Author: admin

The world’s values are totally unlike those of Christ. To live in the world means your Christian standards and viewpoints will constantly be assailed. Nevertheless, you need not become the world’s victim. For the Holy Spirit who resides within all believers is greater than any sin, or temptation, or persecution you might face from the world.

Too many of God’s children surrender, too easily, to the pressures of the world. They live in constant defeat. They are filled with a sense of remorse and guilt. Others constantly feel intimidated by those around them who are opposed to their beliefs. Such people go to work fearing their faith will be attacked or ridiculed.

Yet Scripture is clear, that regardless of how threatening or profane is the world around you, Christ in you is greater still. Rather than worrying how the world might affect you, you should be looking for ways that Christ intends to impact the people around you. Christ is greater than anything you will face. Are you living like it?

False prophets are nothing new. They have plagued society for thousands of years.They always herald new, fresh insights into God’s word. Or, they have experienced a life-changing dream, or a powerful new word from on high. These people are often sincere and at times compelling, but they are false.

What is a greater mystery than that, false prophets still assail people, is that people continue to heed their voice. While we never want to develop a cynical attitude toward a word from God, neither do we want to be gullible every time someone proclaims they have a new divine word for us. The apostle John urged us to “test the spirits.” There are clear ways to examine whether what is being said comes from God.

First, test the messengers. Are they credible? Have they made false claims previously? Is the righteousness of their lives indicative of people who regularly hear from God? Too many people want their words to be taken seriously while their actions are overlooked. The truth is, if peoples’ conduct is questionable, so are their words.

Second, what is their prophetic track record? Some zealous seers issue dire warnings or explicit prophet utterances and then nothing of the sort ever happens. Scripture clearly indicates that the best way to discern a true prophet is simple: did what they foretell come to pass? If not, don’t heed what they tell you.

Third, is what they are foretelling building up Christ and His church, or dividing it and tearing it down? Some self-proclaimed prophets cause nothing but trouble wherever they go. That is not the heart of God. Prophetic words that exalt the prophet, rather than God, do not originate from heaven.

While we cannot control what prophets come our way. We can be discerning.

Throughout the book of First John, the beloved apostle provides evidence of whether we belong to Christ or not. Perhaps the most compelling proof, however, is that the Holy Spirit resides within us. The Holy Spirit is not merely a power, a conscience, or a second rate deity. The Holy Spirit is fully God. To have the Spirit residing within you is to have all of God, abiding in your life.

Think for a moment about who God is. Consider the magnitude of His being. He rules the universe. He sustains life. He is the center of reality. Yet by His Spirit, He resides within you. Truly that is astounding. Such a God cannot be hidden. He cannot be overlooked. If He resides within you, there will be clear evidence of His presence! He will not remain mutely silent while you brazenly live your life as you please. He will not look the other way while you rush headlong to disaster. He certainly will not allow you to dishonor His name and leave you unpunished. Wherever God is present; He is active.

What evidence is there that the Holy Spirit abides in your life? Does He speak to you? Convict you of sin? Comfort you when you are in distress? Put words in your mouth as you testify for Him? Enable you to serve God in ways beyond your natural abilities? There are numerous ways to detect the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life. As you examine your life, what evidence do you find?

The world talks incessantly about love even though it knows little about it. The love that the world proclaims is selfish, shallow, and fleeting. It is based on feelings that come and go. Celebrities publicly proclaim their undying love for one another and the next month are launching divorce proceedings. Such love is anemic and cannot withstand even modest trials or difficulties.

The caliber of Christ’s love is infinitely greater. He loved us not merely in words, but in actions. Christ laid down His precious life for us even while we were rebelling against Him. He has proven there is no price too great for Him to expend to bring us life. An eternity in heaven will not provide sufficient time to comprehend such love.

Those who have embraced and experienced Christ’s love in such manner cannot help but be deeply impacted by it. To receive such love compels us to also express love in the same manner. Knowing the Son of God laid His life down for you will compel you to lay your life down for others. How can you truly know Christ’s sacrificial love and yet refuse to forgive someone who offended you? How could you be reluctant to make sacrifices for others when God’s only Son made the ultimate sacrifice for you? Do you love others in the same manner Christ loves you?

This truth is one of the most difficult ones for Christians to accept. We don’t desire confrontation. We want people to like us. We may pride ourselves in getting along with others. It may grieve us that there are those who are hostile toward us. Our conscience may even be alarmed that the source of our conflict may stem from some offense we have committed against others.

The truth is that if you are like Christ, the world will treat you as it related to Him. The sinful world hated Jesus because it was in darkness and He was the light. Darkness is fundamentally and irrevocably opposed to light! The two cannot co-habitate. Darkness must inevitably yield to light. Darkness understands this innately and so it resists light with all of its might.

When unbelievers encounter your life, the light within you will shine on the darkness contained in them. It is inevitable. They may not even know why they are offended at you, but they will be. Your life stands in condemnation of them. Your two worldviews cannot both be correct. One must be in error. You ought not to look for confrontation. But neither should you be surprised when it comes. The more like Christ you become, the more the darkness around you will hate you.

At first glance, this verse can appear troubling, or confusing at best. The key is to understand that it is describing two distinct types of people. The first are the ones who abide in Christ. Their life is immersed in Him. They regularly commune with Him and heed His voice. They live a life of continual surrender to His will. To live so closely to Christ means it is impossible to rebel against Him and sin.

Conversely, the second group consists of those who abide in sin. Just as the first group makes it their lifestyle to walk with Christ, the second group adopts sin as its lifestyle. This does not refer to those who occasionally sin, for we all do that (1 John 1:9). These people abide in sin. It is their lifestyle. It is possible to sin occasionally and to feel remorse for doing so. It is a different story for those who make it their daily routine to rebel against God. You cannot do that and be in a saving relationship with Christ.

Do you know someone who lives a life of habitual sin? Scripture declares that despite what they might claim, they do not know Christ. It is impossible to abide in the One who is infinitely holy and yet to be continually indulging in sin. Christ would not allow it. Our conscience could not bear it.

When Christ saves us, we are immediately forgiven, but we are not entirely pure. For though our sins are now completely forgiven, our sinful habits and attitudes may still remain. Before we were Christians, we cared not what God’s standards were. We selfishly pursued whatever evil desires lay within our heart. Our sinful flesh resonated with the temptations and values of the world and we lived our life in conformity to them.

Once we were saved, the Holy Spirit opened our eyes to how evil we had been. What had seemed commonplace and acceptable to us before suddenly appeared heinous in the light of Christ’s holy presence. Having been saved from our sin, we were abhorred at the thought of breathing new life into them.

So we began to live holy and pure lives. We renounced our sinful habits. We invited the Holy Spirit to consecrate us and remove any objectionable habits or practices from our lives. Those who truly belong to Christ will strive to purify themselves. They will allow the Holy Spirit free reign in their lives to remove anything in them that is not like Christ.

People invariably hold an exalted view of themselves. Because we see ourselves in such a favorable light, we assume God must be impressed with us too! Surely God is delighted to claim us as one of His followers!

The truth is that we are sinful creatures of dust. Why our Creator should deign to associate with us, let alone love us, or greater still, die for us, is incomprehensible. Yet He has done that, and more. God has not only forgiven us, and saved us, but He has also adopted us. We are His children and fellow heirs with Christ. Imagine the enormous love that was displayed when our Creator chose to treat us so marvelously! We ought not to fool ourselves. We deserve noting from Him. Yet He freely gives us all things. Oh may we never lose our wonder at the love God has for us! How could we possibly grow discouraged when we know how much almighty God cares for us! What hope that should bring us, knowing that we live our lives while continually basking in God’s infinite love for us. Take a moment to allow this amazing truth to sink deeply into your consciousness: Almighty God loves you.

Christ is fundamentally righteous. Every aspect of His being is holy. Sin is abhorrent to Him. As a result, anyone who abides in Him will be drawn toward righteousness and away from sin.

We will inevitably sin, at times. That is because we still inhabit frail bodies of weak flesh. But it will no longer be our nature. Committing sin will bring us grief, because it offends our Savior. Instead, we will strive to adopt a lifestyle of righteousness. Our inner desire will be to live a life that is pleasing to Christ in every aspect.

Of course, most people attempt at times to be “good.” But the true child of God will adopt a lifestyle of holiness, day in and day out. There are plenty of “good” people in the world, but only those who belong to Christ are righteous. What does the consistent righteousness of your life indicate about your walk with Christ?

Scripture is clear. Christ is returning. And, when He comes, we must be ready. Undoubtedly there will be many who will be caught utterly unprepared at Christ’s return. Despite numerous warnings and sermons they heard, these people assumed there was still adequate time to prepare themselves.

The only way to be fully prepared for Christ’s return, is to abide in Him daily. Spending each day in conscious dependence upon Him, listening for His voice, responding in obedience, and regularly enjoying His presence are all means of ensuring you are not caught by surprise at His coming.

There are numerous signs currently that indicate His return may not be far away. World events seem to be racing to a climax. Threats of violence and destruction loom ever larger on the horizon. Apostasy and blasphemy are becoming increasingly widespread.

This is not the time to be careless in our walk with Christ. This is a time for carefully and meticulously tending our walk with Him. He is coming soon. Will you be ready?