What's In Me
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 6 viewsNotes
Transcript
WOW, Current Events have been off the charts this week! A major paradigm shift in the operation of our nation, presentation of our media, and many upcoming changes that will effect all of our daily lives.
Along with that disappointment that conspiracy theories were not true, disillusionment in the systems, and anticipation for releif that may never come.
Months back, even before elections in our nation, the Lord spoke into my heart three words - Overall, Overcome and Overwhelm! Words to be our theme for Destiny this year.
Make Jesus Overall!
Overcome through Jesus!
Overwhelm with Jesus!
We have spent the last few weeks speaking of these things. After the introduction of this for 2021 we talked about Hope has a Name - it’s Jesus who takes us from Desperation to Destiny and we can overwhelm those around us with this hope. Let us keep our eyes focused on this.
Then last week we talked about the Potter and the clay - and how we need to remain on the potter’s wheel and keep Jesus OVERALL in our lives - surrendered to him.
This morning I want to revisit OVERCOME! I think it is an appropriate week to look at this one.
Current events have seemed over reaching, over taking, over whelming, over board — but church WE WILL OVERCOME!!!!
- Honestly, the future in this world does not look bright! Our new President said the trajectory of the virus cannot be changed...
- Other nations are posturing against the US and allies are upset with us...
- Greater job loss, negative effect to the economy, and rising cost for medical and other necessities have already been put in play...
- The unleashing of funding for abortion, LGBTQ rights, and regulation on free speech and attacks on religion have begun...
BUT GOD!!!!
Can I remind you all this morning - the reason we make Jesus OVERALL, the reason we need to OVERWHELM with Jesus is because JESUS OVERCOMES THE WORLD!!!!
Many in the church realm are trying to draw attention to a man as a savior, but only one man - who is also fully God saves - HIS NAME IS JESUS!!!!
We need to turn our eyes upon Jesus, and be so full of the SPIRIT OF GOD in these days!
3 But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.
4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
5 Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them.
6 But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.
THERE ARE Three Spirits in the World Today
John writes here of two spirits at work in the world, but there is a third spirit presentas well.
They are:
1. He mentions the spirit of Antichrist - which is demonic spirit - the FATHER OF LIES and great deceiver!
2. He mentions the SPIRIT OF TRUTH which is the HOLY SPIRIT bearing witness to the true Christ and savior — JESUS CHRIST
3. There is also the HUMAN SPIRIT which has to choose which spirit he/she will align with!
My question to you today is what are you aligning your spirit with???
1. Spirit of Antichrist
1. Spirit of Antichrist
The spirit of antichrist exists in our world today. It is all that deceives and leads to choices and actions that are contrary to the WORD OF GOD we have. All that pulls us away from obedience to how Christ has taught us to live. All that denies the power of the cross, and the mission He came to fulfill.
2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
30 “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me,
11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.
Jesus referred to the devil as the ruler of this world… his spirit is at work in this realm.
Do I think the spirit of antichrist is alive in governments worldwide today --- ABSOLUTELY! The corruption, the power grabs, the dominance desires, the wars… the platforms of immoral acts - ABSOLUTELY!!!
The spirit of antichrist is pushing an agenda to destroy babies and children. If you can end a life before it is born like the pagan nations of the Old Testament sacrificing to the gods of Molech and Baal did - that is evil. I am not calling the young woman caught in despair that drive her to that point, but the corruptness of our society that speaks freely to engage in sexual behavior outside of God’s design in marriage and then deceive to think that taking that life is only answer --- both women and men are being deceived. 42 million abortions worldwide in 2020! 59 million deaths from all other causes. That is sobering.
God’s word also tells us in the days before Christ returns it will be like Sodom and Gomorrah...
26 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day.
27 In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 “And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building—
29 until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
Jesus speaks of the ignorance of man to their sinful ways, celebrating life and all their ways while ignoring relationship with God and honoring the CREATOR. Sodom and Gomorrah were known for the way they embraced homosexuality with freedom and celebration — which is being done worldwide these days.
In addition violence is celebrated, death, cheapness of life - mass shootings and criminal behavior, rape, incest, pedophilia, pornography… days of Noah!
How many were outraged when Twitter refused to censor child pornography this week while silencing conservative and Christian voice!
This is the spirit of antichrist - and much of mankind is deceived by it, aligns with its immoral choices and behaviors, and accepts it deceitfulness to REJECT CHRIST or deny His power.
1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.
2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.
3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.
4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.
5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
6 They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires.
7 (Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.)
8 These teachers oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith.
9 But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres.
This is the spirit of antichrist, we see it all around us....
In fact, it seems to permeate and overwhelm our world and many feel incapable of fighting against it...
2. Spirit of Truth
2. Spirit of Truth
We need to stop aligning with political parties, and start aligning with the SPIRIT OF TRUTH!!!
JESUS IS TRUTH!!!
1 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.
2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.
3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.
4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.
7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!
8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.
We are talking about overcoming this morning.... what does Jesus say in v7?
If you remain in me and my words remain in you - you may ask anything in my name and it will be granted...
The key to this is remaining in Christ --- what we ask for needs to be His desire - but we will not know His desire if we are not
in relationship with Him
Surrendered to Him
Listening to Him
James addresses this in his letter...
3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
Back to our passage in 1 John - he tells us the viewpoint of this world belongs to the spirit of antichrist, the church must have the viewpoint of the spirit of truth....
This only happens by remaining in Christ - HIS WORD - HIS PRESENCE and surrendering ourselves to the Lord.
Not sure if going to church 2-3 times a month is REMAINING - Just saying!
Listen to what John records in his Gospel about Jesus words on the Spirit of truth...
5 “But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going.
6 Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you.
7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.
9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.
10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more.
11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.
12 “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now.
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.
14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.
15 All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’
Spirit of truth is to bear witness to Christ and lead people to not only believe in Jesus, but to follow and obey Christ and let go of unrighteousness!
3. Human Spirit
3. Human Spirit
It all comes down to this ---
There are two spirits working in the world today.
The demonic spirit of antichrist which is REBELLION TO GOD and has been influencing man to rebel against our CREATOR so Lucifer can take us into destruction with himself and his hordes of demonic forces...
and
The HOLY SPIRIT OF TRUTH who was sent by God to SAVE us from that destruction.
OUR HUMAN SPIRIT HAS THE CHOICE WHICH TO LISTEN TO AND FOLLOW!!!!
4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
Those of us who are surrendered to the Spirit of truth WIN!
THOSE OF US WHO HAVE SURRENDERED TO THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH WIN!
THOSE OF US WHO HAVE SURRENDERED TO THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH WIN!
You see, the VICTORY belongs to those who have Christ inside!
CHRIST IN YOU THE HOPE OF GLORY! Paul writes in...
27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.
The New Living Translation uses the term - you have already won a victory ...
NKJV and KJV use the word OVERCOME...
The Greek word is … NIKAO
John uses this word in his writings more than any other -
17 times in the Book of Revelation
6 times in his first epistle
What do we summarize from this ---
If you want to be an overcomer - you have to allow the SPIRIT OF TRUTH to FILL YOU UP!!!!
YES!!!!!!!
Greater is He is that is in you, than HE that is in the world!!!!
When you feel overwhelmed by this world remember you are an OVERCOMER because the SPIRIT OF TRUTH IS IN YOU!!!!!
But, YOU NEED TO LIVE SURRENDERED TO THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH TO BE THAT OVERCOMER!!!!!
So many struggle with:
- marital issues,
- temptations to sin,
- bondages to addictions,
- wounds from our past
- unforgivness and bitterness
Living in defeat because the counselors, voices of this world, deception of antichrist has told you that you are defeated....
HOLD IT! - IF you have Christ within - HE IS GREATER THAN THE VOICE IN THE WORLD!
He saved you to make you an OVERCOMER!!!!
REGARDLESS OF HOW WICKED THE WORLD MIGHT SEEM --- WE CAN OVERCOME!
Allow your HUMAN SPIRIT to not give into the desires of the flesh and the voice of deceit in our world — but allow the SPIRIT OF TRUTH to RAISE YOU UP to the place God has ordained for you to WALK IN!
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
3 But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.
4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
5 Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them.
6 But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.
Your spirit is being called to align with the SPIRIT OF TRUTH by the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE and the SAVIOR OF MANKIND - JESUS!
The voice of antichrist is strong in this world today — but take heart - if what is in you is Christ - He is greater than what is in the world.
The devil might be the prince and power of the air, but JESUS IS LORD OF ALL, and He is the OVERCOMER. Let your HUMAN SPIRIT ALIGN WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT!
33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.