The spirit of the Antichrist is already at work.
Many live oblivious to the present working of the spirit of this age, infiltrating the lives of individuals, families and even communities of faith.
Some are looking for a personified figure to rise to power in the coming tribulation, while others ignore the influence and oppression by this spirit that is permeating throughout culture.
The word “spirit” in Scripture refers to spiritual entities or winds of influence.
While some spirits may afflict people or regions, the antichrist spirit is a unique spirit of opposition with one goal: to dismantle anointing.
1 John 2:18 states: “Little children, it is the last hour. As you have heard that the antichrist will come, even now there are many antichrists. By this we know that it is the last hour.”
Immediately, it is evident that there is not simply one singular individual who will lead the world astray. Rather, this spirit works in every generation.
“Antichrist” means “person or thing that opposes or replaces Christ.”
“Christ” means “anointed one.”
“Anointing,” among many things, refers to an “inward unction, sanctification or divine leading.”
Plainly stated, antichrist is anti-anointing. Like the serpent in the garden, this spirit seeks opportunities for compromise to sever the presence of God in the lives of believers. The anointing is key to understanding the goal of the antichrist.
In Exodus 30:30, God decrees Aaron’s children as priests prior to being anointed; God has already spoken. The ceremony merely ratifies God’s declaration.
Often, anointing oils were applied to particular people or objects with divine mandates. If you inspect Exodus 30 closely, you will discover that neither the person, object or anointing was the agent of the mandate, as some assume. Rather, it confirmed the mandate. The source of the mandate was God’s Word. He alone calls, enables and empowers.
The anointing confirms. The anointed merely complies. Anointing is the response to God’s Word. It grants an individual the legal authority to walk in the demonstration of God’s presence, power and purpose.
For instance, doctors require degrees represented by a diploma, backed by the state and institution to practice medicine. Likewise, we require the divine diploma to legally operate in the kingdom. The anointing is the evidence of the mandate, or calling, in one’s life.
The antichrist spirit knows the power of the anointing, so he seeks to combat it with fear and disobedience (as we find with King Saul) or by falsifying and compromising a believer’s legal authority for dismantling the works of darkness by substituting God’s Word for alternatives to get the job done.
Without the anointing, we lack the power needed for lives to be changed and transformed. Rather than healing and deliverance, we settle for merely medicating and accommodating afflictions.
To overcome the influence of the antichrist spirit, remain obedient and submitted to God. Protect your spiritual diploma. Don’t compromise the anointing.
Through Jesus, you are called, anointed, appointed and able to accomplish the tasks God has set before you; therefore, walk as one worthy of the call (1 John 2:27).
Listen to this episode of Press On with Aaron Rios on Charisma Podcast Network to discover the subtle ways this influence works, lest you fall prey to it. {eoa}
Aaron Rios is a worship artist, author and pastor residing in New England with a contagious passion for encouraging, equipping and inspiring believers to pursue their kingdom destiny for the cause of Christ.
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