The Spirit of the Antichrist
Key Thought | The spirit of the Antichrist is active in the world, but believers who abide in Jesus and walk in humility are protected from deception.
Key Scripture | “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.” – 1 John 2:18 (NKJV)
I love this passage in 1 John. John clearly states, over 2,000 years ago, that the spirit of the Antichrist is alive and operating in the earth. Deception surrounds us, even within the church at times.
Later, John writes:
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God… every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist… which is now already in the world.” – 1 John 4:1–3 (NKJV)
So how do we avoid becoming deceived when this spirit is active in the world today?
John helps us. Here are a few key ways to guard your heart from deception:
Don’t be consumed with the fake; abide in the real.
The best way to be protected from deception is to abide in Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Study His Word. Spend time in His presence. Stop looking for shortcuts.
I am concerned for a generation that wants others to teach them everything rather than digging for themselves. The God of the universe has offered us relationship. You can always tell when someone has a true revelation of who He is by how fully they take Him up on that offer.
Pride and Jesus don’t mix.
Satan didn’t want all of God’s glory. He wanted to share it. Eve didn’t want to be God; she wanted to be like God. The spirit of the Antichrist is marked by pride and a craving for credit. Wherever humility exists, the Spirit of God is present. Where humility is absent, so is the Holy Spirit.
This is why power is dangerous. It puts us in position to receive glory. If we reflect that glory back to God, we are safe, but when we want to keep it for ourselves, it becomes destructive.
Jesus is God, not a religious figure.
John writes, “Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.” This isn’t just an acknowledgment of His existence but the confession that He is Lord. I get nervous when leaders of any kind start throwing His name around, yet their tone, language, and fruit show no evidence of Jesus being Lord of their life.
Make no mistake: when the actual Antichrist appears, he will deceive many so-called Christians. His words will be smooth. His appeal will feed the flesh. The Spirit of God will alert those who walk in truth that something is off, but those living surrendered to the flesh instead of the Spirit will be deceived because his message will make sense to worldly logic.
John’s answer, over and over again, to the threat of deception is to know Him. No need for fear when I’m consumed with His love. No need for bitterness when I’ve encountered His forgiveness.
For 2,000 years, the church has been instructed through the apostle John, under the power of the Holy Spirit, to abide in Jesus. And in doing so, we are protected from deception.
The enemy may deceive the world, but he cannot deceive those consumed with Jesus. Stay close. Stay humble. Stay rooted in His presence. In Him, you will walk in truth, and no counterfeit can pull you away.
Prayer | Lord Jesus, thank You for the clarity of Your Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Keep my heart grounded in truth and far from deception. Teach me to abide in You daily, walk in humility, and recognize Your voice above every false one. Guard my mind, strengthen my spirit, and make me sensitive to anything that is not from You. I surrender afresh to Your Lordship. Amen.
Reflection | Where am I relying on others to feed me spiritually instead of cultivating my own relationship with Jesus? Is there any area of my life where pride might be dulling my sensitivity to the Holy Spirit?
Key Scripture | “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.” – 1 John 2:18 (NKJV)
I love this passage in 1 John. John clearly states, over 2,000 years ago, that the spirit of the Antichrist is alive and operating in the earth. Deception surrounds us, even within the church at times.
Later, John writes:
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God… every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist… which is now already in the world.” – 1 John 4:1–3 (NKJV)
So how do we avoid becoming deceived when this spirit is active in the world today?
John helps us. Here are a few key ways to guard your heart from deception:
Don’t be consumed with the fake; abide in the real.
The best way to be protected from deception is to abide in Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Study His Word. Spend time in His presence. Stop looking for shortcuts.
I am concerned for a generation that wants others to teach them everything rather than digging for themselves. The God of the universe has offered us relationship. You can always tell when someone has a true revelation of who He is by how fully they take Him up on that offer.
Pride and Jesus don’t mix.
Satan didn’t want all of God’s glory. He wanted to share it. Eve didn’t want to be God; she wanted to be like God. The spirit of the Antichrist is marked by pride and a craving for credit. Wherever humility exists, the Spirit of God is present. Where humility is absent, so is the Holy Spirit.
This is why power is dangerous. It puts us in position to receive glory. If we reflect that glory back to God, we are safe, but when we want to keep it for ourselves, it becomes destructive.
Jesus is God, not a religious figure.
John writes, “Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.” This isn’t just an acknowledgment of His existence but the confession that He is Lord. I get nervous when leaders of any kind start throwing His name around, yet their tone, language, and fruit show no evidence of Jesus being Lord of their life.
Make no mistake: when the actual Antichrist appears, he will deceive many so-called Christians. His words will be smooth. His appeal will feed the flesh. The Spirit of God will alert those who walk in truth that something is off, but those living surrendered to the flesh instead of the Spirit will be deceived because his message will make sense to worldly logic.
John’s answer, over and over again, to the threat of deception is to know Him. No need for fear when I’m consumed with His love. No need for bitterness when I’ve encountered His forgiveness.
For 2,000 years, the church has been instructed through the apostle John, under the power of the Holy Spirit, to abide in Jesus. And in doing so, we are protected from deception.
The enemy may deceive the world, but he cannot deceive those consumed with Jesus. Stay close. Stay humble. Stay rooted in His presence. In Him, you will walk in truth, and no counterfeit can pull you away.
Prayer | Lord Jesus, thank You for the clarity of Your Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Keep my heart grounded in truth and far from deception. Teach me to abide in You daily, walk in humility, and recognize Your voice above every false one. Guard my mind, strengthen my spirit, and make me sensitive to anything that is not from You. I surrender afresh to Your Lordship. Amen.
Reflection | Where am I relying on others to feed me spiritually instead of cultivating my own relationship with Jesus? Is there any area of my life where pride might be dulling my sensitivity to the Holy Spirit?
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2 Comments
Yes, so good!
Amen. Important message. Thank you
n