teknomom

Charis said,

I discern the Lord telling me (for my marriage) that the antichrist spirit within each one of us us will GO OUT from among us because they do not belong to us! (The antichrist being that beastly sinful “disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul”)

We have to be careful to distinguish between what the scriptures mean in context, and what we can stretch them to mean. While it’s true we can apply scriptures to our daily lives, we have to stop short of coming to conclusions that may violate other scriptures. I know you mean well, but I see some danger in this idea of having an “antichrist spirit within each one of us”.

Of course, the meaning as John wrote what he did is that some claiming to be believers are not, and their leaving us proved it. But we have our own spirit, the essence of our being, and we have the Holy Spirit. There can be no other spirits within us, because “greater is the one who is in me than the one who is in the world”. No one else can “fill and govern the soul”.

What we do have battling within us is “corrupt flesh”, and we live in a corrupt world. And because we are “made in God’s image” we have free wills that want their own way. Only externally is there an antichrist spirit, which can oppress and tempt, but cannot govern us. Our command as believers is to “resist the devil” and walk closely with God, learning what pleases him and trusting him instead of ourselves.

There is much evil in the world because people choose it. I ache for the suffering of many like yourself, and have some sisters who have been in abusive marriages. Our responsibility as believers is to do everything we can to help the oppressed. But we must also remember that this life is a test of faith and character, and God will sometimes delay his deliverance for that reason. I pray you find relief soon.