What It Means to be Filled with the Holy Spirit # 42

"Neither Give Place to the devil" (continued)

Then, in 1 John 2:13, 18, the Holy Spirit uses a different Greek word, "paidion," when He uses the phrase "little children"; and this word implies a child's dependency upon his father. In Matthew 18:1-4, the Lord Jesus Himself gives us the meaning of this phrase "little children" when His disciples asked Him, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, "Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children (paidion), ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Thus, in 1 John 1:13-27, where we are told that "even now are there many antichrists," it is the "little children" who have received the anointing of the Lord in order that they may know that which is of Christ, and that they may discern that which is antichrist ["them that seduce you"]. Only those who have "become as little children," only those that humble themselves as a little child shall be able to discern that which is antichrist. In other words, only those who are becoming wholly dependent upon the Lord because of the work of the Cross in their lives will be able to thoroughly know that which is of Christ and discern that which is antichrist. Dear friends, our knowing Christ more intimately and thoroughly, and our discerning that which is antichrist, that which has been designed to seduce us out of the right way of the Lord, does not depend upon whether we are a new Christian beginning our walk with the Lord, or whether we are an older Christian and more mature in the Lord. No, it depends upon our being wholly dependent upon the Lord through the work of the Cross. Remember, Abraham and Sarah had walked with the Lord for  20 years, and we have seen that the Lord accomplished many things in and through their lives; thus when Abraham and Sara walked in dependence upon their Lord, the enemy had no ground; but when they walked in the carnal reasoning of their natural man, they could not discern that which is antichrist, and the enemy moved to seduce the strength of their natural man in his attempt to corrupt. "The Seed, Which is Christ."

We know that the enemy's attempt to corrupt "The Seed," Which is Christ, was defeated by the sovereign will of God; but God would still continue to deal with Sarah and Abraham. And they would both come to a place where they allowed God to deal with the religiousness of their natural man.

~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 43)