In another thread, I discussed with another Sister the spirit of narcissism being from the devil.
Those who are controlled by the devil have his characteristics. The devil is a thief, he comes to destroy everything good in defiance of God.
John 10:10
"10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and [a]have it abundantly."
Those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit of God have His characteristics.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 is the description of the last days' selfish and wicked mentality.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
“Difficult Times Will Come”
1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
We are seeing an increase in these wicked traits, the fruit of the devil, that is rotten and destructive, in people because the world has rejected Christ. When Christ is absent from everyday life then too are all His attributes.
Those who are born again have entirely different fruit. Their fruit brings love, kindness and everything that is good and glorifying to God and peace for relationships.
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentlenesses, self-control; against such things, there is no law."
The fruit of the devil brings laws and rules to control the evil so that it does not grow too immense. Now that there are fewer and fewer people who love Christ we are seeing an uptick in evil more blatantly than ever before.
The fruit of the Holy Spirit needs no laws to control the believers because they are the manifestation of Christ in everyone who has been changed into a new creation by Christ. We no longer have to try real hard to avoid evil because we hate it, hating it is a part of our very nature, the nature of Christ in us.
An authentic born again believer does not defend sin at any time because they hate the sin.
Those who love their families more than God will justify and defend the sin that confronts them. They will defend family members who have acted wickedly and call their sinful actions good. We know who this comes from. The devil is the one who defends and promotes sin.
We know God hates sin because He sends people to hell for their sin when they refuse to believe in Him. And, He gives the believer the power of the Holy Spirit to resist sin. We are also repulsed by it when we become born again if we become tempted in the flesh the Holy Spirit will make us miserable until we confess to be cleansed.
1 John 1:5-2:2
God Is Light
5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him, there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
1 John 1:9
"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
God is light and the devil is darkness. Those who are not born again like the darkness and without defense against it. Those who are born again love the light and have THE great defense against the darkness, that is the power of the Holy Spirit Who lives in them.
2 Corinthians 6:14-15 " 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?…"
The good news is that anyone can have this light and power of God to resist the devil. All they have to do is confess they are sinners and desire to be cleansed by Christ.
To repeat: All that is necessary to have this is to ask HIM, confess sin and ask to be changed by Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment