DECEIVING SPIRITS
We should not be surprised; the Bible warned us about the lies that would be promoted in our culture. Non-Christian universities, politicians and media outlets are spewing out such deception, causing many to lose their way. Look at the Scripture: “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron” 1 Tim. 4:1-2. The Bible is absolutely accurate. We can see it unfolding before our eyes.
THE LIES
There are many new lies that are being embraced in America yet some were flaunted in the Garden of Eden. “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” …the serpent said… “your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” Gen. 3:1,4-5 Notice these three lies which are just like the lies we see in society today.
- Your eyes will be opened. (The so-called WOKE lie, that says we will open your eyes to the truth. You can change your gender to be who you think you are. The state owns your children. Killing a baby in the womb is a woman’s right. If you have a different skin color, you are automatically a victim and entitled).
- You will be like God. (The lie that says you don’t need God, you have authority to do what you want and get away with it. You can make your own laws or have none. You can commit robbery and other crimes without consequences. You can force society to obey you. You are a god).
- You will know what is good and evil. (The lie that says that you alone know what is good and evil. You can justify what you want because you alone are good and those who don’t agree with you are evil).
DECEIVING SPIRITS
These and other lies, that society is embracing, come from demons who are called deceiving spirits. Deception is trickery. These demons literally trick people into believing that the lies they are telling are really the truth. That is the nature of deception. Their anti-God agenda is also in the Bible. We are told that Satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy. That is the ultimate goal of the deceiving spirits (see Jn. 10:10).
A LAST DAYS DEPARTURE
In our text we see that God is talking about the last days and they are here now (see 1 Tim. 4:1). The verse continues to announce that some will depart from the faith. That means that these people were once Christians, but they have abandoned the religion of their forefathers. Church groups are swallowing the lies of the world. They are supporting the same deceptions that the world is embracing. We now have gay pastors and antichrist WOKE ideology preached from our pulpits. Organizations that once preached the Bible are now preaching doctrines of demons. They have abandoned the faith.
DOCTRINES OF DEMONS
The devil is out to destroy humanity and his first tactic is deception. Once people are deceived, he enslaves, torments, and kills them. There are three levels of deception that the Scriptures highlight.
- The first level of deception is trickery. That is what we have highlighted in this teaching so far.
- A second level of deception is enticing. “. . .each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed” Jas. 1:14. Temptation is most effective when we have evil desires in our hearts. That is what demons go after. Then they entice us and drag us into sin. If we walk in the Spirit we don’t fulfill the lusts of the flesh but if we walk after the flesh, the demons will entice us with temptations to draw us away from Christ.
- A third level of deception is a driving or compelling power that demons eventually have over those who agree with their deceptions. “Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places” Lk. 8:29. This man was demon possessed. He was forced by demon powers (like a drug addict) and he could not stop what he was doing.
HYPOCRITICAL TEACHERS
“Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron” 1 Tim. 4:1-2. Deception and doctrines of demons are received by people, who will then coerce and influence many others. The Bible calls them hypocritical liars because they teach, manipulate and control others, yet the rules they impose are often disregarded by themselves. They are hypocrites and they are liars. They believe they are above the law and their conscience is not troubled because they think they have the right.
THE SYSTEM OF THE WORLD
This demonic trend is already at work in America but Jesus has the last word. Right now, God-fearing Christians are rising up with the opposite power of fear, lies and deception. They are stepping forward with the power of Christ. That is the Spirit of love and of power and of a sound mind.
CHRIST THE KING
The only protection against doctrines of demons and deceiving spirits is found in Christ Jesus. Unless you make Jesus the absolute Lord of your life, you will be deceived. Eve was naïve when she listened to the devil in the Garden. Then, Adam sinned along with his wife. Together, they lost the fear of God and they walked away from Him. Do not cross the line of compromise, for the devil is looking for those who do. Having done all, you must make a firm stand against his trickery and deception.
VICTORIOUS
Do not lose heart for we will see a turn-around in America. Revival is on the way and we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us. We are in a battle, and we will definitely win because greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. May the Lord give you His righteousness, peace and joy as you continue to fight, clothed in the armor of God
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DR. PETER WYNS
Founder & President
Christian for Messiah Ministries
Pastor at Antioch International Church
Instructions in Righteousness is produced by “Christians for Messiah Ministries” (CFM). Dr. Peter Wyns is the President of CFM and the Head Pastor of Antioch International Church. He has served as a pastor for 54 years and ministered in more than 45 nations.
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2 Comments
Kay Shirer October 26, 2023
Thank you for the clearly written details on deception. It helps a lot.
Rick Skala October 26, 2023
Peter
Thank You! Excellent breakdown. Concise Truthful and LEARNABLE!. Since we were in Israel together I have learned I am 52% Jewish and that fathers parents fled Austria to escape the Nazis and my grand mothers brother was in a camp through the
War and was liberated by allied soldiers. It was not until the late 60s that he reunited with his sister my dads mother.