First John 2:20-29 is so powerful we are transformed by constantly reading, quoting, and doing what it takes to daily experience these awesome truths that are resident in Christ Jesus and done in us by the Holy Spirit.
First John 2:20-29—20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know the truth, and know no lie is part of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he who denies Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise: He has promised us—eternal life. 26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. 28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 If you know He is righteous, you know everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
The “anointing” is the Holy Spirit working His spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-11), and His power, love, and sound mind (2 Timothy 1:6-7) for, in, and through us to benefit the entire body of Christ, the church, and not for selfish honor or personal financial gain, which is why the priest (Pharisees and Sadducees) of Jesus’ day had him crucified, for they loves money and people’s praises more than Jesus and His truth, and Jesus never charged for His healing miracles.
1 Timothy 6:6-10—6 Now godliness (Christ, 1 Timothy 3:14-16) with contentment (peace) is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare (trap), and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Agur, in Proverbs 30:7-9, asked two essential things of God, which we should also consider, 7 Two things I request of You (deprive me not before I die): 8 Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches—feed me with the food allotted to me; 9 lest I be full and deny You, and say, “Who is the LORD?” Or lest I be poor, steal, and profane the name of my God.
Yet, Christians are never taught to trust God for our “allotted” daily needs, although it is strong in Philippians 4:8-20, for God daily sent “manna” to feed the Israelites the forty years they went through the desert, before they finally entered the land God had promised them, and God still loves and provides for His children who humbly trust Him.
Luke 9:23-26—23 Then He (Jesus) said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.
It is amazing but astonishingly sad that so many pastors are leaving the ministry, to establish a six or seven figure income, with them persuading multitudes of people that once were faithful in church, to also follow them, to build their own lucrative business, with their pastor’s training.
Deserting the church, the ministry call of God, because their “lust for money” has turned them from God, just before Christ comes for His bride-body-church, which is only possible when “the love of money is stronger than the love of God” that Satan uses to deceive us during uncertain, unstable, and ungodly government representatives, whose love for money and power is greater than their common sense.
Friends, now is the time for us to wholeheartedly turn to God, through Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit, and not away from Him, for even Satan, the devil, knows his time is fast coming to a close, so he has his demonic spirits operating at full capacity, to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), as many of God creation as is possible, but more so of Israelites and Christians, but do not allow him to deceive you with the “lustful love for money and the power it offers”, for it is not worth an eternity in Hell and the lake of fire.
Jim Nabors
