Truth in Focus

The spirit that seeks to Replace The Messiah

Introduction
In our last message on this platform, we emphasised on some of the heretically ungodly beliefs and teachings of the Word of Faith Movement. The feedback we received no doubt suggests that many feathers were ruffled. While many brushed the message aside as one of those articles written to defame their beloved ministers, others were surprised that people who profess to be ministers of the gospel will believe in such glaringly anti-scriptural teachings. There were also those who felt that since the video was recorded some years back, some of them might have repented of those statements they made. Let me point out to such brethren that there is no record that any of the ministers mentioned came out openly to recant those statements they made. Also their messages since they made those comments are still the same as when they made them. Their beliefs therefore are still the same. Nothing has changed. Brethren let us be careful and mindful of how we try to water down what is the truth in order not to share in other people's sins [Romans 1:32; 2 John 9-11]. As believers, we must be resolute in defending the faith that was once committed to us and confront every form of false teachings geared towards leading people astray [Jude 3-4]. Failure to expose false teachers and pastors, but instead attempt to defend their evil teachings implies that we are partakers of their evil doings and also placing them above the Person of Christ. This latter action is inevitably idolatry. Be reminded that no idolater has a place in the Kingdom of God and of His Christ [1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21]. We must proclaim the truth as the Lord Jesus Christ gives us grace: "For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth”. [2 Corinthians 13:8].

The antichrist spirit
Alright, back to today's message. Like we said in the last message, one of the core beliefs and teachings of the Word of Faith movement is the belief that believers are gods; and are of equal status as Christ before God. This belief some may not know is in tandem with that of the New Age Movement, which says that “man is central and viewed as divine or co-creator”. Let me remind you brethren, that one of the two cardinal beliefs of the New Age Movement is Evolutionary Godhood. Evolutionary Godhood simply means that mankind, based on the 'Christ principle' will soon see itself as god. Brethren, there is nothing new under the sun. The Bible has thousands of years back prophesied about what is happening in our days.

1 John 2:18
"Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time."

As seen in the above passage of the Bible, one of the signs that the end is near will be the rise of many antichrists. The antichrist is the spirit that denies the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ and the work of redemption that He accomplished for the entire human race on the cross. It is the spirit that seeks to replace Jesus the Christ. The antichrist spirit is a lying spirit that denies that Jesus is the Messiah. It is the spirit that seeks to replace the Word of God with the philosophies of man. It is a demonic spirit that is against all that is Christ and all that Christ stands for.

The antichrist spirit is the spirit that rules the Word of Faith Movement, the New Age Movement, all other religions of the world including some Christian sects like the Jehovah's Witness, Mormons, Christian Science etc. It is the spirit that is at work in the lives of people who love the sinful pleasures of the world and those who distort the message of the gospel.

Brethren, no lie is of the truth [1 John 2:21]. To believe a lie is to reject the truth. To reject the truth is to reject the Lord Jesus Christ Who is the Truth [John 14:6]. To reject the Lord Jesus Christ is to reject His Father [John 15:23; 1 John 2:23].

There is an onslaught by Satan the devil against the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. This onslaught is not only from those who openly denounce Christ as God e.g. the other non-Christian religions, but also from within the Christian denomination especially from those who claim to be Evangelical and Pentecostal Christians. Many pastors now find it difficult to say that they have given their lives to Christ. What you hear these days is that they have given their lives to God. They are ashamed to be associated with the Lord Jesus Christ. Many who have preached in His name are today denying His Lordship. One of such is Billy Graham [a world acclaimed evangelist]. In an interview some years back, Billy Graham said that Christ is not the only way to God. In this interview, when asked by Robert Schuller [another word of faith and hence false teacher] on what he thinks as a future of Christianity, he responded as follow (this is in verbatim, not edited): ‘I think everybody that loves Christ or knows Christ, whether they are conscious of it or not, they are members of the body of Christ. That is what God is doing today: He is calling people out of the world for His Name, whether they come from the Muslim world or the Buddhist world or the Christian world or the non-believing world, they are members of the body of Christ because they’ve been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus but they know in their heart that they need something that they don’t have and they turn to the only life that they have and I think that they are saved and they are going to be with us in heaven.’ The interviewer, Robert Schuller then replied, ‘This is fantastic, I’m so thrilled to hear you say that there is a wideness in God’s mercy.’ To which Billy Graham corroborated ‘There is!’

Brethren we decided to highlight this for us to know that the end is very near. All these attacks on the Person of Christ, even from those who profess to be Christians are geared toward a one world religion, which is one of the important objectives of the New World Order [NWO]. Why do we say this? If we look at history, the problem of the world has never been about the Person of God, but that of His Son Jesus Christ. This is because all religions profess to believe in God but only Christianity professes that Jesus Christ as the Son of God came into the world to save us from our sins. Christ Jesus therefore defines the true God and the true religion. We have access to this God only through His Son Jesus Christ whom God the Father has appointed Heir of all things [Hebrews 1:2]. By the time Christ is removed from the scene, it becomes easier for all religions to collapse into one, because without Christ, there is no difference between Christianity and other religions. Christ is the only One who makes the difference between true Christianity and the other religions.

Salvation is only through Christ Jesus
Salvation is only in Christ Jesus. Acts 4:12 declares "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Jesus Christ is the only Mediator between God and men [1 Timothy 2:5]. He is the way, the truth and the life: no man comes to the Father, except through Him [John 14:6]. Whosoever claims equality with Him or pretends to be like Him in authority has denied the Lord Jesus Christ. Whosoever claims that there are other ways to the Father outside of Christ has denied The Lord of Glory [it does not matter whether the person has preached or preaches in His Name, led or leads people to Him etc]. To deny the Lord Jesus Christ is to deny His Father. As stated, it is only the antichrist and his followers that deny Him. Whosoever therefore denies Him has the spirit of the antichrist and belongs to the antichrist.
1 John 2:22
"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son."

He who denies Him dishonours Him and His Father as well. Whosoever does this is in danger of hell fire.

John 5:22-23
"For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him."

John 3:18
"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

The wrath of God
Brethren, The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness or who through their wickedness suppress the truth [Romans 1:18]. It is futile to desire or crave to oppose the Lordship and Deity of Christ. Those who tried it in ages past were dealt with severely by God. Satan the devil was thrust out of God's dwelling place in heaven when he attempted to exalt his throne above that of God. He was cast down to the depths of hell. [Isaiah 14:11-19]. God has not and will never share His glory with any man, neither will He give His praise to graven images [Isaiah 42:8]. The heathen will rage, and the kings of the earth set themselves against God and His Anointed Son, Jesus Christ, they will desire to be independent of Christ and seek to be their own gods. But one thing that is certain is that God will one day break them with a rod of iron; He will dash them in pieces like a porter's vessel [Psalm 2:1-3, 9]. The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God [Psalm 9:17].

Conclusion
The Lord Jesus told Saul (then a persecutor of the Church) that it is hard for him to kick against the pricks or goads [Acts 9:5]. In the same way, it is futile and treacherous for anyone to disregard the Lordship of Christ and install himself or herself as lord of his or her life. The time has come for all who reject the Lordship of Christ to come bending low at His feet. Like Saul (who later became apostle Paul) submitted himself to His Lordship, so God expects us to submit ourselves under the Lordship of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ the KING of Kings and the LORD of Lords [Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:16].

And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

God bless you.