DAILY DEVOTION: 1 JOHN 4:5

By Stan Brown

I John 4:5  They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.

John expands on the contrasting characters of the preceding two verses where he distinguishes between those who are not from God and those who are of God.  The victory belongs to those who are of God because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.  And He is not just a little bit greater.  He is mega greater.  He is exponentially greater.  He is infinitely greater.  Even when we are living in a world where the world seems to be winning, we need not worry because God is not worried.  But this is not a victory in which we gloat over the losers.  It is one in which we humbly glory in the One with whom we abide.  Yet there is sadness in the fact that the world and those in the world have not heeded his invitation Rev. 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.  Peter writes concerning God’s great patience, 2Pet. 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.  We remain living in a world where rejection of who God is holds sway because God so loved the world. 
 
John describes the world in this verse.  The problem is that they are inbred with the greatest liar that has ever existed being their source of truth.  Sure, they are pretty good at examining phenomena in the natural world and why not.  They are created in the image of God and although fallen they remain created in His image.  Where the world totally misses the point is in the sphere of the heavenlies where the real battle takes place.  John has said that they listen to the spirit of the antichrist who does not confess Jesus as Christ.  John describes it concisely as he says that they only listen to themselves as they examine the most important issues in life, indeed the issues of eternity.  They (the false prophets and the antichrists) come from the world so naturally they speak the language of the world and since they are speaking the same language as the world, the world listens to them. The world listens to the world because that is all they know. They need to learn a new language, that is the language of God.  The language, indeed, the truth of God is too simple Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.
 
It is only as the Spirit breaks through and one soul at a time, reclaims some for Himself.  He has chosen us to partner with Him in this endeavor.  What a magnificent loving God that He would choose us to work together with Him in this mission.  Let us pray together that we will see ever increasing numbers be rescued from the deceits of the world.
 
Although what I said above fits precisely with the message John is conveying, I may have strayed slightly from His point which is that we must make sure that we know the difference between the language of the world and the language of God; that we understand the difference between walking in the light and stepping outside of the light.  John wants to make certain that as we partner with God to bring sinners to a knowledge of Him that we never begin to listen to any of the lies of the false prophets.  Let us walk together in the light!!!