(Audio)
The light of the star that the magi followed was only a hint or a sign that beneath its radiance the true light of the world was dawning on earth.
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles,
the people who sit in darkness
have seen a great light,
on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death
light has arisen.
The fulfillment of the prophecy was not merely the star shining for a brief period in a specific place. But it was rather the everlasting light to which that star pointed. The spiritualists of the world always knew that light was an important truth about the nature of things. The hopeful among them might have been so bold as to assert that it was superior to darkness rather than simply balanced against it. Most didn't venture as much. But to all it was a distant reality, impossible for the average individual to approach. No longer. The light which shone in the darkness in the beginning with the Father came close enough to touch in Jesus.
From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say,
"Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand."
This light continues to be close to mankind because Jesus makes us lights of the world as well. He makes his own light to shine through his Kingdom, the Church. This is why the Church continues to heal and teach as Jesus did. This is why the Church is the called the mystical body of Christ.
He went around all of Galilee,
teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness among the people.
The secret to this life being manifest and visible on earth is for his people to keep his commandments in order to "remain in him, and he in them" and not, as we imagine, for their own sakes. When we remain in one another his Spirit can fill us and assure us of his presence. The vital thing is to believe in the name of the Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the basic foundational principle of discernment that allows his people to remain in the light rather than wandering of into the darkness of error. This is not vague, abstract, or intellectual. It is instead the most practical of teachings.
Beloved, do not trust every spirit
but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God,
because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
This is how you can know the Spirit of God:
every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh
belongs to God,
and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus
does not belong to God.
It isn't just a matter of coherence of doctrine, although that is certainly implied. It is rather that spirits themselves must state their position on Jesus when asked. If they cannot say that Jesus is LORD or that he has come in the flesh then they are trying to deceive us.
Let us join John's audience as conquerors of the one who is in the world. When he sends lies to us let us expose them, taking every thought captive to Christ. If we don't feel up to it that is the first lie to unmask. We say, 'I can't control my thoughts.' But Jesus says, 'Because I came in the flesh and am LORD I have shared my own mind with you, giving you the power to control your thoughts. The Spirit of self-control gives you this power.' Well then, amen.
I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
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