Daily Devotional – FEBRUARY 21 (Jesus is Come in the Flesh? Or Not? Part 2)
By admin On January 19th, 2021.
.
Daily Devotional – FEBRUARY 21
.
.
.
.
Jesus is Come in the Flesh? Or Not?
.
Part 2
To read Par 1, click here…FEBRUARY 20 (Jesus is Come in the Flesh? Or Not?)
.
.
.
.
“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:
Every spirit that confesseth
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
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.”
1st John 4:2, 3
.
.
.
.
In yesterday’s devotional (click here), this above passage from 1st John was touched upon, concerning spirits confessing Jesus, or not confessing Jesus!
.
And it was revealed that confessing with mere words, that, “Jesus is come in the flesh”, is not what God had in mind, when He wrote those words by the hand of John!
.
No, those words of 1st John 4:2, 3 mean so much more! Because every man, woman, and child who is born into the world, is indwelt by a spirit!
.
Listen as 1st John continues… “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, and the SPIRIT OF ERROR.” 1st John 4:6
.
So here we see that two spirits exist in the world: the “spirit of truth” as well as the “spirit of error”.
.
And so, in yesterday’s devotional, the Spirit of Truth was lightly touched upon.
.
Christ battles satan – www.thebiblerevival.com – public domain
.
.
.
.
.
THE SPIRIT OF ERROR
.
But today, let’s focus on the “spirit of error” for a moment.
.
Does the Bible give us any further insight as to just what is this “spirit of error”?
.
Listen as 1st John further continues…
“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…
They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world,
and the world heareth them.
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us;
he that is not of God heareth not us.
Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”
1st John 4:3, 5, 6
.
Okay, so the spirit of error exists within the people of the world. And they, Antichrists, speak of the world, and the world listens to them!
.
So, very sadly, the people of the world are void of the Holy Spirit, but not void of the Antichrist spirit!
.
Castle of Disney – Wikipedia – Public Domain
.
.
.
.
.
ONE SPIRIT, OR THE OTHER
.
Yes, tragically, the people of the world are not void of the Antichrist spirit!
.
Now, is there any further confirmation of this?
.
Yes, listen… “And you hath He quickened,
who were dead in trespasses and sins:
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air,
the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh,
fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind;
and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
Ephesians 2:1-3
.
So here is revealed another giant concept: the concept that Satan, the “prince of the power of the air” just happens to be, “the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience!”
.
And so, in light of what we have discussed so far, we now see that everyone has a spirit working within: either the Spirit of Holiness, or an Antichrist spirit!
.
Satan presiding at the Infernal Council – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
.
.
.
.
.
NO DR. EVIL!
.
And we further realize that those who are of an Antichrist spirit, are not necessarily some sort of “hobgoblin” or perhaps, some “Dr. Evil”.
.
No, the spirit of Antichrist is merely the normal every day, run-of-the-mill working-class man, woman, or child!
.
Yes, everyone who has NOT been “Born Again” into God’s Spirit of Holiness, is a vessel of “the Prince of the Power of the Air”, the spirit of Satan working in them!
.
Marilyn Manson performing Antichrist Superstar – cropped image – Share-Alike License – Wikipedia
.
.
.
.
.
LOVE NOT THE WORLD!
.
Now the great question to be answered is this: “Does this mean that if I am a worldly-minded Christian, then I am of the spirit of Antichrist?”
.
Let’s allow the Bible to answer this question…
.
Listen… “Love not the world,
neither the things that are in the world.
If any man love the world,
the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh,
and the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life,
is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away,
and the lust thereof:
but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
1st John 2:15-17
.
So, it says here that all the things of this proud and selfish and fleshy world are not of the Father.
.
And it is our commission from God to begin a work, to cooperate with Him in driving these lusts out of our heart!
.
New York Times Square – terabass – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike License
.
.
.
.
.
THE WORK OF HEART-PURIFYING
.
And here is the real dividing line between those who love God, and those who love the Devil…
.
Listen… “And every man that hath this hope in Him (Christ) purifieth himself, even as He (Christ) is pure!” 1st John 3:3
.
As this above little verse reveals, every man, woman, or child who truly has the hope of meeting Christ in peace, begins a work of purification in his or her life!
.
This is the evidence that manifests itself in the life of a true worshipper of God: a true consternation and sorrow for sin, which drives that Believer to strive for purity and holiness!
.
David’s sorrow – Wikigallery – Public Domain
.
.
.
.
.
CHRIST-LIKENESS UNACCEPTABLE!
.
Now, those in the Church who love NOT Christ, but love this present world, have no intention of becoming totally Christlike!
.
Oh they don’t mind cleaning up their lives to a certain degree! Perhaps they quit smoking and drinking and begin to live a somewhat moral life.
.
But never, never will they ever strive for the selfless life of Christ! That would be far too self-denying! And so instead, they live a somewhat moral life, while still clinging to their inward selfishness.
.
And though their lives are moral enough to fool their local congregation, to a great degree, yet their worldliness sends up red flags to God’s true sheep.
.
.
.
.
.
“THOU ART MY HIDING PLACE”
Psalm 32:7 & 119:114
.
Now, just how can we end this discussion on a happy note?
.
Well, Reader, as you and I read this little two-part devotional, our hearts convict us that we must strive harder to rise above the din and clamor of this selfish world and endeavor to enter that Narrow Gate, while the door of mercy is still open!
.
And for those of us who still have an ear to hear this unnerving message, the following passage begins to come alive for us…
.
Listen… “In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver,
and his idols of gold,
which they made each one for himself to worship,
to the moles and to the bats;
To go into the clefts of the ragged rocks,
for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of His majesty,
when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils:
for wherein is he to be accounted of?”
Isaiah 2:20, 21
.
Here is the separating message for the present hour! Here is the answer to Habakkuk’s vision! Yes, God’s people must cast away our idols of silver and gold, to go into the clefts of the ragged rocks (God’s cutting Word), for the fear and glory of God’s majesty!
.
And as we cast away our earthly idols, and seek that blessed hiding place, we will find a place of refuge in that day, when the Lord rises up to punish the inhabitants of the earth!
.
Hide Thyself in thy Chambers- inspired by Tornado Over Kansas by Curry
.
.
.
.
TODAY’S PRAYER…
“Dear Lord, Show me the way into Thy sanctuary! Help me flee from these worldly attractions and take refuge in Thee…
.
.
.
.
.
.
READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read…FEBRUARY 27 (Our Most Holy Place: “Proper Care & Maintenance”), or you can also read… “August 8th (Ten Sleeping Virgins!)”
Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license
.
.
.
.
.
THE END
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN
.
.
.
THE FOOLISH VIRGINS STARS: WHY SO SHORT?
.
Notice that this snake looks somewhat short, as if it is perhaps a sawed-off snake (picture right). What could that be all about? Well, the picture to the left shows us the reason why!
.
You see, the Five Wise Virgins represent all those who were once a part of Satan’s Kingdom of Selfishness. But now, they have been cut off and separated from that kingdom. Now they have now become part of God Kingdom of Unselfish Love! And that is why this serpent looks as if its body has been severed. It has lost part of its body!
.
Listen… “And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:” Ephesians 2:1, 2
.
So here in this above passage, God is revealing a great concept: namely, that we who are true worshippers of God, were once part of Satan’s kingdom. But God has separated us from that old serpent, the Devil!
.
And so, now it is only half-a-serpent! The Wise were once part of that serpent. But now they have become free from Satan’s Prison-house of Sin!
.
.
.
.
.
.
READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “The Five Foolish Virgins Stars”
Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license
.
.
.
.
.
TOMORROW…
“FEBRUARY 22 (Pilgrim’s Progress: Vain Confidence, Part 2: Eternal Security)”
Pilgrim’s Progress – Vain-Confidence – Wikimedia – Public Domain
.
.
.
.
.
.
20+ MINUTE AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH
.
ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.
.
THIS STUDY #417 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…
.
.
above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain