the love of the Truth and how does it relate to escaping the deception of the enemy. Twice Jesus prayed in the scriptures that we should be kept and delivered from evil (the evil one) Lk 11, John 17. He wasn’t talking about the power of oppression of the evil one because He has delivered from the kingdom and authority of darkness. What He as praying about is that we should be kept from the pollutions of the enemy, the ability to corrupt and desecrate. John 17 explains the way out of the activities of the enemy; sanctification by the truth; Jesus said sanctify them by your truth, your word is truth. So in essence when we love the truth in our hearts-the whole portion of it then we are well equipped to stand. So the journey starts from the point of having love for the truth which also means loving the Father, for it you love He that begets then you will love he that is begotten. So let’s explore what love will do for us.
If you want to see and properly examine the depth of the works of the antichrist, you will have to look into the hearts of men, which is where the work is going on the most- the soul. Scripture tells us that both the God and the mystery of lawlessness walk in the hearts of men. Phil 2:12, Eph 2:5. Now let’s take a look at the works of the antichrist in the hearts of men so that we can learn wisdom by which we will direct and guard our hearts.
1John 4 says that there are 3 things that the world is made of; the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. If any man loves the world the love of the Father is not in him. The very next verse explains what the source of these 3 things is- beware of the antichrist. So in essence the works of the antichrist does 3 things in the hearts of men, it promotes, establishes and increases the influence of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. The work of these 3 things is to flush out the love of the Father from the hearts of men.
Now when the love of the Father is not in men, man will not retain God nor give a thought or reverence to God in every area of their lives. This of course will lead to a total erasure of God in the soul i.e man will not retain God in their thinking, they will not acknowledge Him as God nor will they give thanks to Him. Then what happens? They will be given up to a reprobate mind to do the things that are pleasing to them. See Romans 1
So examine yourself, do you really love the Father? I am not asking if you go to church or if you are committed in the church. I am not also asking if you are a leader maybe a pastor. My question do you love the truth. Are you held captive by the 3 things that are in the world; what blind men pursue and waste their lives on- the lust of the flesh, of the eyes and the pride of life? How well do these things influence your motives, thoughts, goals, aspirations and even your commitment to God? Paul said some people preach Christ because of personal gain.
In the next post we will consider what it means to love the truth and how we can judge ourselves by the truth.
May the Lord direct our hearts into the love of God and to the patient waiting for the revelation for Christ. Stay in the truth.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
The revealing of the antichrist
2thessalonians 2:3-14 gives us an account of what is happening right before our eyes in these last days. The manifestation of the antichrist.
The book of Ezekiel gives a model of the unveiling of the truth about spiritual issues as it gives us a clear demarcation between the personality of the enemy and the spirit behind him- the prince and the king of tyrus.
Now in 2Thesalonians, God wants us to understand and be able to track and unveil the activities of the enemy by the light of the truth that is in us. It is a known fact in the spirit that evil thrives in darkness. The power of evil lies in two things- ignorance and misunderstanding
So in this passage, there is the spirit at work and also the man of sin at work which shall be revealed in due season. 2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (KJV)
But we need to understand that the spirit of antichrist is already at work as John told us by the Holy Spirit in his epistles.
1Jo 2:18 ¶ Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1Jo 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son.
This is the spirit of antichrist- the spirit that denies the Lord Jesus Christ. Now our passage gives us a very practical and detailed account of the works of this spirit.
Now vs 3-6 tells us about the revelation of this man of sin - the man of the antichrist. But look at the next verses because they reveal the activities of the spirit of antichrist.
The mystery of lawlessness is already at work..... This is the work of the spirit of antichrist.
Scripture says that the coming of the antichrist will be according to the workings of satan. This means that the coming of the antichrist will be preceded by the workings of the devil (in secret). So what are the workings of the devil- scripture says it is in all signs and lying wonders. So the work of the devil will look like the signs of the Lord but they are lying wonders.
The second one is by every kind of wicked deception and unrighteousness but we need to know that these will be preceded by lying signs and wonders.
Now look at the very important point in this passage- this talks about the people that will be swept by this terrible wave of deception. They are those whose fate is destruction 2Th 2:10 and by every kind of wicked deception for those who are on the way to perdition because they did not welcome into their hearts the love of the truth, so that they might be saved. (WNT)
It says that some people's fate is destruction, why? Because they love not the truth in their hearts and not because God has appointed them unto destruction. They are not going to escape the delusion of the enemy, because the truth does not abide in their hearts. It does not matter where they are now, whether they are priests or men of God or they even dwell in the buildings of God. The delusion of the devil will definitely overtake them.
So the way of escape from this is to love the truth and to abide in it.
The love of God is a defence against the activities of the enemy and the deception thereof.
2Th 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
the evidence of abundant life
One of the evidences of the manifestation of abundant life is the prosperity of the spirit and the soul beyond the prosperity of the body or of physical things. God is a God of order and whatever He does carries the emblem of divine order. He doesn't break His own protocols hence He will be a God of confusion.
Some of the things we get involved in and are believing for are out of spiritual order.
In the spiritual order of things, God places priority on spiritual prosperity before physical one and He will never support any agenda that is against such.
Now, back to the topic above. God wants us to live in the realm of abundant life. The realm of abundant life is a realm where the spiritual bestows status on the natural and not vice versa. The spirit of antichrist is the one that operates in the reverse order of this.
1Jn 1;1 That which was form the beginning which we have heard, and seen and looked upon and our hands have handled of the word of life. Notice verse three, the things we have seen and heard we communicate to you so that you may have fellowship with us and our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
What is he trying to say, if they communicate the word of life, then they surely have abundant life on the inside of them because you can't communicate the word of life if you have not abundant life on the inside- in your spirit.
The word of life is a fragment of the abundant life present on the inside. How do I know, scripture says that out of the abundance of the heart (spirit) the mouth speaks.
Some of the things we get involved in and are believing for are out of spiritual order.
In the spiritual order of things, God places priority on spiritual prosperity before physical one and He will never support any agenda that is against such.
Now, back to the topic above. God wants us to live in the realm of abundant life. The realm of abundant life is a realm where the spiritual bestows status on the natural and not vice versa. The spirit of antichrist is the one that operates in the reverse order of this.
1Jn 1;1 That which was form the beginning which we have heard, and seen and looked upon and our hands have handled of the word of life. Notice verse three, the things we have seen and heard we communicate to you so that you may have fellowship with us and our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
What is he trying to say, if they communicate the word of life, then they surely have abundant life on the inside of them because you can't communicate the word of life if you have not abundant life on the inside- in your spirit.
The word of life is a fragment of the abundant life present on the inside. How do I know, scripture says that out of the abundance of the heart (spirit) the mouth speaks.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
The church as specialised centres
I Cor 12:6 says there are differences of administrations but the same Lord. The church is the body of Christ on the earth. I believe in these scriptures lies the prophetic destiny of the church and the evolving process the Spirit will take church through.
Even if the church doesn't look like the body now, it will surely become one, it is only a matter of time. Not one of the words of the Lord will pass unfulfilled.
Now, one of the things to look for in the body is that the body is composed of several sections distinct from each other, yet joined to each other perfectly.
these are specialised sections of the body. The hand is different from the leg, the eyes, the ears etc I Cor 12:14-31
There is one important point to note, it's that it is God who sets the members of the church. It is not in our own capacity. John 15:1, says God is the husbandman.
So the church is becoming specialised centres dedicated to specialised work on the earth. This work is in our days and not later and the sooner we understand this the better oriented to the flow of the spirit we become.
The evidence of the unity is not external. There is a solid structure on the inside- the skeletal system nourished by a massive network of fibre tissues, nervous system, muscles, cartilages, blood system etc.
SO WHAT IS THE WORK OF THESE SPECIALISED CENTRES AND HOW DO WE RECOGNISE THEM.
Even if the church doesn't look like the body now, it will surely become one, it is only a matter of time. Not one of the words of the Lord will pass unfulfilled.
Now, one of the things to look for in the body is that the body is composed of several sections distinct from each other, yet joined to each other perfectly.
these are specialised sections of the body. The hand is different from the leg, the eyes, the ears etc I Cor 12:14-31
There is one important point to note, it's that it is God who sets the members of the church. It is not in our own capacity. John 15:1, says God is the husbandman.
So the church is becoming specialised centres dedicated to specialised work on the earth. This work is in our days and not later and the sooner we understand this the better oriented to the flow of the spirit we become.
The evidence of the unity is not external. There is a solid structure on the inside- the skeletal system nourished by a massive network of fibre tissues, nervous system, muscles, cartilages, blood system etc.
SO WHAT IS THE WORK OF THESE SPECIALISED CENTRES AND HOW DO WE RECOGNISE THEM.
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