THE SPIRIT OF ANTI-CHRIST

FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE.

There is a lot of talk and teaching about the coming antichrist. In the first of John's letters he says: Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. (I John 2:18-23)

The antichrist is to be the great counterfeit of Jesus the Christ and therefore the archenemy of Jesus. Whoever the antichrist is or when he might show up is not nearly as important to me as is the spirit of antichrist. John speaks of this later in the letter: And every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. (I John 4:3)

The spirit of antichrist has to do with a mood and attitude that pervades the Jesus movement today. You see, anti can mean "against", but it also has the meaning of "instead of" and therefore is more subtle and dangerous. I am convinced the most effective deception today is not that which is against Jesus, but that which is added on to Jesus in such a way so as to be instead of Jesus. The many "instead of Jesus" add-ons today seem harmless, but displace and replace the name and power of Jesus.

When Jesus warned about the false prophets, He described them as people who did all kinds of things in the name of Jesus yet were not really doing the will of the Father. Jesus said, "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'"

Note they called Jesus Lord, spoke in the name of Jesus, cast out demons in the name of Jesus and performed many miracles in Jesus' name. However, they will not enter the Kingdom of heaven, because they somehow did not do the will of the Father. We are given some idea what Jesus meant by doing the will of the Father in the next paragraph. Jesus says: "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell-and great was its fall." (Matthew 7:24-27)

So, these false prophets and teachers weren't careful to follow Jesus and His teachings. Jesus says this is hearing His words and practicing them. I believe these were those who were part of the spirit of antichrist-the "instead of" Christ movement.

Jesus warned His disciples about both the Pharisees and the Herodians: And He was giving orders to them, saying, " Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." (Mark 8:15) Both the Pharisees and the Herodians were caught up in the "instead of" movement-piling up add-ons on top of the truth. The Pharisees were into the add-ons of list after list of laws. The Herodians were a political movement who added on the potential of being powerfully influential, which meant more to them than being truly righteous before God. The leaven of each group amounted to the add-ons.

We have our modern day Pharisees today who worship the Bible and hold people to the exact interpretation they have come up with. Your relationship with Jesus-the living Word of God-becomes secondary to whatever doctrine they might hold sacred. The Herodians are still here as well. They are the people today who believe we must get the entire nation to follow the Christian ways of doing things. Sadly, they believe you can legislate values and morality. For so many years, this movement has enjoyed the power-base to operate, yet the net result in our society is woefully falling short of what God might want. If anything, we are going backwards with respect to changing our culture for the Lord.

The spirit of antichrist is the problem-adding on to Jesus so much that the add-ons become the replacement of Jesus and His preeminence! Some see this spirit of antichrist as an intentionally evil movement. I don't see it this way at all. There are those who are propagating antichrist messages on purpose, but for the most part I believe it is well-intentioned. Jesus keeps slipping between the cracks and in reality, in many religious operations, Jesus has left the building. I don't believe many set out to leave Jesus out of their newsletters or messages, but it's just too easy to allow Jesus to be crowded out.

Paul gives a hint of this disposition of evil men and imposters. He says to Timothy: But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (II Timothy 3:13) NOTE they are deceiving and being deceived themselves! There are so many who just don't get it that Jesus wants and requires simply a relationship with Him. It is Jesus plus nothing-and nothing more. Nothing else matters! In the encounters of Jesus in the Gospels, nothing else mattered. It didn't matter enough to add on anything to the Roman official who had greater faith than had ever been expressed in all of Israel. Jesus didn't add anything on to the woman who was healed of her bleeding problem by just touching His robe. He didn't add on anything to the Syrophoenician woman. It has always been and is now a matter of your relationship with Jesus and that you learn to follow Him. That is enough!

The spirit of antichrist is definitely prevalent in the world today. It's just too easy to either replace Jesus with something good or to add on to Jesus and make Him something He is not. Evil rules when you are distracted or deceived into being dependent upon anything other than Jesus. That's the spirit of antichrist.

THE SPIRIT

TWO EXTREMES IN THE SPIRITUAL WARFARE

FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE.

When it comes to understanding the spiritual warfare, there is so much confusion. It's such a "hot" topic, much like prophecy, therefore people spend so much time and energy cussing and discussing it. The excitement of the latest fulfillment of prophecy-the number of the anti-Christ, 666, the latest signs of the 2nd coming of Jesus, the alignment of powers in the end-times-can overrule most discussion topics. But even more stimulating than prophetic events and signs are the breathtaking stories of "demon-possession" and exorcism!

There is nothing more chilling than to hear an eyewitness account of a person who has become demonized. It's spooky, downright bloodcurdling at times. It's like the old E. F. Hutton illustration: "When E. F. Hutton talks, people listen!" When anyone breaks into sharing a demonic story, all other conversation stops. I've seen this numerous times. When I share any of the counseling stories of a demonized person, all attention is focused immediately. Whenever I share one of these stories in a message or lecture, the silence is deafening.

The issue is so forceful that it drives people into extreme positions. As I shared in the first podcast on this particular subject, confusion reigns when it comes to understanding this kind of war. There are usually two extremes in spiritual warfare: (1) Ignore it and it will go away and (2) when in doubt, cast it out. The problem with the first extreme is that the spiritual warfare doesn't depend on whether or not you believe it or know anything about it. There is an enemy of God out there who is also your enemy and he is out to destroy you in whatever ways he can. So, ignoring the reality of the spiritual warfare will prove to be certain destruction for you, even though you choose to be ignorant about it. The second extreme of "when in doubt, cast it out" will most certainly drive you crazy. If you believe everything bad or scary is caused by the devil, you will develop a real good case of paranoia and phobias. The devil doesn't cause everything that is bad or scary in your life. You are perfectly capable of screwing up your life without the devil's assistance.

At the end of the devil's temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, Luke records a most interesting insight for us: When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time. What is an "opportune" time? Basically, a more opportune time is when you would least expect it or when you are vulnerable. In the Anonymous community the word is that you are most vulnerable when you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired. The acrostic given to help you remember is HALT.

The HALT times in your life are good indicators for the most opportune time for the devil and his demons to attack. Other opportune times might be when you are the weakest, stressed out, or as in the life of David, when you have too much time on your hands. One kind of opportune time that seems a little surprising to most is when you have just experienced a spiritual victory or successful mission or being blessed. This is precisely when the devil and his demons find it most effective to move in to do their destructive work in your life.

Jesus gives us the best perspective on the extremes when dealing with the devil and his demons. In the 9th chapter of Luke's Gospel Jesus sent out His twelve disciples to heal and cast out demons. In the 10th chapter Luke records when Jesus sent out the 70 or 72 disciples. He sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where Jesus was about to go.

Their mission trip was highly successful. Let's listen in to what happened when they returned: The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." They were so excited about their victories over the demonic world. The stories they had to share were absolutely amazing! Their minds were definitely blown and they were filled with enthusiasm!

Jesus' response is interesting. He didn't criticize, but affirmed them: And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you." In other words, Jesus was saying, "You guys did a great job out there! I gave you the power to do your work. In fact, Jesus uses a triple negative to describe what kind of protection He gave them. He said, "I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions-any kind of danger-and over all the power of the enemy and nothing, no way, no how will be able to injure you."

Then, NOTE what Jesus said: "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven." Here Jesus brings in the balance. FIRST-Don't get so excited over the demonic stories and activities, where in the name of Jesus you have power over them. That's an extreme and keeps you distracted and off-message. SECOND-BUT be excited about what is most important-that your names are recorded in heaven. Be excited about your supernatural and eternal relationship with the Lord. Get enthused about your personal relationship with Jesus! That's what's important!

Jesus was bringing them back into balance and focusing them away from the possible distraction. He was bringing them back on track. There is no doubt that the devil and his demons are out there and the spiritual warfare is for real, but keep your focus on Jesus, not the devil.

I like to say it in this way: When the Lord is your Master, the world is your mission and you are a prime target for evil each and every day. Hang on to your relationship with Jesus and those who follow Him and your eyes will be exactly where they need to be in order to fight the fight most effectively!

BATTLE FOR THE SOUL-BATTLE FOR THE MIND

FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE.

As I have said earlier the spiritual warfare is really a battle for your soul-a battle for your mind. This is why Paul references "taking every thought against the Lord to the captive obedience of Jesus." It's also imaged by the flaming arrows or darts of the evil one that Paul discusses in Ephesians 6. These seem to be that same mind attack against your faith and they can only be defused or deflected by the piece of armor he calls the shield of faith.

John references this same battle for the mind in his smaller letters. In I John 2:14-I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Here the reason for their strength against the evil one is mentioned. He says they were strong enough to actually overcome the evil one. The secret is that the word of God abides in them. This is an important insight for us today. It's again making sure we are into the genuine message, heart and person of Jesus, so that we are better able to clearly see the counterfeit message of Jesus.

Later in the same letter John says: We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. (I John 5:19-20) What a powerful reference to being in Jesus-in Him who is true-the true God and eternal life!

One of my favorite passages from Paul is found in the twelfth chapter of his letter to the followers of Jesus in Rome. It's here that I see a 6 step approach to living your life in the strength and empowerment of the true message of Jesus.

The first two steps are embedded in the first eleven chapters of Romans. FIRST-Observe what God has done for you. There is only one command in this section. He is diligently outlining what God has done for you. SECOND-Open yourself up to the Spirit of Jesus within. One of the primary themes throughout the Scriptures is for the Creator-God to come down here and dwell or make Himself at home among His people. Be aware of this in your own life.

THIRD-Offer your body to God for His mission (12:1). This is in verse 1: Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. On the basis of what God has done for you (the mercies of God), now you are urged to present your body to God as a living sacrifice. He is no longer interested in dead beasts, but live bodies who are separated unto God for His special mission and calling on their lives.

The biggest problem with live bodies is that they are continually getting down from the altar of sacrifice-taking back their lives after offering them to God.

FOURTH-Overhaul your mind (12:2). And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Now he turns the discussion toward the mind. You might make the decision to offer your body to God for His mission and calling on your life, but what is going to allow you and empower you to hang in there and do it is what you do with your mind.

You have a choice. You can either be fit into the mold of the world system-its values and its thinking. That is what he means by "conformed." Or, you can be transformed-totally changed-by the renewing of your mind. He uses the word metamorphosis-a complete change. This kind of spiritual transformation will only come by overhauling your mind with the truth about who God says He is and the truth about who God says you are. And, by overhauling your mind-continually ruminating and meditating on what is true, you can put to the test what the best is for you.

FIFTH-Obtain a servant's heart (12:3). For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. Here Paul says it is so important to have a right evaluation of yourself before God and man. Don't think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. This kind of thinking naturally moves into the last step given here.

SIXTH-Operate in a small group (12:4-8). For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

You are not to operate alone, but within the support and relationship of others. We are all given different giftedness and strengths to be used to cultivate the oneness of walking together in one body-the body of Jesus. We need one another to function most effectively.

Practice these six steps and you'll be prepared to participate in the battle for your soul. This is how to be proactive. Ignore them and you will still be in the battle for your soul, but you will only be able to be reactionary. You choose! Be victorious or be victimized by the spiritual forces of darkness.

PART II-WHAT CAN YOU DO TO THE DEVIL AND HIS DEMONS?

FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE.

Yesterday we discussed the example of Jesus and the teachings of James and Peter on what it means to resist the devil and his demons. Today I want to walk through the teachings of Paul to the followers of Jesus in Ephesus. Paul presents a logical flow with several specifics on how to resist. Let's look at what he taught:

Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. When it comes to fighting the supernatural spiritual warfare against the devil and his demons, you are going to need the strength and power of the Lord. You will also need to put on the appropriate armor that can only come from God, so that you will be able to stand against the many methods and tricks of the devil. (More on this later.)

Next Paul says: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

The term "struggle" used here literally means our "personal wrestling match" or hand-to-hand combat. This indicates that the spiritual warfare is a personal thing. It's when you are being attacked by the devil and his demons. You must remember that your struggle is not against flesh and blood. Your enemy is not a person or group of people. Your real enemy is against the rulers, the powers, the world forces of darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

It's too easy to see another person or group of people as your enemy, but that isn't true. Your real enemy is a spiritual enemy. I have a friend who says if you are facing a foe that has flesh and blood, then don't fight against him. He or she is not your enemy! So, instead of fighting against them, fight for them. Your real enemy is a spiritual one!

Paul repeats his remarks about putting on the armor of God as he continues: Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day. THEREFORE, since your battle is against spiritual forces of darkness, you are going to need the full spiritual armor of God to fight it. Paul uses the same word James and Peter used in their teachings-RESIST. You must take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to RESIST in the evil day. The "evil day" seems to be the day you are personally attacked by evil. He repeats it again and says and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm is the same word as RESIST.

Again Paul uses the term for RESIST when he says: Stand firm therefore, It's at this point Paul lists what the full armor of God actually is. Each one of the pieces of the armor has to do with the message of Jesus in the Word of God-both written and spoken. Let's take a brief look at each one.

The first piece of the armor is HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH. I see this as girding your loins with the truth of the Word of God. Secondly, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. This is acting out the truth in your life-right and wise living. Thirdly, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. This piece of the armor is a readiness to share the good news of peace with everyone everywhere.

Fourthly, in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith. This is believing the truth we have learned through the written and spoken Word of God-acting on faith-acting as if it is true, because it is. Note this shield of faith is the armor with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Fifthly, And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION. This is the experience of being freed and unconditionally loved by God. And note where this armor is placed. It's a helmet to guard your hearts and minds-your thinking.

Finally, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. All of the other pieces of armor are to protect you as you stand firm or resist the evil one. There is no armor for your backside; it's all for standing against the evil one head on. All of the armor is defensive! Only one piece of armor is offensive-the sword of the Spirit. The sword or dagger of the Spirit is the word of God. This is not the written Word of God-your Bible. This is the spoken Word of God. It's just like how Jesus resisted the devil in the wilderness. He spoke the truth right back at him and he was defeated. The spoken Word of God is the truth of Jesus you have embraced to the point of being able to speak forth the truth against the forces of darkness.

So, the logical flow is like this. FIRST-COUNT ON YOUR STRENGTH COMING FROM THE LORD, HIMSELF.

SECOND-PUT ON YOUR SPIRITUAL ARMOR BY IMMERSING YOURSELF IN THE WORD OF GOD-BOTH WRITTEN AND SPOKEN.

THIRD-NOW YOU WILL BE ABLE TO RESIST THE DEVIL AND HIS DEMONS.

One of the things that is so important to consider here is that the spiritual warfare is not something rare or spooky that only happens to some, but not to many. The truth is the spiritual warfare is being waged over your life each and every day. As soon as you declare your allegiance to Jesus, you can count on being thrust into battle. This is why it is not always a "bed of roses" to be walking with and following Jesus. We are in a battle and we must prepare ourselves, put on the armor and plan on having to resist the evil that rises up against us.

Note the last part of this passage: With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. Why are we to pay attention and pray for all of the other followers of Jesus? It's because we are all in this war-the battle for the souls of men and women.

So, the devil and his demons are constantly waging war against you. If that was the end of the story, then you would be gripped with fear and be living without hope. BUT GOD, has made it possible for us to resist the devil and his pesky followers. Resisting is all about walking in the power of the Lord Jesus, putting on the full armor which is the Lord Jesus and then you can stand against the evil one in His name-the matchless name of Jesus.