Dear beloved: As the end days draw near we are warned in the book of 1 John that the anointing will be very valuable to us to keep from being deceived by the antichrist. 1 John 1:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour. v19 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, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us. v20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. v21 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. v22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son. And so we see that without the anointing it will be very easy to be led astray into false doctrines, the new world order, the one world religion, and eventually into denying Jesus Christ.
One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit for the new testament believer is the discernment (distinguishing) of spirits. 1 Corinthians 12:10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. Because the antichrist will be very charismatic and eloquent in speech and style, many will fall under his spell and be easily enticed to follow him. Jesus warns us that in the last days many will claim to be the Christ. Matthew 24:23 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'There He is,' do not believe him. v24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. v25 Behold, I have told you in advance. v26 If therefore they say to you, 'Behold, he is in the wilderness', do not go forth, or 'Behold, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe them." If the elect can be led astray, you can imagine how easy it will be for the antichrist to lead non believers and those who have no leading of the Holy Spirit to be deceived. Recent events here in America magnify the truth of Jesus words; we all saw how easy it is for a charismatic speaker to sway the masses.
Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:1, But realize this, in the last days difficult times will come. v2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, v3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self control, brutal, haters of good, v4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; v5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these. Paul doesn't paint a very pretty picture of what will happen in the last days, and yet we know when we look at the nightly news that the picture he painted is exactly what is happening in America and many other places in the world today. The only antidote to the problem is the anointing and leading of the Holy Spirit of God; without it there is no hope!
John makes reference to the anointing a second time in 1 John 2:27 And as for you, the anointing you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. He does not mean that we have no need of teachers of the gospel, but that the Holy Spirit will be our primary teacher of the truth in all things. John 15:25 "These things I have spoken to you, while abiding with you. v26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. v27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." Beloved, pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit to increase in your life, for the gift of distinguishing of spirits to sharpen, and that you will not be troubled or fearful; God will be faithful to answer your prayer. May God bless you this day, in Christ, Jim
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