GOD'S GREATER SPIRIT

 

GOD’S GREATER SPIRIT

I John 4:4-5 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won your fight with these false prophets, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. These people belong to this world, so they speak from the world's viewpoint, and the world listens to them. NLT

There were false prophets in the early Church. Some people were going around preaching a different message than what the apostles were teaching in the churches. They were undermining what the apostles were doing and dividing the body of Christ. They were seeking to promote themselves and gain popularity amongst people. They were using the church for personal gain. Some things never seem to change.

John reassured the Church that she was winning the battle over these false prophets. They were listening carefully to what was being taught and evaluating it in light of known Scriptures. They were careful not to discard the teachings of the apostles just because someone came along and tried to discredit them.

As believers, John reminded them that they had the Holy Spirit within them and He always guided them in truth, not error. The Spirit of God is far greater than the lies of Satan and He makes sure that we have an understanding of truth when we sincerely seek it.

There will always be people in the Church who preach and teach under false pretenses. They may claim to be children of God when in reality they are children of Satan. They teach from the world's perspective and are motivated by worldly ambitions. They tell people what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear. They often rise to the top in popularity and gain much at the expense of the church.

We must always listen carefully and examine closely what we hear in light of God's Word. We must always sincerely seek to know and understand the truth, and when we do, the Spirit of God will make sure that we do indeed get it. We shall know the truth, and it will set us free.

There are many spirits roaming around in the Church. In order to know the Spirit of God, you must first know Jesus as your Savior. You must seek to know God better and better. You must tune into His voice as you consistently read the Word of God. And, you must not cave into the voices that may lead you away from God and truth. Greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world.