I Know God’s Will Because Jesus Came In The Flesh
Last week I shared 3 Ways An Anti-Christ Spirit Tries To Get The Focus Off Of Jesus. Today we talk a little more about recognizing and overrunning the opposition of an anti-Christ spirit.
An Anti-Christ Spirit Denies That Jesus Came In The Flesh
The apostle John wrote about the anti-Christ spirit in 1 John.
1 John 4:1-4 (NIV) Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
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
The word “Christ” means “anointed one”. An anti-Christ spirit is anti-anointing. It opposes what God wants to do by denying that Jesus came in the flesh. However, we have overcome all anti-Christs, because Jesus lives in us. Not only did he come in the flesh, but he has come in our flesh. The church is his body. Christ in us is the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)
Every spirit that is not from God is anti-Christ. An anti-Christ spirit influences the church when it gets us to doubt everything that Jesus coming in the flesh implies for us. When we believe the lies of an anti-Christ spirit, it hinders us from doing the works that Jesus did. Here is one of the major implications of the fact that Jesus came in the flesh.
Jesus Revealed The Father’s Will To Us
John 1:18 (NRSV) No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
Consider the implications of this. Before Jesus came in the flesh, there was no clear picture of exactly what God was like. The view was blurred. God was still far off and mysterious. But now we can see God and know exactly what he is like.
John 14:8-9 (NRSV) Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Colossians 1:15 (NRSV) He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation
Without Jesus come in the flesh, God is invisible. But because Jesus has come in the flesh, we can see God as he is. We can touch God. God is no longer far away and mysterious. Jesus’ name is Immanuel, meaning “God is with us.”
Isaiah 7:14 (NRSV) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.
God’s will is rooted in his nature. Not only can we see God exactly as he is, but we can know his will because Jesus came in the flesh. Look at what Jesus said. He came as a man and revealed to us “everything” that the Father made known to him. He didn’t hold anything back.
John 15:15 (NRSV) I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.
God’s will is no longer a mystery. He has made it known in Christ!
Ephesians 1:9 (NRSV) …he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ
An Anti-Christ Spirit Says That You Can’t Be Sure Of God’s Will
An anti-Christ spirit says that we can’t be sure what God’s will is. Here is one of the scriptures that it likes to quote out of context.
1 Corinthians 2:16a (NRSV) “For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”
Many Christians quote this verse in a way that they think is exalting God. Maybe it feels like God is more magnificent and worthy of awe if he is depicted as far away, mysterious, and un-knowable. But the whole context of this scripture is about us knowing the things of God because we have been given the Spirit of God. Here is the rest of the scripture:
1 Corinthians 2:16b (NRSV) But we have the mind of Christ.
An Anti-Christ Spirit Teaches People To View God Through Anything But Jesus
Many Christians assume that if something happens, it must have been God’s will. They assume that God is in control, so he must have planned or permitted anything that happened. When they pray and a person is not healed, they assume that God must not have said “yes” or decided to heal them.
But God has said “yes!” Jesus is God’s “yes!”
2 Corinthians 1:20 (NRSV) For in him every one of God’s promises is a “Yes.” For this reason it is through him that we say the “Amen,” to the glory of God.
If we could see God or know his will through circumstances, Jesus would not have had to come in the flesh! Everything that Jesus did was the will of God, revealing the character of God. And Jesus healed all who came to him. The anti-Christ spirit presents an image of God that is different than Jesus.
How do these lies prevent Christians from demonstrating the anointing? Scripture is full of exhortations to believe, to pray with faith, to be unmovable, and to stand firm on truth.
Ephesians 6:13-14 (NRSV) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness.
James 1:6-8 (NRSV) But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
If we don’t know what God wants, how can we have faith? How can we stand firm? If we think that whatever the current circumstances are is a reflection of God’s will, we will be double minded, driven and tossed by the wind. The anti-Christ spirit opposes the anointing by denying the revelation of God that we have received through Jesus coming in the flesh.
Walking In The Anointing
I was once frustrated with many years of powerlessness. I believed that God did miracles, but I wasn’t sure if it was always his will to heal. I thought there might be exceptions. Once I broke free from the influence of an anti-Christ spirit, miracles began to happen all around me. I wrote that story here. I believe that whenever power is lacking in a believer’s life, the influence of an anti-Christ spirit can be found.
You have already overcome all anti-Christs, if Jesus lives in you. The anointing is the spirit of Jesus within you. Walking in the anointing is just a matter of recognizing and rejecting the lies of an anti-Christ spirit. Then you begin to think and act according to the truth that Jesus has come in the flesh. God has been revealed to you, you know his will, and his Spirit is in you working to accomplish it.
For more on understanding and dominating antichrist spirits, check out the third book in the Heaven Now Trilogy, Jesus Has Come In The Flesh.
Next week, we will discuss why an anti-Christ spirit says that God doesn’t need you.
If you liked this post, you may want to check out my Heaven Now book trilogy. It contains many similar insights into understanding simple gospel truths and exercising heaven’s dominion on earth. It’s also filled with testimonies of what happened when I put these truths into practice. I’m sure these books will encourage you and help you learn to walk as a heavenly person. Not only that, but your purchase supports our missionary work in Brazil and in every other place we go!
