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.
I John 4:3 NKJV
Recognizing the spirit of antichrist.
1. The spirit of antichrist is a duplicating spirit that deceives you.
2. The spirit of antichrist is a denying spirit to destroy you.
3. The spirit of antichrist is a disguising spirit that devours you.
4. The spirit of antichrist is a _dividing_ spirit that will be _defeated_.
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. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
I John 2:18-19 NKJV
- When division is present, we are falling victims to the spirit of antichrist.
- Why did Jesus fray for oneness??
that they all may be one, as You, Father , are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. “Father, I desire that they also whom You have Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved me before the foundation of the world.
John 17:21-24 NKJV
7 reasons the spirit of antichrist primary strategy is to create division:
1. Division turns believers against _believers_.
Takeaway:
++We don’t threaten Satan when we are shooting each other in the back.
Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
Romans 16:17-18 NKJV
But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and striving about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
Titus 3:9-11 NKJV
2. Division _distracts_ from God’s purposes and plans.
Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.
John 17:11 NKJV
Takeaway:
++Division is most often an inwardly, focused diversion.
Distractions that cause division:
1). The distraction of preference- method vs mission.
- The moment HOW we do ministry becomes more important than WHY we do ministry, we are in big trouble.
2). The distraction of being right.
It’s okay to disagree without feeling you have to break ties. Strive not to be right but love God and others.
3). The distraction of tradition.
“This is how we’ve ALWAYS done it”.
3. Division _hurts_ our witness before a broken, fractured world.
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.And the glory which You have Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
John 17:20-23 NKJV
Takeaway:
++Supernatural unity is a witness of God’s Spirit among believers. Division is Satan’s work to hinder the commission to witness the Gospel.
4. Division reveals our personal _idols_.
Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?
James 4:1 NKJV
Takeaway:
++Selfishly clinging to what we want without regard for others, including God- that’s idolatry.
The idol of self causes division.
Matthew 12:25-26 NKJV
Matthew 12:43-45 NKJV
Unclean spirits VS Idols:
Idols are human constructs created by created beings.
Look at idols this way. . . .
++Idols are dead things treated as living things, substituted (spirit of antichrist) for the one, true living God.
Unclean spirits are demons who are active, alive, and animated evil spiritual adversaries.
Both have the same spiritual purpose-
++To draw God’s people away from the worship of God and move into darkness, doubt and self-destruction.
The moment you think you’re “good” (idol of self,”swept and put in order”) in terms of evil attacks (unclean spirits- spirit of antichrist), you are open to even more dangerous attacks.
Truth:
++A part from Christ, we can’t make ourselves more holy and rid ourselves of evil.
Can you guess what the new idol is in our world today?
Self-sufficient humanism-“swept and put in order”
- It is the belief and practice of life in which we have full confidence in our own abilities to flourish apart from God.
- Right here, right now on earth, we have everything we need to be “basically good people” who live “basically fulfilling lives”.
- Once this idol, demonic spirit enters, it has a voice of division that says all organized religion ever does, especially Christianity, is breed bigotry, division, hostility, and ignorance.
- The idol of self is invisible, tucked away in the corner of the soul.
Not a desire for something but a desire to be something.
Not a desire to worship _God_ but to worship _self_.
Not a desire to find or seek God but a desire to find/seek self.
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.