Watch Out For Doctrines Of Devils Pt. 3 Beware Seducing Spirits. Know The Scriptures!

Doctrines of Devils fill the world today.

1 Timothy 4:1,2  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2)  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 

The Holy Spirit of God told us in advance that in the last days, or latter times as it is called here, people will turn away from repentant faith in Jesus Christ. 

Instead of repentant faith in Jesus Christ, people will embrace a gospel that allows them to live a self absorbed, self centered life. 

People will always embrace a gospel that makes them feel good and allows them to experience all that the world has to offer. 

People will always embrace a gospel that allows them to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

Lies are at the core of devilish doctrines from seducing spirits. Pastors and teachers who succumb to seducing spirits and devilish doctrines, promote deception and hypocrisy.  

Their consciences are seared, that is, very hardened against the conviction of God's Spirit. They have sinned so long by promoting false teaching, that they will not hear truth from God (See Hebrews 3:7-8; 5:11-12). 

False prophets speak lies. 

Jeremiah 14:14  Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

When Jeremiah was a prophet of Jehovah, many false prophets rose up and claimed to speak for God. Their message was one of peace, prosperity and happiness. 

God said He did not send them and He said that they are liars. What they speak will not come to pass. 

These prophets are similar to modern politicians. They prophesied lies because the people liked what they heard and this enabled the false prophets to enjoy a comfortable life. 

False prophets claim to be speaking for Jehovah.

Jeremiah 23:31,32  Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. 32)  Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.  

Jehovah is against all those who preach another gospel instead of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is against those who preach health, wealth and prosperity. He is against those who preach social justice. 

Jehovah is against them because false teachers cause His people to fall into error. He did not send them and they do not speak for Him. He did not command them to speak.

Therefore, all lying words have no spiritual benefit for those who listen.

False prophets were to be put to death. 

Deuteronomy 18:20  But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. 

Jehovah put a death sentence upon any false prophet who "presume" to speak for God. 

The word "presume" means to boil over with pride, insolence and rebellion against God and being arrogant. 

Obviously, no one would execute a false prophet today, but believers in Christ certainly should avoid them and not listen to their lies. 

False prophets, heresies and greed. 

2 Peter 2:1-3  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2)  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3)  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 

The New Testament church today is still challenged by false teachers. Each of the apostles warned us about them. Peter reminds us that false teachers bring in damnable heresy. 

They are like a proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing, inserting themselves into the church of Jesus Christ, seeking to destroy the church (See Acts 20:17-31). 

They are like the Devil, subtle, crafty and sneaky. They find people to persuade in private meetings, in order to propagate false teaching. 

Those who follow their ways are headed on a path to destruction. 

False teachers deny the Lord Jesus Christ and this is at the root of most ancient heresies and their modern iterations. 

Arianism, Docetism, Marcionism, Neo-Platonism, Adoptionism, Nestorianism, Apollinarianism, and Gnosticism are the principle ancient heresies faced by the early church. 

Jehovah's Witnesses, Unitarians and Mormons are some modern examples that resuscitate ancient heresies, in order to teach them today. 

All false teaching depreciates the Words, Works and Person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of Man. 

They deny that Jesus is God manifest in the flesh. They deny that Jesus is both fully God and fully man. 

A man of God cares for the spiritual needs of his flock.

1 Peter 5:2,3  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3)  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 

Sadly, there are many so called "pastors" and "teachers" who promote false teaching because they are enriched by false doctrine.

They preach or teach in order to accumulate more wealth. They are not setting an example to their flock. Rather, they act as "lords" over the people because they love the world instead of loving God. 

Many of them live in mega mansions and have many luxurious possessions. 

There are five warnings against those who preach or teach in order to enrich themselves (See 1 Timothy 3:3; 8; Titus 1:7; 11; 1 Peter 5:2). 

The words "filthy lucre" mean greedy for money and filled with avarice. 

There are eleven American pastors with minimum a net worth at least $20 million. The highest net worth pastor is at $760 million. Those numbers tell us all we need to know about their motivation for ministry. 

They are making merchandise of their congregations, just as Peter warned us.

Is this relevant for Christians today? It certainly is! The following poll results emphasize the impact of false teaching and widespread ignorance among professing Christians.

• 44% of professing Christians deny that Jesus is God in the flesh.

1 Timothy 3:16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. 

Most heresies stumble on this point and teach that Jesus was a good man or that the Spirit of God inhabited Jesus for a time, before departing. 

They do not accept that Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh, born of a virgin. 

• 52% of professing Christians believe that Jesus sinned like we do.

2 Corinthians 5:19-21  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20)  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21)  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 

If Jesus sinned, then we have no savior and all people will die in their sins and suffer eternal damnation. Pilate was trained in the art of interrogation. He said publicly, he found not fault, no sin in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Jesus is our sinless substitute who died in our place to pay for our sins and rose from the grave, victorious over sin, death, hell and the devil (1 Corinthians 15).

• 52% of professing Christians believe they earn their way to heaven by good works.

Romans 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

We are saved in order to accomplish some good works that God has for us to do, but we are not saved by our works. The mighty work of Christ Jesus on the cross is what saves us. 

• 60% of professing Christians do not believe the Bible is trustworthy or reliable.

2 Timothy 3:15-17  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17)  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 

I could cite several thousand verses that prove the inspiration of the scriptures, but this text is sufficient. God gave us His word and He promised to preserve it for all generations. Our Bible is accurate and reliable because it is the preserved Word of God. 

• 67% of professing Christians say the highest goal in life is to enjoy it as much as possible.

Philippians 1:21  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

Galatians 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

We are taught not to love the world or the things of the world. Those who love the world do not have the love of the Father in their hearts (1 John 2:15-17).

We are to be lovers of God not lovers of self. We are to be dead to self and alive to God through faith in Jesus Christ. 

Most ancient heresies speak evil of Christ, by teaching that His work on the cross is insufficient and something must be added to it. 

Thus, they teach that you must attain secret knowledge, or you must pray to Mary, or you must do works in order to gain favor with God. 

A seducing spirit is one that wanders from place to place like a vagabond, seeking a host to inhabit. They are rebellious angels that followed Lucifer into rebellion against God. One third of the angels followed Satan.

Seducing spirits seem like angels of light. 

2 Corinthians 11:13-15  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14)  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15)  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 

Unclean spirits and Satan can seduce people into error by making it seem as if they are speaking for God. They want to instill thoughts or ideas into people that seem good on the surface, but depreciate the gospel of Christ in some manner.

They work by influencing minds of people who are open to their deceit or who are hostile toward God's truth.

Unclean spirits always twist the truth into a lie. 

Genesis 3:1-3  Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2)  And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3)  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 

How can one discern between a lying spirit and what is truth from God?

Our first resource is the Bible. If what we hear does not line up with the scriptures, then it must be rejected and discarded.

1 John 4:1-3  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2)  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3)  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 

This is what John meant when he told us to "try" the spirits because many false spirits and spirits of antichrist are in the world today. We must test what they say by what God says. 

Do not believe everything that a professing Christian leader may say to us. Test it by comparing with the scriptures. 

The spirit of antichrist is one that denies that God was manifest in the flesh, and that was the common thread in the ancient heresies. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Spiritual warfare is very real and the closer we desire to walk with Jesus Christ, the more stiff Satan's opposition is.

Unclean spirits spread doctrines of devils in the world. This has been going on for a long time and we must put on the whole armor of God. 

We can praise God because He has given us all of the spiritual equipment that we need to stand fast and endure during the battle.

We can praise God because He warned us ahead of time what to expect. We should not be caught off guard. 

We can praise God for preserving His perfect truth to be a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. Light from God's truth exposes error, evil and falsehood.

May the Lord of Glory shine His Word into our hearts so that we are a people able to discern truth from lies. 

May the indwelling Spirit of God strengthen each of us, to follow what God says and to shun any other voices.

Bob