The Holy Spirit in you is far greater than any spirit that is against you!

John was not just an apostle, evangelist and one of the leaders of the early church. He was absolutely a Pastor with a Pastor’s heart! And we see this coming through this letter. I have a Pastor’s heart and I understand what it is longing for the very best for your people. Sometimes that longing involves tears and sleepless nights. It means going extra miles and at times pleading that they remain in relationship with Jesus. Most Pastors with that role know these feelings. Look at what John says:-

2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. 

2:12 I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

2:28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.

3:7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray.

3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

5:21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

Can you see his heart?

So here is our next verse in 1 John 4 v 4 “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

Briefly, John is referring to the ‘antichrists-charismatic-dethroners-of-Jesus’ who were casting doubts on the Christian’s salvation. They have left the church and John views them as of the world.

The Pastor pleads: you are from God, you are not like them; you have overcome them, how? The answer is of course that they have rejected their teaching and have resisted their pressure. But there is an even better answer: the Spirit within them is greater than the antichrist spirit in those people.

Today, what are you facing? What pressure is around you? What is casting doubts into your mind? What is seeking to lead you astray? You have and you will again overcome because of the Holy Spirit in you. What spirit comes against you trying to dethrone the Lordship of Jesus? Rise up, stay, hold on and don’t give way, for the Holy Spirit is your advocate, your helper and simply is far greater than anything that stands against you!