The Spirit of Truth

     The Bible depicts many different kinds of spirits. There are at least 23 references to a variety of spirits that interact mankind and influence the mind of man. To name a few, there are the spirits of wisdom, spirits of knowledge, spirits of counsel and might, spirits of grace, life, bondage, slumber, adoption, faith, holiness, fear, humility, meekness, error, and prophecy. Not to mention the greatest of all spirits, the spirit of God, and spirit of the Lord. Then there is the spirit of the Antichrist, and the spirit of evil. But, emanating from the spirit of God is also another spirit, known as the "spirit of Truth."

    You may ask, just what is a spirit anyway? Is it a ghost or an apparition? The Greek word for spirit is "pneuma," which refers to many things. According to the contextual usage, it usually refers to an angel or demon, or an extension of one or the other, which in turn can be empowered either by the Lord or by Satan. Spirits can also be external facilitators for rationalization and mental disposition. Spirits can also be connected to the powers in the air, which is the logistical battleground between the forces of good and evil. For this reason, Christians are exhorted to test the spirits, to see from what source they come. (I  John 4:1-2 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:)

    When a person is called before a judge in an American court and takes the oath, he is asked the following; question, "do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?" Truth is an absolute! Without the status of absolute truth, there could be no basis for lies., or for that matter, there could be no structure and order in the world. Today, we live in a world that denies the fundamental order of absolute truth. That is the reason there is so much confusion in our modern society, and the reason why contracts and treaties fail so often. Modern society has created a vast gray area, where things are not perceived as right or wrong. Without the reality of absolute truths, there can be no distinction between right and wrong. And without the fact of truth, there would be no God, for God has proclaimed to us what is right. (Isaiah 45:19) And so, through vain philosophy, the god of this present world incessantly works to blind men to the "spirit of truth," for His strategy is to change the truth of God into a lie, and thereby make himself a god.

    Not without coincidence, Jesus proclaimed that He was the Truth! Furthermore, he announced that his truth could make a person free. (John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.) (John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)   Now these are two very outstanding statements. It would seem that if someone claimed to be the "absolute power of the truth" that people would pay closer attention. Unfortunately, too many people do not value the truth, or the freedom that comes in knowing the truth.

(John 18:37-38 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.  Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?)

(John 16:13-14    Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.)

(John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.)In these verses from John, Jesus announces to his Disciples that he is about to leave the world. He further explains that it is "expedient" for them that he go away, or else the comforter-guide-teacher cannot come. In the verse from chapter 16 quoted above, Jesus says the "Spirit of Truth" will guide his followers into all truth. Today, preachers and teachers rely too much on formal educations for their guidance into the truth of God, but while education is wonderful, God commands his servants to test the spirits, check the Word, and rely on the Spirit of truth to lead them in the endeavor of what to believe, write, and teach.Jesus further declares that this "spirit of truth" will not be an arrogant spirit, speaking of himself, but rather will rely on "direct communication" from the Lord himself for transmitting information to Christians. The "spirit of truth" always glorifies the Lord, for the truth he shares is from the Lord. Jesus concludes this charge concerning the "spirit of truth," by informing us that the spirit of truth will show us "things  to come!" This phrase is almost an exact quotation from the opening lines of Revelation chapter one where John records that Jesus has sent his angel to show his servants things which must shortly come to pass.  

    In these turbulent latter days, when the world is speeding headlong to a showdown with the TRUTH, it is expedient for Christians to be able to discern the truth about the times in which we live. Afterall, the spirit of truth testifies that there is also active in our world in these days a spirit of the Antichrist.

(I  John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of Antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.)

Darrell G. Young

Focus on Jerusalem Prophecy Ministry
http://www.focusonjerusalem.com

The Palestinian "Statehood Issue" in Prophecy

   This week, (September 20-23, 2011) Palestinian Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to lobby the United Nations to accept the PA as the 194th member state of the UN. Previous to this week, the PA claims that 125-140 countries have promised to back the Palestinian statehood bid this week in New York City. The push at the world body is the first step to statehood for Palestinians who have for decades complained of being "occupied" by an oppressive foreign power. (Israel)  Should the PA win the vote at the UN, and survive any veto action in the Security Council, the PA says it would work toward establishing a national unity government with Hamas and hold presidential and parliamentary elections.

   

    UN protocol calls for Secretary General Ban (who favors PA statehood) to receive a letter from Abbas and then to give it approval before moving it forward in the arduous and complicated process for a new member state. Ban has"reiterated his support for the "two-state solution" and stressed his desire to ensure that the international community and the two parties can find a way forward for resuming negotiations within a legitimate and balanced framework. Any state-candidate for UN membership must submit a letter to the secretary-general stating it is a "peace-loving" (repudiates terrorism) state and accepts the UN Charter. Ban is expected to examine the Palestinian letter and then send it to the 15-member UN Security Council which must give its approval before a vote in the larger General Assembly. In the General Assembly, the PA enjoys overwhelming support.
    Israel has lobbied dozens of UN members to oppose the effort, but it is widely held that the PA is in a position to get the two-thirds support from the UN General Assembly for the upgrade from its current status as “entity.” Russia, China, Spain and much of the EU, the 22 member Arab League, the IMF and the World Bank all support Palestinian statehood. Meanwhile, the USA, Canada, Britain and Israel oppose the statehood bid. The "Quartet of Mideast" mediators, the US, the UN, the EU and Russia,  have been unable to resolve key issues between Israel and the Palestinians.

    Ironically, Hamas and Hezbollah, with Iranian support also oppose the statehood appeal to the UN by the PA. They oppose the Palestinian statehood request because they are emphatic in their zeal to simply deny Israel's right to exist.

    World diplomacy surrounding Palestinian statehood will be a key component in the geo-political strategy of the Last Days Antichrist. As many prophecy enthusiasts realize, the Antichrist will coerce Israel into a "covenant of peace" with "many" (22 Arab/Muslim nations and the 10 king power-brokers) at the outset of the tribulation era. A key component of that "covenant of peace" will be the political dividing of the promised land," as evidenced by the following verse from Daniel. (Daniel 11:39 Thus shall he (AC) do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he (AC) shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.)

    Eleven years ago at Camp David, then Fatah terrorist and PA leader Yasser Arafat refused to accept a negotiated political state for Palestine. Arafat refused statehood because Israel required the Palestinians to accept an "end of conflict" clause in the negotiated peace process. Arafat refused statehood for the Palestinians because he knew it would mean either, assassination for him, or it was not compatible with the strategy of the Trojan Horse mission to destroy Israel from within the territories around Jerusalem.

    In the final analysis, God is causing all nations to be burdened down with the heavy weight of impending judgment that comes with the controversy over Jerusalem. The Palestinians desire Jerusalem as their state capital, as does Israel. The Vatican also desires to have Jerusalem reserved as an international religious city. 

(Jeremiah 25:31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the Lord.)

(Isaiah 34:8 For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.)

    The nations of this world are willingly ignorant of the fact that the God of Israel has promised a kingdom to Israel, with Jesus Christ as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Albeit, the gods of Islam and modern corrupt Christianity, and many other religions are working in league with the conspiracy of Satan to steal the heritage of God's only Son. Sadly, even Israel is blinded to this reality, and will be drawn into the quagmire of compromising the land.

   The mere fact that the Palestinians are today in search of an international stage for the legal sanction for "dividing the land" is evidence that the Antichrist can quickly emerge, for he will be the one to sustain the "dividing of the land."

Darrell G. Young

Focus on Jerusalem Prophecy Ministry