Spirits that come from above and below

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” Revelation 22:1. There is nothing that is as pure and true as that which proceeds from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Impure spirits from below – deterioration and a curse

Today there are many spirit centers spewing out poison from the pit. Those who deal in and print the most impure things that can be found quickly become millionaires. This flood of sin and misery spills out of the bottomless pit as never before. Champions of this misery imagine that they are advocates of progress. Yet they are along in leading everything back to the days of Noah and of Sodom and Gomorrah. People will be living in that same spiritual darkness when Jesus returns, and that same spirit will receive the same judgment. (Matthew 24:37-39)

Many people in leading positions who know that all this will lead in the wrong direction dare not speak out clearly against it because they are afraid to be called old-fashioned reactionaries. The most brazen and lawless people strive for positions of leadership, and unfortunately they get their way because the majority of people are weak and cowardly. There have always been only a few who have been willing to stand in the gap for truth and justice, but there has never been a lack of those who champion the things that lead in the wrong direction.

What is the result of this evil flood that has been released from the pit? The arms race, wars, poverty, need and hunger, overflowing prisons, increasingly unhappy family relationships and divorce, as well as the misuse of alcohol and narcotics that cause all kinds of unhappiness and wretchedness. Whose fault is all this? Can we blame God? We will reap what we have sown! Those who believe that it would be better to do away with God and Christianity are in total darkness.

There is a stream of spirits that proceeds from the pit; it is evil and impure and is accompanied by a curse.

A pure Spirit from above – progress and blessing

The greatest advocates of progress who have ever lived on earth are Jesus and the apostles, and all those who have followed in their steps in the same mind and in the same spirit. The result of their labors is righteousness, truth, genuine peace and joy, happy marriages and family relationships, mercy, generosity, and everything that is noble and good. If everyone followed their leading, there would be no need for the police or the military. All violent crimes, felonies, and fraud would disappear. Then no one would hunger or suffer cold. All the prisons on earth could be emptied of millions of prisoners. Thousands of small children who are now being badly abused, beaten, and tortured by brutal parents would grow up in harmonious homes in the sunshine of love.

There is a Spirit that proceeds from the throne of God and of the Lamb; it is good, clear as crystal, and pure, and is accompanied by God’s blessing. Praise be to our God that there is something that is clear as crystal and pure, and which can make us clear as crystal and pure. This crystal-clear water must not be discolored or defiled by our “self,” but it must continue to flow on, clear as crystal and pure, as a blessing for ourselves and the others.

“‘He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive …” John 7:38-39. Just think of being permeated by this pure, living, fresh Spirit from heaven while we are in this evil, dark, and impure world. The result will be a living Christianity, and not what is called religiosity.

Transformation and salvation through God’s Word

By nature, all of us are sinners through and through, both impure and liars, but God be praised that we can become cleansed and transformed people through the power of the gospel.

Jesus spoke pure words, so that those who heard and believed Him became pure because of the Word that He spoke to them. (John 15:3) This is also what we should do. Most people speak and write words by which others become impure. Peter spoke words by which people were saved, and the Gentiles who heard and believed his words received pure hearts. (Acts 11:14; Acts 15:9)

James writes that “the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” James 3:17.

However, the wisdom that is from below is the cause of bitter envy, lying, self-seeking, confusion, and every evil thing. (James 3:14-16) James writes further that it is earthly, sensual, and demonic. This does not speak of much peaceableness or a willingness to yield. We can see and hear this daily.

Purity and God’s power belong together

Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8. In Song of Solomon 6:10 we can see that the bride is full of purity and strength: “Who is she who looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, awesome as an army with banners?” Purity and God’s power belong together. It is the greatest power anyone can possess in life with which to overcome the evil and do the good, to endure, suffer, and bear all things with joy.

Let us lift high the banner of purity in our time! Then God Himself will lead us to victory in our battles. All of heaven is on our side in this war. Then we will find this holy and glorious host united as precious stones, clear as crystal, in the New Jerusalem.

This article is translated from Norwegian, and was first published under the title “A stream of spirits from above and below” in BCC’s periodical “Skjulte Skatter” (“Hidden Treasures”) in December 1969.
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