SEDUCING SPIRITS

Ever since the Serpent deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden, the major work of that enemy of our soul, the Devil, that old Dragon has been to deceive the whole world Revelation 12:9, and to keep those who are lost in a state of contentment with their condition, and to woo away from the faith, those who would trust in the Savior. As the end time rolls on, and as Satan ponders his fate, his devices are multiplied, and every device in his arsenal is brought forth to deceive. The very first trick is to convince God’s people that error and deception belong to “Those other groups”.

This is an area of vulnerability that is sometimes not recognized, but which is relatively easy to fix. We become lax when we think of deception and error as belonging to some cult or radical group and fail to keep guard against the "familiar" things around us. When I was preparing a course for young Christians in college, many years ago, I was struck with the thought that may help some of you in dealing with error. I reduced it to a quotation, namely that "CULTS IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION, IT IS A SPIRIT".  That little bit of wisdom changed the way I looked at the poor miserable people who are caught up in the cults. But it also changed the way I looked at some of the teachings passed off as some new revelation by "friends" that I knew were true seekers after the Lord Jesus Christ. It also changed the way I instructed my students about their preparation to stand fast in the faith until they see Jesus. The Apostle Paul advised Timothy that:

The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times
some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing
spirits and doctrines of devils.  I Timothy 4:1

Yes, but is it the latter times? Year after year he uses another one of his favorite diabolical weapons, which is to persuade those who are unlearned in his devices that there is no need to worry about changing times. They say Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (1 Peter 3:4) Don’t you buy it! We may be sure that God has control of the situation, and that no believer has need to worry concerning the future. Jesus set His Disciples on the right path when He said to them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:7,8) The Father will bring to pass everything that He said He would do, both for us, and against our adversary. Praise His holy Name!

These very familiar Scriptures tell us much about our walk of faith and the nature of the deception so prevalent in our day. But please be aware that those who have bought into the various cults use these same verses. They use them to brand anyone that would disagree with them as “deceived”!

How do we know that we know the truth about these matters? Well, first of all it is the Spirit in I Tim. 4:1 that is said to speak. Not only does He speak, but He also speaks “Expressly”. When you start dealing with Spiritual things, you begin to gain a certainty that the carnal man cannot possibly have. (see 1 Cor. 2:14 below).

So Paul chooses his words carefully when he tells Timothy that  The Spirit in this verse  "speaks expressly". The phrase in Greek is very powerful, and is a combination of the word for "He says" modified by an adverb. To get the idea, we may use poor English and translate it "The Spirit spokenly says" or even "words what He says". The Holy Spirit is not only giving Paul a concept to get across to us, but is Himself speaking the very words that are recorded. The word "latter" in English is a comparative adjective. So it is also in Greek. This teaches us that what we are confronting is not something confined  just to the very end of time, but to the "later" times. To make a point, I perceive a poetic urge in me to declare "The later the time, the more intense the slime". Some "giving heed", a single compound word in the original, with the idea of bringing something near you, even implying some attachment. The word shows a willingness on the part of the one receiving the lies, not with the intention of self-deception, but due to the power of the seducing spirits.

As to the personality of the spirits doing the dirty work, they are described by the Greek adjective PLANOS, from which was formed PLANETES, from which we derive the English word planet. In Astronomy it referred to the moon, the planets and the stars. In the N.T. this group of words always has the idea of wondering around, usually aimlessly, and away from the right path. Whether we understand the description to refer to the demon’s nature or their function, whether we understand the verse to be applied to humans teaching false doctrine, or to the demons themselves active in the deception, the end result is the same … souls are sent on a journey that is away from the faith, to wonder about aimlessly in error, with hell as the ultimate destination. (See James 5:19,20 below)

So again I say, cults is not an organization, but a spirit, and even though many of the cults

adhere to some form of error willingly, you may be sure that  error is wondering around where it is not wanted, seeking whom it may devour.  We must be armed and trained to withstand the assault, and we must not be hesitant to  protect new Christians from the fray until they have been prepared for battle. Does that sound cowardly?  To stay away from the battle until you are prepared to fight?  We know that in I Samuel 17:47  when David  was confronted with his Goliath, he said the battle is the Lord's and we also know  that He will tell us what we shall say in that day of trial. (Lk 12:11)  But it is also true that Lk 12:12 requires the ability to “hear what the Spirit says”.

Many a babe in Christ has been devastated or deceived while doing battle against a foe for which they were not prepared. What then?  Do we let only the preachers and ministers do the fighting? Of course not! In fact, to prepare the saints for the battle is one of the primary functions of the ministry. (Eph. 4:11-14)  All I say is what Dirty Harry says, "a mans’ got to know his limitations." And we are limited by our growth in grace and by our increase in faith. 

What can I say that will help you remain safe from deception and allow you at the same time to progress and expand your ministry to others in need?

Step one:  Find out exactly what you believe. Have a foundation that is able to give an answer for the hope that is in you. Knowing the Bible is a great help, but you must know Christ!  You must find out Who He is, worship Him, and join His army.  In John 9:35 ff, the man healed of blindness does not know who Jesus is.  When he finds out, he worships Him. You must try to digest in detail what constitutes deception.  The old illustration is still true; the best way to know a counterfeit is to be totally familiar with the genuine.

Step two:  Give positive testimony.  This same blind man was certainly not able to battle the 'Doctors of Judaism’; nevertheless he was able to answer them with the word of truth. They wanted him to get into theological definitions of who Jesus was.  The blind man said in effect in verse 25, "I don't know about too much (yet!), but one thing I know, I was blind before, but now I can see!"  No one can argue with this. Begin your testimony with the circumstances surrounding your salvation, and then go right on to how you maintain your daily walk.

Step three:  Put on the full armor of God, train in the boot camp of the fellowship of the

saints, pay attention to the things that you are taught, become 'all that you can be' in the Army of God.  Soon you will be able to confront the error that “wanders” by, and not only so, but you will be able to help those to "...recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." (2 Tim. 2:25,26) Eventually, you will find yourself equipped unto every good work, able to confront the enemy on his own turf, confident that you stand, not in your own strength, but in His Own Name, the Name of Christ.

And all Glory to that Name!

                                                                                                Hayden

Rev. 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

1 Cor. 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

James 5:19,20 Brethren, if any of you do err (verb form PLANAO) from the truth, and one convert (Turn) him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error (noun form PLANE) of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. 

Luke 12:11,12 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

Ephesians 4:11-14 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. (PLANE)

II Timothy 2:25-6:7 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.