Greater is He That is in You…

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.”  I John 4:4

John had just stated in verse 3 that those who do not confess that Jesus Christ came to earth in human form is not of God.  John calls them the “spirit of antichrist” which has been and is now in the world.  A false spirit or false prophets could never confess that Christ had come to earth as a human and as God for at least two reasons:  1.  if he or she is speaking lies about Christ, then the Holy Spirit is not dwelling in him or her, and 2. to make this statement would refute the lies they had been speaking.  Who wants to listen to someone who speaks truth and lies?  Those who tell lies about Christ and make false prophecies are speaking the words of Satan.  All who are deemed antichrists are the forerunners of the great antichrist who will come upon the earth in an effort to defeat God and control the world.  Judging by the condition of the world, their efforts have been and are being very successful, but the plans of the antichrist will not succeed, thank the Lord.

The only way to know the truth is to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit of God.  Being born of God spiritually by grace through repentance and faith in Christ, we are taught the truth of God and blessed by Him as He reveals His word to us.  Matthew Henry wrote that being born of God “secured (us) against infectious fatal delusions”.  Jesus said in Matthew 24:24 concerning false christs and false prophets, that, if it was possible, (meaning that it is not possible), the elect, the chosen of God could be deceived by the signs and wonders of Satan’s minions.  In other words, these “fatal delusions” cannot infect the righteous because they are armed with God’s truth, and they have the Holy Spirit within as a Security Guard or a spiritual antibody against those who attempt to harm the believer with lies, doubts, and temptations.  He is our supernatural immunity to Satan’s lies.

Those who reject Christ, the gospel, and God the Father are of the world which makes them under bondage to Satan, “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2).  The singer Bob Dylan once said, “You’re going to have to serve somebody.  It may be the devil, or it may be the Lord, but you’re going to have to serve somebody”.  God is the Master of the Universe.  If one chooses to reject Christ, then God has no other option but to let him or her serve Satan.  There is no middle ground, no neutrality.  One can’t “straddle the fence” so to speak.  Those of the world speak the language of the world.  They say that truth is “relevant”, that is, it depends on the situation, or, as folks say, “Your truth may not be my truth”.  This doesn’t refer to personal likes and dislikes, but to the truth in general.  Those who speak the world’s language have a much greater audience than those who speak God’s truth.  People hear what they want to hear and disregard the rest.  If the truth doesn’t fit, they will not submit.

Jesus said in John 10:27 that His sheep, His followers, hear His voice and follow Him, but they won’t follow strangers whose voices they do not recognize (John 10:5).  Romans 8:16 tells us that the Holy Spirit witnesses within our spirits that we belong to Christ.  He also provides a connection among believers that causes us to recognize other believers because they have the same Holy Spirit indwelling their hearts.  Thus, being of God, we are able to communicate truth among one another.  When a fellow believer speaks through the Spirit of God, we can have all confidence that he or she speaks the truth.  We can listen with open ears in order to enrich our knowledge of the Lord and His word.  However, if we hear something that sounds questionable or a bit off from what we know about scripture, we can go to scripture to verify the truth of another’s words.

Unbelievers have no desire to hear anyone who is speaking God’s truths.  Because they are not indwelt with the Holy Spirit, they are not able to discern the word of God rightly spoken.  They say they cannot understand what the Bible is saying, and they are right because His word is revealed to those who desire to know it and to live by it.  It is astonishing what some folks believe is written in scripture but isn’t.  That is usually because they have heard someone else quote something that sounds like scripture but is not part of God’s word.  One example is, “God helps those who help themselves”.  Sounds good but sounds like it is based on a works’ doctrine.  Jesus said that without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5).

Jesus also said to not cast one’s pearls before swine for they will trample them and then attack (Matthew 7:6).  I recently read online about a man reading scripture out loud on a street in Seattle, Washington.  People were offended, they attacked him, destroyed his Bible, and he was the one arrested.  Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 10:14-15 that for those who refused to hear the word of God, the disciples should leave them, shaking the dust off their feet as a testimony against them.  He also said that judgment of them would be worse than for Sodom and Gomorrah.  When a person knows God as a follower of Christ, studies the word of God diligently, and is committed to the Lord, determined to worship and serve Him forever, then it becomes fairly easy to discern truth from error.

We sometimes consider politicians, leaders, the news media, and celebrities as the enemy, but the lies they tell and the ungodly policies that they promote are from Satan.  He is the real enemy.  These folks are just tools in his toolbox.  Rather than repairing those things that are broken, they continue to do damage and harm to our nation.  God is not surprised by their sin.  As Mr. Dylan said, we all serve somebody.  We just have to pray that the Holy Spirit will convict them of sin, and they will turn to the Lord before it is too late.  With our vast system of communication, there is no excuse to not know the truth.  Satan and sin may prosper for a while, but they will not prevail for He that is in those who follow Him is greater than he whom the world follows.