30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 21 5-9 WATCH AND PRAY I 07 Luke 21 8 The antichrist
📖 Luke 21:5-9
07May2021 - *The antichrist* - _Luke 21:5-9_ - WATCH AND PRAY I (7) – Bible reading: _I John 4:1-3_
We are to continuously grow into the fullness of Christ. This is the single pursuit that we have in life. In doing so, we are complete in Him. _Colossians 2:9-10 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; (10) and *you are complete in Him*, who is the head of all principality and power._
_Colossians 1:15-19 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (16) For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. *All things were created through Him and for Him*. (17) And He is before all things, and *in Him all things consist*. (18)
And *He is the head of the body, the church*, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (19) For it pleased the Father that *in Him all the fullness should dwell*,_
In Christ, we are rich and full and complete. In Christ, we are able to serve others and grow in all aspects that are given for us in our walk with Jesus. Everything holds together and everything consists in Christ.
_Luke 21:8 And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them._
_Matthew 24:23-26 “Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. (24) For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (25) See, I have told you beforehand. (26) "Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it._
False christs and false prophets are those who do not emphasise and are not building people into full maturity in Christ but instead give stress to other matters such as spiritual gifts, certain theological minor issues, success, happiness and wellbeing in life. They make their teaching revolve around these issues and they make the matter of growing into fullness and maturity in Christ as a background or taken-for-granted, issue.
The test to know false Christs and false prophets is if they themselves are progressing in their personal maturity in Christ. If the teaching is just taking the name of Jesus but *emphasizing anything else other than being fully mature in Christ* then that teaching, that ministry and that teacher become a false Christ and a false prophet.
_Ephesians 1:22-23 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, (23) which is *His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all*._
The Church is the fullness or the full display of the character and nature of Christ. This is where we are constantly moving. All of us are building up one another into the fullness of Christ.
_I John 4:1-3 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (2) By this you know the Spirit of God: *Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God*, (3) and *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 you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world._
The false prophets and false christs are of the spirit of the antichrist, which is terrifying to know.
The emphasis of the teaching has to be in that one single focus, which is that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. _John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth._
Jesus took on the likeness of sinful flesh in order that in Him, (as we appropriate His flesh in us by faith), we grow more and more into Him. He takes hold of us more and more as we surrender and yield to Him more and more. He operates in and through our flesh and we participate in His divine nature in us.
_II Corinthians 4:6-7 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts *to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ*. (7)
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that *the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us*._
If this is not emphasised in the teaching but instead importance is given to exciting experiences, positive thinking and primarily *puts the ‘self’ back on the throne by vacating Christ from the centre, then this is the spirit of the antichrist*.
_II John 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world *who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh*. This is a deceiver and an antichrist._
The name of Christ is taken but the teaching revolves around enthroning the self, then we know that this a false christ and a false prophet and belong to the group of the antichrist.
It is important for us to take time to understand what is the right ministry. When we look around and apply this filter of who are false christs and false prophets, it is frightening for we have so many ministries that have gone astray or bordering on going astray. God’s word is asking us to test the spirits.
Therefore, as a model of what is a right ministry, we will look at the ministry of Apostle Paul.
*Thought to ponder*
_II Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, *are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory*, just as by the Spirit of the Lord._